Nice ones, @Evan Saltis! Gotta love a big, chunky sestertius! Here's one of Gordian III from my collection: Gordian III, AD 238-244. Roman Æ sestertius, 24.30 gm, 28.7 mm, 12 h. Rome, AD 240. Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: LIBERTAS AVG SC, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and scepter. Refs: RIC 318a; Cohen 153; RCV 8717; Hunter 147.
Most of my Gordians came to me in the previous millennium when he was less popular and cheap especially if you were willing to put up with a little 'problem' here and there. The first was not cheap ($187 in 2000) but coins as Caesar under Balbinus and Pupienus are premium. I was of the opinion that a crack like this was 'bad' enough to be 'good'. This was what $60 bought in 1989. I would not have paid that much but I really liked the flan shape. Sometimes you just can't pass up a deal. This was $9 from Jonathan Kern in 2000. The reverse strike was appealing and the hole (what hole?) shape looks like a triangular nail. I am currently going through my coins looking for some to sacrifice. This will not be one. Most collectors would see this as a 'glass half empty' but I saw $9 in it with no hesitation. My most recent sestertius was this LAETITIA AVG N in 2016 which I bought because the asses of this type then available were selling higher than I would pay. My Gordian as overstruck with a Byzantine Anonymous follis was this type and I wanted one to show. I still do but spend no time looking anymore. Gordian III asses are a bit harder to find than sestertii. I only have one which appealed because of the Hercules reverse (and it was cheap).
6 miles is a long distance, especially in the dark and cold, with your tear on top of that. I feel for ya. Here's my mirror version of your Claudius II with eagle looking the other way... Claudius II Gothicus, Ruled 268-270 AD AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria Struck 269/270 AD Obverse: AVT K KΛAVΔIOC CEB, laureate and draped bust right. Reverse: Eagle standing right, head left, holding wreath in beak; date L-B across field, RY 2. References: Dattari 5415 var Size: 20mm, 7.2 g And a nice Gordian chunk... Gordian III, Sestertius, Struck 240 AD, Rome Mint Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: AETERNITATI AVG - Sol standing, facing, head left, holding globe in left hand, right hand raised; S-C across field. Reference: Sear 8702; RIC 297a; Cohen 43
Nice coins - here is my prettiest Gordian III sestertius: Gordian III Æ Sestertius (241-244 A.D.) Rome Mint IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS AVG S C, Securitas seated left holding sceptre & propping head. RIC 311. (17.06 grams / 27 x 25 mm) Now for my 2021 coin-budget-wrecking car story....some jerk stole my catalytic converter! Arrrrrgh. My car is a beat-up Chevy - since I walk to work, I don't drive it much, but the other day, I started her up and it sounded like a World War I Sopwith Camel. Yep, they sliced out the catalytic converter, sold it to a scrap yard for $120 or so. It will cost me around $400-$500 to get it replaced. So much for the US stimulus check!
A sestertius like David Athertons: Titus, as Caesar; 69-79 AD. Æ Sestertius. "JUDAEA CAPTA" issue. Rome mint. Struck 72 AD. Obv: Laureate head right. Rev: Titus standing in triumphal quadriga, right, holding scepter and branch. The chariot is ornamented with Nike standing r. holding wreath in outstretched arm. “S.C” IN EX. RIC II, 611 (Vespasian); Hendin 790, fourth edition, except differing obverse legend.
Very nice new pickups @Evan Saltis! My first sestertius was actually the same type as yours, but with a green patina.