The Top 10 U.S. Coins with the Worst Designs – You Won’t Believe

The 10 Ugliest Coins Ever in America

The hobby of coin collecting is usually associated with beauty, artistry and historical significance. But not every coin is appreciated for its design. There are some US coins which have been disliked due to their weird design, useless artwork or unusual structure.

Let’s know about the 10 ugliest coins ever in America, whose design has been criticized a lot among collectors.

1915-S Panama-Pacific Octagonal $50 Gold Piece

This coin changed into issued to commemorate the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, but its octagonal shape and filled-in layout make it an peculiar specimen within the global of cash.

Although it has great historical significance, collectors did not like this coin due to its asymmetry and complex design. The dolphin shapes on the edges of the coin, which symbolize the Panama Canal, make the design even more ugly.

2000-P Sacagawea Dollar (Experimental Rinses)

The Sacagawea Dollar was created as a beautiful gold-sheen coin, but some of the coins were subjected to experimental rinses, which caused it to look stained and ugly.

The biggest problem with this coin was that its golden sheen faded quickly, causing stains and discolorations on the coin. This poor execution ruined its beauty to a large extent.

1979 Susan B. Anthony Dollar

This coin has been dubbed by many collectors as the ugliest U.S. coin. It was similar in size and color to the 25-cent coin, making it difficult for people to identify it.

In addition, the flat and expressionless portrait of Susan B. Anthony and the dim design of an eagle landing on the moon on its reverse made it even more unappealing. Its popularity among the public was low, and it is considered one of the U.S. Mint’s unsuccessful designs.

1916-1945 Mercury Dime

Although many people love the Mercury Dime, its design has been confusing to some collectors. The coin depicts Liberty on the obverse, but his winged cap makes him look like the Roman god Mercury**.

Also, the reverse of this coin features a “fasces” and an olive branch, which many collectors find to be an odd and inconsistent design.

2007-P George Washington Presidential Dollar

The Presidential Dollar Series was issued to honor former US presidents, but the portrait of George Washington on this coin appears stern and emotionless.

Collectors believe that this design does not do justice to President Washington’s personality. Also, this coin does not have the traditional “reeding” on the edges, which makes this coin feel like a token.

1808 Capped Bust Half Cent

This coin was one of the earliest coins of the US, but there was a lot of imbalance and inconsistency in its design.

The portrait of Liberty was strangely, irregular and out of balance. The hair design has been described by collectors as rushed and careless. The overall artwork is considered to be weak and ugly compared to other older U.S. coins.

1883 Liberty Head Nickel (‘No Cents’ Version’)

This nickel coin, issued in 1883, became infamous for a major mistake. It had only a **Roman numeral “V” (five) inscribed on it, but not the word “Cents,” which led to many counterfeiters **using it for a gold coin to commit fraud.

The design was so plain and flat that it did not look very attractive. **Soon, the U.S. Mint had to change the design and add the word “Cents.”

2009 “Early Years” Lincoln Cent

This coin was designed to depict the early life of Abraham Lincoln, showing him sitting on a log reading.

Although its historical significance is appreciated, its design appears too childish and cartoonish. Lincoln’s posture appears unnatural, and the lack of any detailed design in the background made this coin unappealing to many collectors.

1971 Eisenhower Dollar

This coin was too large and heavy in size, making it inconvenient for everyday use.

Its depiction of President Dwight D. Eisenhower was quite flat and dull. The reverse of the coin depicted the Apollo 11 mission symbol, but it was considered a simplistic design lacking artistic depth.

2010 Hot Springs National Park Quarter

This coin, issued as part of the America the Beautiful series, was created to depict Hot Springs National Park with a simple fountain and a building in the background.
The coin’s biggest flaw was that its design appeared flat and uninspired. There were no special details, making it look more like a token than a historical coin.

Conclusion

While many U.S. coins are renowned for their artistry and historical significance, some are disliked for design mistakes, poor artwork, and imbalanced composition.

While these coins may be ugly, their unique stories and histories make them special to collectors. Some coins are considered more valuable and interesting because of their ugliness, making them stand out in the world of coin collecting.

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