Constantine II BEATA from Trier with terribly engraved hand

[Victor]

I thought this coin was neat because of the terrible engraving of the raised hand. Though hands are frequently poorly engraved on coins, this example is something out of a horror/ sci-fi movie.

[Gavin]

Those clawlike hands aren’t not uncommon, but you’re right, that one seems to be really exaggerated. I often thought those claw hands are an interesting artistic choice for die engravers who seem to be so skilled in so many other ways. In other words, that style seems to be a genuine aesthetic decision, like the claw hands on SOL on some of Constantine’s coins. I suppose there’s no accounting for taste.

[Victor]

for comparison, here is a skillful engraving of the same obverse gesture, though Sol on the reverse has some crazy hands.