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<p>[QUOTE="Curtis, post: 24716482, member: 26430"]There was a related thread recently, Aesthetics or Historical Interest. Clearly, we almost always like to have a little bit of both.</p><p><br /></p><p>But what about when there's <i>nothing</i> aesthetically appealing about a coin, but you still find some redeeming quality in it? Maybe historical context, sentimental value, or anything else.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><font size="6"> What are your <b>Best Ugliest Ancient Coins</b> & <b>Why are they still worthwhile</b>?</font></p><p><br /></p><p>Below are mine.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><i>Click for Quick Preview</i></p> <p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH]1580350[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1580354[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1580355[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1580356[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p><b><font size="5">1. ROMAN REPUBLIC. "The Coin that Killed Caesar."</font></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Julius Caesar AR Denarius from the final issue with "DICT PERPETVO" title (Dictator Forever). Many have speculated that Caesar's coins were "the straw that broke the camel's back," announcing himself publicly as a King. He was killed within weeks of this coin being struck.</p><p><br /></p><p>The reverse is almost completely eroded and dreadful (L. B[VCA] still legible). But the portrait is quite nice, and the PERPETVO - CAESAR is legible. I can live with (most of) the front half:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1580355[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><font size="5">2. ROMAN IMPERIAL. Magnentius. BEATITVDO PVBLICA, Emperor in curule. Rare.</font></b></p><p><br /></p><p>I've found four specimens photographed/sold online, always in comparably rough condition. Usually in the $200-500+ range. (<a href="https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=7007&lot=658" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=7007&lot=658" rel="nofollow">Most recently</a>, > doubling <a href="https://www.biddr.com/auctions/navillenumismatics/browse?a=2924&l=3286401" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.biddr.com/auctions/navillenumismatics/browse?a=2924&l=3286401" rel="nofollow">its previous hammer</a>; also <a href="https://www.nummus-bible-database.com/monnaie-107005.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.nummus-bible-database.com/monnaie-107005.htm" rel="nofollow">the NBD spec</a>.)</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.8.aq.164" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.8.aq.164" rel="nofollow">Munzkabinett Berlin has a better one</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>David Vagi (2016, <i><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Coinage_and_History_of_the_Roman_Empire/dIEYDQAAQBAJ" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Coinage_and_History_of_the_Roman_Empire/dIEYDQAAQBAJ" rel="nofollow">Coinage and History of the Roman Empire</a></i>) gave price estimates for F & VF, <i>but didn't even bother for EF</i>! (Probably because they hardly exist in that condition.)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1580353[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1580350[/ATTACH]</p><blockquote><p><font size="4"><b>Roman Imperial. Magnentius AE3 </b>(Half Centenionalis (?), 20mm, 2.40g, 6h). Aquileia, 351 CE.</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv:</b> MAG MAGNENTIUS AVG. Bare head of Maxentius, draped, right.</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev:</b> BEATITVDO PVBLICA. Magnentius in curule chair left, holding sceptre and raising right hand. Exergue: AQT</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: RIC VIII Aquileia 164; Vagi 3299 (citing RIC VIII Aqu 164-166); Bastien 353; Cohen 1; Sear 18839.</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Prov</b>: Uncertain group lot, c. 2000-2013, prob. A. Hinojosa (Lucernae Numis., Spain).</font></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><font size="5">3. ROMAN PROVINCIAL. <i>Temp.</i> Galba. Lokris, Lokri Opuntii.</font></b></p><p><br /></p><p>This one straddles my Countermarks & "Object Biography" sub-collections.</p><p><br /></p><p>One interesting thing about the BCD Collection is that it not only includes world-famous masterpieces, but gave equal attention to cataloging countless wretched little bronzes & AR fractions of minor commercial value, checking all their dies, handwriting little round labels, and sharing with any scholars who might be interested in the series.