A really ugly coin

It came in a multiple lot; it is probably one of the coins in worst condition in my collection, but I was able to find its attribution, which I hope is right:

Æ Pentassarion
Moesia Inferior, Istros, 222 – 235 AD

28 x 27 mm, 14.680 g
RPC VI, 2047 (temporary number); AMNG I, 516 and Plate III, 9; Mouchmov 191, Plate IV.2; SNG Stancomb 881; SNG 243;

Ob.: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡ Η ϹΕΒ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander to r.
Rev.: IϹΤΡΙΗΝΩ-Ν rider-god Mithras on horse-back advancing, to r., wearing mantle and his Phrygian cap; behind, raven on top of a torch; before, altar. Value mark E below horse

The green patina is hard, and doesn't come off (no bronze disease - luckily)




Please share your worst coins or anything relevant

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I have this Severina.

 

Yours looks good, it still seems to have some silver; I really think mine is much worse

 

Here is a Probus that could be called ugly.

 

Yes, indeed, an ugly Probus, but still it has some silvering

 

Fourrée, corroded and holed : the worst "tribute penny" I know. Why is it in my hands? I don't remember at all when and from where I got it, maybe I was drunk.

 

Here is another, sorry I don't have a reference.


@Ed Snible was the last to identify this coin.

 

Another really ugly coin :

This as of Nero, reverse Victory flying left, holding shield with inscription SPQR

 

I like this thread. We all like to share gorgeous eye-catching coins worthy of museum displays. But what about the creepy dark legions of ugly coins? They're historical as well. They're authentic and bear the scars of many a mistreatment during centuries...

Here are two more :



1 - Commodus, AE dupondius (?), AE 25 mm, 5.16 g, 6 h.
Probably RIC 388, reverse Fortuna holding cornucopiae. These dupondii have a module of 26 mm and a weight from 9 to 14 g. This very thin specimen has a weight of 5.16 g only !

2 - Septimius Severus, AR/AE fourrée denarius, AE 17 mm, 2.50 g, 12 h.
Probably RIC 167a, reverse Restitutor Urbis.

I posted before another holed fourrée denarius
like this one. Were they holed to make jewels (with fourrées? That was a scam, I don't think the lady would have appreciated), or just to cancel them and withdraw them from circulation for being fourrées?

 

Here's a really ugly token. It was made from iron salvaged from the CSS Virginia, also known as the Merrimac. It has rusted, which what iron often does when not stored properly. It hasn'te gotten worse over the 30 + years I have owned it.

 

@GinoLR you are so right: they are historical and bear the scars of centuries. You said it so well!

 

Also got a Severina, my only one, in a multiple lot; it's definitely better than my worst:

Æ Potin Tetradrachm
Egypt, Alexandria, Dated S = RY 6 of Aurelian = 274-275 AD
20 x 21 mm, 7.126 g, 11h
RPC X unassigned number, ID 75739; Emmett 3964.6; BMC Greek (Alexandria) 2375; SNG 4789; Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 5499; K&G 107.3; Curtis-1817; Sear5 11712.
Ob.: ΟVΛΠ ϹΕVΕΡΙΝΑ ϹΕΒ Draped bust of Severina to r., wearing stephane.
Rev.: Dikaiosyne standing l. holding scales and cornucopia; ETOVC upward at left, S (date) at r.,

 

This one is not so "ugly"...

 

"ugly", as well as "beauty", is in the eyes of the beholder, quoting someone but I don't remember who