Green’s Dictionary of Slang

not worth a curse phr.

worthless, useless.

c.1367–86		Langland Piers Plowman (C) XI line 14: Wisdom and witt nowe is nat worth a carse .
1858		G.W. Harris ‘Sut Lovingood Escapes Assassination’ N.Y. Atlas XXI July in Inge (1967) 128: Their laigs aint wuf a cuss.
1888		W.B. Churchward Blackbirding In The South Pacific 74: Catch ’em alive [...] A dead nigger isn’t worth a curse.
1890		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer I 76: No educated blackfellow was ever worth a curse.
1903		J. Furphy Such is Life 41: I hope he’ll scratch the bridle off, and roll on the saddle till it’s not worth a cuss.
1909		Hastings & St Leonard’s Obs. (Sussex) 4 Dec. 9/6: The thing’s not worth a cuss.