</p><p><br /></p><p>This was the BCD Lokris-Phokis 157.5 reference coin. Also</p><p><a href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1342" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1342" rel="nofollow">RPC 1342, example 14</a>, whose editors (online) suspect BCD's ID was mistaken. (The print copy of <i>RPC Consolidated Supplement 1-3</i> [2015: p. 71] accepts the ID without comment). To me, however, it is clearly of the correct type with the same obverse die and ΛO countermark.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>I mean, c'mon, isn't that obviously Persephone!!!</i> <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>NAC Auction 55 / <i>BCD Lokris-Phokis</i> describes the coin as "poor" but "unique?" for the upper countermark in combination with the lower one (of which four other examples were included).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="4">[ATTACH=full]1580354[/ATTACH]</font></p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p><font size="4"><font size="4"><b>Roman Provincial. Lokris, Lokri Opuntii AE21</b> (5.95g), Magistrate M. Claudius Serapion, <i>temp</i>. Galba, 68/69 CE.</font></font></p><p><font size="4"><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: [ϹƐΡΑΠΙΩΝΟϹ]. Head of Persephone right, poppy head; two countermarks: ΛO ligate (Howgego 620) & helmeted head of Athena [?].</font></font></p><p><font size="4"><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: [ΟΠΟΥΝΤΙΩΝ ƐΠΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΥ]. Warrior holding spear & shield.</font></font></p><p><font size="4"><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: BCD Lokris 157.5 = <a href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1342" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1342" rel="nofollow">RPC I Online 1342 example 14</a> (cited in RPC Consolidated Supplement [2015], p. 71) = this coin.</font></font></p><p><font size="4"><font size="4"><b>Prov</b>: BCD Collection, <a href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=860050" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=860050" rel="nofollow">NAC 55 (8 October 2010), Lot 157 (part)</a>; Dr. Francis Jarman Collection: Mints of the Roman Empire, <a href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7883246" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7883246" rel="nofollow">Numismatik Naumann 100 (6 March 2021), 1215</a>.</font></font></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><font size="5">4. GREEK (HELLENISTIC). Lokris, Lokri Opuntii. Early 3rd Cent. BCE.</font></b></p><p><br /></p><p>This one is a "BCD Duplicate" (not from the main catalog, but NAC's leftovers).</p><p><br /></p><p>I have a bunch more of similar type. But this one was an "SNG Copenhagen Duplicate," ex Danish Royal Coin Cabinet, via Swedish dealer J.C. Holm:</p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p>"In the early 60’s, Mr. Holm exchanged a unique and extremely important early Danish coin for many boxes of the Copenhagen museum’s Greek duplicates that were not published in the SNG." [See <a href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1174701" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1174701" rel="nofollow">Triton XV [3 Jan 2012], Lot 760</a>]</p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>BCD bought virtually all the <i>Kungligt Myntkabinett </i>duplicates within his collecting areas.</p><p><br /></p><p>(Infuriatingly, though, when this coin went unsold and was moved to a group lot, the dealer lost BCD's original tags!! So, it's a placeholder until I find a better Cop.-Holm-BCD specimen that still has the tag.)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1580356[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Curtis, post: 24716482, member: 26430"]There was a related thread recently, Aesthetics or Historical Interest. Clearly, we almost always like to have a little bit of both. But what about when there's [I]nothing[/I] aesthetically appealing about a coin, but you still find some redeeming quality in it? Maybe historical context, sentimental value, or anything else. [CENTER][SIZE=6] What are your [B]Best Ugliest Ancient Coins[/B] & [B]Why are they still worthwhile[/B]?[/SIZE][/CENTER] Below are mine. [CENTER][I]Click for Quick Preview[/I] [ATTACH]1580350[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1580354[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1580355[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1580356[/ATTACH] [/CENTER] [B][SIZE=5]1. ROMAN REPUBLIC. "The Coin that Killed Caesar."[/SIZE][/B] Julius Caesar AR Denarius from the final issue with "DICT PERPETVO" title (Dictator Forever). Many have speculated that Caesar's coins were "the straw that broke the camel's back," announcing himself publicly as a King. He was killed within weeks of this coin being struck. The reverse is almost completely eroded and dreadful (L. B[VCA] still legible). But the portrait is quite nice, and the PERPETVO - CAESAR is legible. I can live with (most of) the front half: [ATTACH=full]1580355[/ATTACH] [B][SIZE=5]2. ROMAN IMPERIAL. Magnentius. BEATITVDO PVBLICA, Emperor in curule. Rare.