ugly ancients

JBG recetn gallienus thread turned into an "ugly off", which i actually enjoyed...and cheated at a bit. the coin i posted i don't actually have any more, i think i sent it off to be donated with a bunch of other coins to someone at forum (joe?) but anyway, DS brought up a good question, why do we have they ugly coins in our collection? are they rare? do they have sentimental value? post any ugly coins that are actually part of your collection, and tell us why in the world you have them...if you want to.


here are a few of mine....if there are in young children in the room, send them away before you scroll down.


warning: ugly coins in 5


warning: ugly coins in 4


warning: ugly coins in 3


warning: ugly coins in 2


warning: ugly coins in 1





here's some type of julio-claudian thingy mabob. tiberius or titus. this coin is ugly as can be...but i love it...or really like it for two reasons.

1. it has awesome countermarks! dolphin, helmets, all sorts of cool stuff.


2. it was given to me by a forum member and coin buddy

 

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OH THE HUMANITY!

this ugly thing is bent on top of have some gunk on it that i couldn't get off. it's a constantius chlorus ....but it's my only one. uncleaned lot coin.

 

this coins so ugly it makes onions cry.
it's a lucilla orichalum sestertius. my only lucilla, kind of an interesting color as well. what the heck. uncleaned lot coin.

 

Lol! I like "ugly" threads - you can bet I will have something to say about this later. Just don't have time at the moment.

 

By far not my ugliest overall, but the obverse will never win any beauty contests:


BUT ya gatta love dem lions pullin' the biga!

 

And then there's this M. AEMILIUS. I got it in a mixed lot. Not only was it worn and broken, but when I got it, it was bent nearly in two:


I keep it because it's a desirable coin, but one day I suppose I will replace it with one somewhat better in condition.

 

Story of my ancients collecting career...

 

well, im also interested in what we consider ugly. some would consider everything in my collection ugly. my recent chach coins and ban liang are pretty ugly, but not to me...and not really for the type.

 

Man, those are horrible lookin' coins fellas ... congrats!!



I have a few ... but as Doug mentioned, I seem to have them for a couple of reasons (ugly is usually "not" my intended fishin' hole)

My first fugly example was my 2nd overall ancient coin purchase "ever" ... Valentinian was my first ancient coin purchase, but for some reason I still kinda like the looks of my Valentinian example ...... ummm, but Claudius II (Gothicus) is a bit of a dog (however, it is also my least expensive coin, so I guess it all makes sense => it's fugly, because I was merely testing the ancient-waters at the time) ...

Claudius II (Gothicus)




... I have another fairly fugly example, but this baby is ugly-combined-with cool, so it is kinda acceptable in my mind (ugly, but with a reason) ...

Cilicia Ninica-Claudiopolis AE37 (with countermarks!!)
Severus Alexander with Julia Maesa



=> yup, good ol' countermarks

 

How about this Titus Fouree. Missing face, oblong shape and all:

 

Looks like half his head exploded!

 

This is my first Nerva - almost bent out of recognition

 

here is my UAA please don't make me say what the 1st A stands for...



it was my first purchase of ancient coins.

 

what is that IR?

 

I have no idea, lol.

jk.


Macedonia : Obverse with gorgon's head. Reverse Athena holding Nike, spear and shield.

 

I just noticed you started this thread... great idea chrsmat.

This one was found in a mystery mixed lot. Apart from being positively awful to look at, I initially thought it was an obvious victim of bad tooling until TIF suggested that certain conditions in the ground may have caused the etched, sunken appearance of the devices.



I have to admit that I no longer own this coin. Earlier this year on a family trip to Italy, I decided to bring the poor fellow home to Rome for a watery burial in the Trevi Fountain. Tradition states that if you toss a coin into the Fountain, you guarantee yourself a future visit to Rome. So this coin's return to the Eternal City ensures my own . Here it is for the last time in my hand, about two seconds before it hit the water.

 

There are some really great ugly coins in this thread already.

This one was from my first and only ever uncleaned batch of coins. These issues never look pretty to begin with, but the obverse on mine has been particularly badly vandalized (errr, not by me, I should add).



NERO
AE18
JUDAEA, Ascalon.
Struck 66/67 AD, RPC I 4889.
O: Laureate head right, CE and altar before.
R: War deity Phanebal standing facing, holding harpa and round shield with palm frond, AC to left, OP (Year 170) to right.

 

Another mystery mixed lot winner. This coin has got it all... wear, stripped patina, gouges, old BD pits. I love it!



CLAUDIUS
AE As
Rome mint, 50 - 54 AD
RIC 113, Sear 1860
O: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P, bare head left.
R: LIBERTAS AVGVSTA S-C, Libertas standing, head right, holding pileus in right hand and extending left hand.

 

nice ugly coins everyone! and a cool story z!

here's another ugly one, i never took a pic of it. thought it may break the camera. camera seemed to make it through ok.



ugly coin with a thick, weird patina. however, it's listed R5. beast coins has one listed as R1 (same mint mark, N delta). uncleaned lot coin.

 

Like something from a horror movie... picture a zombie Constantine, most of his mouth rotted away, shambling out of a dark, run-down campgate.



CONSTANTINE THE GREAT ZOMBIE
AE3
2.7g, 19mm
Thessalonica mint, 326-328 AD
RIC VII Thessalonica 153
O: CONSTANTINVS AVG, diademed head right.
R: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, campgate with two turrets, 6 layers on base, star above, dot in right field, mintmark SMTSe.