The ugliest coin in my collection....

pruebas

Yesterday, I received (from the November Ponterio sale) what has to be the ugliest coin in my collection.

Yet, it belongs in my collection of Mexican patterns because of its historic importance.

The coin is a trial strike of a pattern 1829 PiJS 8R, produced in England and struck over a 1797 George III Penny. To further enhance its ugliness, the reverse has a light X scratched into it. The pattern itself (not this trial strike) is not rare in bronze but very rare in silver. This trial strike is probably unique.

The coin is catalogued, but not photographed, in Buttrey-Hubbard and is this coin. In other words, this coin is ex-Buttrey collection.

Now here, for your viewing pleasure. Please don't puke on your keyboard!




What is your ugliest coin?!

TwoKopeiki

That's an incredible test strike. If you ever get tired of it "ugliness", let me know and I'll send you my address

pruebas

And to keep it going, the following was my ugliest prior to yesterday.

Flip-over double-strike (error or ???) of a 1828 Guanajuato cuartilla pattern. Also struck in England, at Soho.

Why do all these ugly Mexican coins come from England?

At least this coin will not make you vomit.

TwoKopeiki

Oh and here's my ugly. First coin that started my 8 Reales collection, so probably will be the last one I let go of. "No dot before HISPAN" variety, if anyone is actually crazy enough to study war of independence coins by varieties. Not an expensive coin by any means, but I love the crudeness of these issues.

RobP

A splendid acquisitionas I also collect things like this. It's good to have others willing to collect other than just the top grade examples of their chosen field(s) and to consider all the oddballs as the opportunity presents. You also have the added bonus of reduced competition, as these things exclude those that collect by numbers.

SmEagle1795

Here's my ugly coin - the reverse has some porosity on it but I couldn't pass it up because of the obverse style:

7Jaguars

Wow! I'll take that as an "ugly" any time! I like the OP coin as well, I don't think its ugly - beauty is in the eye of the beholder I gues...

Hyperion

amazing examples from the OP.... EXACTLY the type of ugly that keeps me in the hobby!

harasha

I have stated previously that I do not like the coins featuring Ferdinand VII. Ugly man, ugly ruler (though there have been much worse). On the other hand, the toning and wear on that 8R, TwoKopeiki, is wondrous. It would go on my list of favorite coins.

coachbedford

i'm also a huge fan of that kind of 'ugly'!

Flatwoods

I'm pretty sure I have uglier ones on my desk somewhere. Nice stuff!

brg5658

<< <i>I'm pretty sure I have uglier ones on my desk somewhere. Nice stuff! >>



I have a couple Franklin half dollars and some Susan B. Anthony dollars that will give you a run for your money.


I don't see any coins in this thread so far that I'd call ugly.

pruebas

Come on gals and guys, show us your little uglies!

2K, that coin isn't ugly. It's par for the course for War for Independence. Nice toning too.

LochNESS

I can definitely see the justification for buying the coin in the OP. It doesn't actually look that bad to me, FWIW. Ugly in my eyes is bad toning and/or environmental issues.

This probably ranks among my top five ugliest:

RobP

Two contenders for ugly coin of the month. First up, a Soho restrike pattern halfpenny Peck type R24 struck in aluminium. This was one of three varieties struck in this metal from this group of restrikes not known to Peck. Another (R27) was in the Nicholson collection and the third (R28) will probably appear one day. Interestingly, there are about half a dozen varieties of this group in this metal that are only known from the one example, all of which show extensive corrosion, and suggestive of a common location at the time of damage.



The second is this Royal Mint trial for a halfcrown using modified ship halfpenny dies showing the cancellation cuts done by the mint. This coin is also interesting as it is an early example (possibly the first) of a Royal Mint coin struck in steel. Although listed in the Adams halfcrown sale as being in Cu-Ni, analysis has shown it to be steel.



Edited to add references.

harasha

RobP reminded me of this Betts piece:

Iosephus

Ugly, but rare. In his survey of the most important institutional medal collections in Europe, Modesti could only identify two specimens of this medal, both in similarly poor condition (the plate piece is actually worse than this IMO).

Icollecteverything

You can all send me your ugly coins, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I am wondering if the X scratched into the OP coin was probably done at the mint since it was a trial strike.

MrEureka

Ugly enough?

pruebas

<< <i>Ugly enough? >>


Now THAT my friends, is an ugly coin.

harasha

Now that, TwoKopeiki, is what I normally think of Ferdinand VII. Of course, the example just given certainly exceeds my expectations.

egb

This coin is not in my collection. It caught my eye while looking through auctions.

1917 5c

LochNESS

RobP, that Half Crown is AMAZING!

TwoKopeiki

<< <i>Ugly enough? >>



Ugly, sure, and ultimately fascinating. Unusually overweight, even for a War of Independence period Durango mint, and a better than usual strike for an 1811-13 issue. If I Andy would ever consider parting with it, i'll be the first in line