This Denarius Seem Off

I think it's very worn and damaged and really don't have much value to a collection.

Bob, are you sure it isn't a copy? I mean doesn't the obverse legend look a bit on the thick side? as if they smashed the silver down?

Just looks like worn, smooshed letters to me. Other worn examples of these issues:

Due to being made in much lower quality silver than other issues of the time, those Antony legionary denarii circulated for a long time. One was found in the 3rd century Beau Street hoard.

So yes, it is perfectly normal for this type to be that heavily worn. They can get even worse than that.

looks perfectly fine to me.

IMO, while it's generally not advisable to go buying up lots of low grade coins, I believe that this type is an exception.

As J1M already stated, Antony struck these to about .750 fine when a denarius was usually .900 fine or greater. After the battle at Actium, Octavian needed the loyalty of the troops. I don't think we have the primary source, but we can assume that he decreed that all merchants in the empire must accept these coins at face value. Gresham's law kicked in, and these coins were always the first to be spent until debasement finally caught up around the time of Commodus.

I bought one of these in about that condition when I first started collecting ancients - I still have it, and while I hope to eventually be able to afford a high grade example, I love the history of these coins - the thousands of hands they passed through for possibly more than two centuries!

Back to the question - if a forger is going to make a fake legionary denarius, they are going to go for one with the legion number visible - those are worth substantially more!