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Author Topic: Best Worst Coin of the Day!  (Read 67236 times)

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Offline Jay GT4

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Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« on: December 11, 2007, 05:21:35 pm »
Okay, we've seen the beautiful pristine examples shown here as coins of the day.  How about seeing some of the coins that are haggered and battered but extremely rare.  I'm not talking about slugs but coins that you can still tell what it is, but you wish it was in a better state of preservation. 

I'll start with my brass dupondius of Germanicus

obverse: GERMANICVS CAESAR
Germanicus in triumphal quadripa right holding eagle tipped sceptre.

Reverse: SIGNIS RECEPT DEVICTIS GERM SC Germanicus standing left his right hand raised, holding legionary eagle in left

Sear 1820

Offline Robert_Brenchley

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2007, 05:32:07 pm »
Those are nice to have in any condition; you can't get anything with much more in the way of historical relevance.
Robert Brenchley

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Offline Pscipio

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2007, 06:16:03 pm »
Yes, those are interesting coins, congratulations to you both! It is not an extremely rare type, though, I wouldn't even call it scarce since it shows up in almost every printed auction.

Lars
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Offline whitetd49

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2007, 08:09:53 pm »
I have a new arrival that fits into this category...
If you watch long enough, even a treefrog is interesting.  Umberto Eco
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/index.php?cat=10349

Offline slokind

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2007, 10:53:35 pm »
As luck would have it, I just photographed a coin that came yesterday that truly is a best (it really adds something to the Agrippa coins on my web site) and a worst (just LOOK at it, especially the reverse):
• 10 12 07 Æ28 12.30g axis 7h  Nicopolis ad Istrum  Issued by Agrippa  Macrinus  Obverse H  (DSCN4344)      AV K OPPEL SE    VÊ MAKRINOS.         Reverse, previously not known but for Diadumenian: 32 Diadumenian (with obverse U).  Dionysos stg.l., holding grapes over panther at his feet, leaning on beribboned thyrsos.  DSCN3393
VP AGRIPPA NIKOPOLITÔN PROS ISTR and in exergue Ô.
Malcolm has a fine one of the latter, and I have a mediocre one.  http://www.diadumenian.com/Nicopolis%20dionysus.html
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/ayiyoryitika/PontAgrAssets/R32-DionysAgrippDSCN3393.jpg
Pick lists Dionysos reverses (quite different) only by Longinus.The interresting thing is that the Diadumenian die for both Aphrodite quasi-Medici and for this Dionysos and the Macrinus die for both are the same two dies.
And there probably are lots more matches still unfound.
Also, the only Aphrodiute I finally managed to find for Macrinus was as messy as this reverse.
So it really does qualify as a best worst of the day.
Pat L.

Offline Jay GT4

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2007, 07:51:44 pm »
Those all definately fit into this category!  ;D Keep them coming!

 I'll supply another...

Offline CANTANATRIX

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2007, 06:43:40 pm »
Nice coins guys-Here's my heavily corroded archaic Athenian tetradrachm:

Attica, Athens, 490-482 BC, silver tetradrachm of 21.3 mm, 14.43 grams.

Obverse: Head of Athena to right, archaic style.

Reverse: Owl standing to right, head facing; to right A-theta-E; to left, olive twig and crescent, all within incuse square.

Reference: Sear 1842.


Andy

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Offline Jochen

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2007, 07:07:08 pm »
What a thread! It is so sad to look at all these nice coins in this bad state! Here is my worst specimen. If anyone has a nicer one please feel free to PM me!

I think I should describe the coin: It is Gordian III from Tarsos, BMC 258. The rev. shows Mithras slaying the bull (tauroktonia)

Best regards

Offline moonmoth

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2007, 04:42:37 am »
From my holed coin collection comes this scarce Septimius Severus ADVENT AVGG, showing Septimius on horseback with a soldier holding the bridle of the horse

The appearance of the holes, and the stresses around them, suggest that this was kept on a pin or fibula.  It might even have been a crude attempt at a home-made brooch.

"... A form of twisted symbolical bedsock ... the true purpose of which, as they realised at first glance, would never (alas) be revealed to mankind."

Offline Alwin

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2007, 05:18:11 am »
Doubtless one of my most unaesthetic roman coin, but at the same time one of the most interesting.
AE30
Tiberius, Nero and Drusus (sons of Germanicus and Agrippina)
Carthago Nova, Spain 28-29
S586 (1988)  C4  RPC 179

Offline Jay GT4

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2007, 01:08:11 pm »
Great coins guys.  Alwin I would be very happy with that coin in my collection!  I actually like coins that have some wear on them, seems more authentic to me and to quote a cliche...Imagine who's hands they have passed through...

