Show us your interesting but ugly coins

Born ugly, but illustrate the shoddy workmanship of the Rome mint under Gallienus, which we old-timers here at CT joke is due to "Kevin in quality control."

They are interesting because they illustrate the technical aspects of coin production, from the sprue removed from the cast flans to the size of the reverse dies relative to the coins. I purchased them not in spite of how poorly they were manufactured, but BECAUSE of how poorly they were manufactured.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Here is a truly ugly, but interesting coin, I just bought. The coin is a quarter-siliqua of the Gothic kingdom. The coin was minted shortly after the death of Theoderic the Great on 30.08.526. Theoderic had appointed his grandson Athalaric as his successor. Athalaric was only 10 years old at the time. For the Gothic nobles a king had to be battle proven and could thus not be a child. Hence, the very first issue of coins for Athalaric were minted without the title REX (or more commonly RIX) for king. So while Gothic coins are generally quite scarce, this one is particularly rare, but unfortunately very ugly.

 

Athens New Style Tetradrachm c145/4 BC
Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
16.70 gm 34.8mm Thompson issue 20
Thompson catalogue : Obs 160 : Rev NEW
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora on which
month mark Γ : LF control mark ΣΦΑΙ
2 magistrates : ΠΑΔΩ ΛΥΣΙΑ
RF symbol :Forepart of Bridled Horse
All within a surrounding olive wreath

Worn, battered double struck. Bought for less than £100 on ebay in 2013 in the good ol' days. From the same hoard as the Apollo I showed yesterday,both were covered with a black-blue patina -then I cleaned it!
This is one of 2 NewStyles that have a partial monogram ΠΑΔΩ, the other is on Palm behind Owl. It has a 4 lettered 2nd control ΣΦΑΙ.

 

First I want to thank you guys for having me. New to posting so bare with me. So. I have a couple ughs I would like to share. The first is also the very first coin I ever bought and much to my wife's dismay started the sickness. Lol anyway,

Issue of Caligula in honor of Nero and Drusus
40-41ad 28mm, 11.8g Brass dupondius
Obv: NERO ET DRVSVS CAESARES
Nero and Drusus on Horseback galloping
Rev: C CEASAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG PM TR P IIII P P
around large SC. RIC 49 BMCRE 70
Its rough but I will always love it.

Second is:
Julia Domna Brass dupondius 25mm, 11.8g 198ad
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA
Rev: HILARITAS SC
Hilarious standing left, holding long palm and cornucopia. RIC 877 BMCRE 312 CSS 315
This one i have no words for. Lol I love it like the first girl who breaks your heart. Lol.