I ended the year not with a bang, but a bust. These coins cost between $4 and $10, and I don't think any of them were really worth that. River god on Antoninus Pius AE29. Can't get more worn than this and still remain attributable. Septimius Severus AE28. Coin appears to have been heavily electrolyzed, but then the small bits of malachite on the reverse would beg to differ. Either way, pretty rough and ugly. Severus Alexander AE25. Another mediocre coin. Maybe 2022 will be a more worthwhile year...
Well I like 'em, @hotwheelsearl - sure they have suffered the ages, but with coins like this I always have a lot of fun trying to attribute them. Those three coins look like a couple hours of frustrating but enjoyable time on RPC Online. My very last purchase of 2021 was ugly but cheap, an unattributed lot for $19.50. I went for it because of the Gordian III tetradrachm, which are a bit scarce (this one is rare, I found out thanks to @dougsmit help rendered earlier). But I like the other ones as well. Here's the lot: This Faustina II sestertius is one of my favorite types: I hope I get to go to heaven riding on a peacock, my veil billowing behind me, but probably only empresses get this treatment. My mode of transport will probably be a handbasket. This is my third one of the type, all three of them horrible in one way or another (I'd bet @Roman Collector has a nice one): A Byzantine Class D Anonymous follis - worn, but all there, except the obverse legends: A pitted and worn Gratian, but fully attributable (RIC IX Thessalonica 37a (subtype 1) and an interesting reverse type: Many would say this Licinius is uncollectable; I say jowls, Jupiter and a captive wearing a dunce cap - what's not to like? This Constantine the Great AE could probably be "conserved," but not by me - I like the green acne just fine: Here's the Gordian tetradrachm from Alexandria, which is pretty much worth the lot price, I think: Another tetradrachm, this one issued for Diocletian - it is scruffy like the rest, but it has nice colors, especially on the obverse: So here's to 2022 being another great year for giving homes to the ugly and the cheap.