I've showed this one before...extreemly rare Mark Antony COHORTIS SPECVLATORVM...

Offline Jay GT4

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2008, 01:53:35 pm »
I'll keep this going with another...The famous DIVVS AVGVSTVS series with PROVIDENT reverse...

Offline moonmoth

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #12 on: January 01, 2008, 02:59:48 pm »
Tush!  All these coins are far too easily recognisable.

Here is a scarce and popular as for you to love and cherish, just as its previous owner must have done.  It is quite distinctive and definitely attributable, so I need not insult everyone by mentioning its identity.

(Added later:) OK, no-one took up  the implied challenge, so I will add that it's an as of Antoninus Pius, MVNIFICENTIA AVG, with an elephant on the reverse.
"... A form of twisted symbolical bedsock ... the true purpose of which, as they realised at first glance, would never (alas) be revealed to mankind."

Offline curtislclay

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #13 on: January 02, 2008, 01:40:50 pm »
I've shown this unique As of Caracalla before, in the old Ugly Ducklings thread.  This is the first known appearance of a Departure for Britain type of 208 AD with accompanying soldiers on a middle bronze of Caracalla.  Such types are known on sestertii of Septimius and Caracalla and on asses of Septimius, but until now Caracalla's middle bronzes had only shown the Unaccompanied Emperor on Horseback type, or Emperor on horseback riding down a kneeling enemy.

I think this coin beats Scott's for Worst preserved, but it might have to bow to Moonmoth's!
Curtis Clay

Offline Rugser

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #14 on: January 02, 2008, 02:21:02 pm »
The my worse specimens are many.
These two sestertiis are those that have made me suffer more.
 ;D  :-[
- Augvstus,  sestertius ROM ET AVG  Cohen 236 mint Lyon.
- Agrippina M.,  sestertius Cohen 3

Best regards
ser

Offline areich

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #15 on: January 02, 2008, 02:36:52 pm »
Ser, your first coin wins the prize for the worst coin in the thread.
Congratulations? ;)

Andreas
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Offline Corduba

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #16 on: January 02, 2008, 02:46:47 pm »
Here is mine. It´s most of my desirable coins but i couln´t find any better than this. The Colonia Patricia sestertius. The coin is really big 41 mm. and the weight is 40,2 gr.

Best regards, Ignacio.

Offline Arminius

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #17 on: January 02, 2008, 03:49:09 pm »
My actual best worst - but also no idea coin:

24-26 mm / 14,77 g, Laodicea ad Mare?
laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. (Valerian I ?)
... / ΘΨ(?) - C , Athena or Artemis with shield and spear between two deers.

Offline Rugser

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #18 on: January 02, 2008, 04:40:50 pm »
Thanks airec.
Could the first Augustus compete with this Domitian sestertius?
 ;) :laugh: ;) :laugh:
RIC 256, Cohen 491

http://imagedb.coinarchives.com/img/kunker/111/06667q00.jpg

Offline Frans Diederik

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #19 on: January 02, 2008, 04:48:45 pm »
If not plated and extremely bubbly because of the oxidisation underneath the silver, this would have been a dream coin. Cost me fifteen dollars and I find that little!
IMP.CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG. laureate and draped bust right /
IMP XIX in ex; sow with three little piggies standing left.


Frans

Offline Pscipio

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #20 on: January 02, 2008, 04:50:47 pm »
Great coin for that price!

Lars
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Offline Frans Diederik

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #21 on: January 02, 2008, 05:22:33 pm »
Yes, I thought so too; the Augustus denarius presently being discussed in the Identification threads belongs to the same buy. Believe it or not, but that one cost me even less!

Frans

Offline Pscipio

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #22 on: January 02, 2008, 05:35:13 pm »
Here's one I haven't shown hitherto, since it's in a very bad shape; but I think it fits well into this thread. The type is rare (I haven't seen it again so far), and tells a fascinating story which can be read the description of this superior example from the same dies: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=135263&AucID=160&Lot=1524

Mine is 19 mm and 2.92 g.

Lars
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Offline Jay GT4

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #23 on: January 02, 2008, 05:40:47 pm »
Lars, that is a great coin and a great story!  Wish it was mine, even in that condition!

Offline curtislclay

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Re: Best Worst Coin of the Day!
« Reply #24 on: January 02, 2008, 06:45:42 pm »
The reference to the fable of Aesop seems probable, but I'm doubtful about the suggested additional historical meaning, that the lion represents Caracalla who will hopefully be grateful to Serdica for some earlier service!
Curtis Clay

 

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