[/SIZE][/B] I've found four specimens photographed/sold online, always in comparably rough condition. Usually in the $200-500+ range. ([URL='https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=7007&lot=658']Most recently[/URL], > doubling [URL='https://www.biddr.com/auctions/navillenumismatics/browse?a=2924&l=3286401']its previous hammer[/URL]; also [URL='https://www.nummus-bible-database.com/monnaie-107005.htm']the NBD spec[/URL].) [URL='https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.8.aq.164']Munzkabinett Berlin has a better one[/URL]. David Vagi (2016, [I][URL='https://www.google.com/books/edition/Coinage_and_History_of_the_Roman_Empire/dIEYDQAAQBAJ']Coinage and History of the Roman Empire[/URL][/I]) gave price estimates for F & VF, [I]but didn't even bother for EF[/I]! (Probably because they hardly exist in that condition.) [ATTACH=full]1580353[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1580350[/ATTACH] [INDENT][SIZE=4][B]Roman Imperial. Magnentius AE3 [/B](Half Centenionalis (?), 20mm, 2.40g, 6h). Aquileia, 351 CE. [B]Obv:[/B] MAG MAGNENTIUS AVG. Bare head of Maxentius, draped, right. [B]Rev:[/B] BEATITVDO PVBLICA. Magnentius in curule chair left, holding sceptre and raising right hand. Exergue: AQT [B]Ref[/B]: RIC VIII Aquileia 164; Vagi 3299 (citing RIC VIII Aqu 164-166); Bastien 353; Cohen 1; Sear 18839. [B]Prov[/B]: Uncertain group lot, c. 2000-2013, prob. A. Hinojosa (Lucernae Numis., Spain).[/SIZE][/INDENT] [B][SIZE=5]3. ROMAN PROVINCIAL. [I]Temp.[/I] Galba. Lokris, Lokri Opuntii.[/SIZE][/B] This one straddles my Countermarks & "Object Biography" sub-collections. One interesting thing about the BCD Collection is that it not only includes world-famous masterpieces, but gave equal attention to cataloging countless wretched little bronzes & AR fractions of minor commercial value, checking all their dies, handwriting little round labels, and sharing with any scholars who might be interested in the series. This was the BCD Lokris-Phokis 157.5 reference coin. Also [URL='https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1342']RPC 1342, example 14[/URL], whose editors (online) suspect BCD's ID was mistaken. (The print copy of [I]RPC Consolidated Supplement 1-3[/I] [2015: p. 71] accepts the ID without comment). To me, however, it is clearly of the correct type with the same obverse die and ΛO countermark. [I]I mean, c'mon, isn't that obviously Persephone!!![/I] :) :D NAC Auction 55 / [I]BCD Lokris-Phokis[/I] describes the coin as "poor" but "unique?" for the upper countermark in combination with the lower one (of which four other examples were included). [SIZE=4][ATTACH=full]1580354[/ATTACH][/SIZE] [INDENT][SIZE=4][SIZE=4][B]Roman Provincial. Lokris, Lokri Opuntii AE21[/B] (5.95g), Magistrate M. Claudius Serapion, [I]temp[/I]. Galba, 68/69 CE. [B]Obv[/B]: [ϹƐΡΑΠΙΩΝΟϹ]. Head of Persephone right, poppy head; two countermarks: ΛO ligate (Howgego 620) & helmeted head of Athena [?]. [B]Rev[/B]: [ΟΠΟΥΝΤΙΩΝ ƐΠΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΥ]. Warrior holding spear & shield. [B]Ref[/B]: BCD Lokris 157.5 = [URL='https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1342']RPC I Online 1342 example 14[/URL] (cited in RPC Consolidated Supplement [2015], p. 71) = this coin. [B]Prov[/B]: BCD Collection, [URL='https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=860050']NAC 55 (8 October 2010), Lot 157 (part)[/URL]; Dr. Francis Jarman Collection: Mints of the Roman Empire, [URL='https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7883246']Numismatik Naumann 100 (6 March 2021), 1215[/URL].[/SIZE][/SIZE][/INDENT] [B][SIZE=5]4. GREEK (HELLENISTIC). Lokris, Lokri Opuntii. Early 3rd Cent. BCE.[/SIZE][/B] This one is a "BCD Duplicate" (not from the main catalog, but NAC's leftovers). I have a bunch more of similar type. But this one was an "SNG Copenhagen Duplicate," ex Danish Royal Coin Cabinet, via Swedish dealer J.C. Holm: [INDENT]"In the early 60’s, Mr. Holm exchanged a unique and extremely important early Danish coin for many boxes of the Copenhagen museum’s Greek duplicates that were not published in the SNG." [See [URL='https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1174701']Triton XV [3 Jan 2012], Lot 760[/URL]][/INDENT] BCD bought virtually all the [I]Kungligt Myntkabinett [/I]duplicates within his collecting areas. (Infuriatingly, though, when this coin went unsold and was moved to a group lot, the dealer lost BCD's original tags!! So, it's a placeholder until I find a better Cop.-Holm-BCD specimen that still has the tag.) [ATTACH=full]1580356[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
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