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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Marsyas Mike, post: 5310183, member: 85693&quot;]Most of my ancients cost under $20, and although my collection is by no means high grade, I am still amazed at what semi-decent stuff is available on the cheap. </p><p><br /></p><p>In keeping with the OP, here are some 2020 Byzantines that were $20 or under:</p><p><br /></p><p>Anastasius Follis with dots above stars on reverse (SB 21; MIB 28b).&nbsp; These were issued in the last months of Anastasius&#039;s reign and are a bit scarce.&nbsp; Soon after getting my first one ($16), a second one came along ($15):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224155[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224154[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Anastasius Follis, small module, two stars (SB 16).&nbsp; This one just came in - I&#039;ve been collecting Byzantine only since 2013, so I am no authority, but these small module examples are hard to find, I think.&nbsp; This one was $9.95. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224156[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is an ugly Justin I 12 nummi from Antioch (SB 112).&nbsp; What made this worthwhile is the strange striking characteristics on the reverse - a double die?&nbsp; I don&#039;t know what is going on but I liked it.&nbsp; At $1.15, it was well worth it:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224158[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Justinian I follis (SB 163).&nbsp; These forward-facing Justinian I folles are expensive a lot of the time.&nbsp; At $20 this isn&#039;t lovely, but not bad for the price, I think:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224159[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Constans II follis, Constantinople (SB 1000).&nbsp; This was $0.99!&nbsp; These are always rather crude, but this one really appeals to me, especially for the price:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224157[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Sometimes Byzantine lots come along that have some pretty interesting stuff in it, at least for a duffer like me.&nbsp; For $21.24 total:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224160[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Back in January I got this lot for $30 total.&nbsp; I used an eBay gift card from my boss, so it was free, in a way:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224161[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>This $30 lot came with what is certainly the scarcest Byzantine I own, the mysterious Justinian I follis from Salona/Ravenna (full attribution below):</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224162[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>Justinian I&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Æ Follis</b></p><p><b>(c. 540s-550s or 562-565 A.D.)</b></p><p><b>Salona / Ravenna Mint (?)</b></p><p><b>(Military Mint)</b></p><p>IVSTI[NI]ANVS PP, Helmeted facing bust, holding globus cruciger and shield; cross to right / Large M; cross above,</p><p>no mintmark or Officina.</p><p>DOC I 358; MIBE 248; SB 329.</p><p>(6.43 grams / 21 mm)</p><p>eBay Jan. 2020&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lot @ $6.00</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;The correct attribution of this unsigned series of bronzes remains uncertain, but numerous examples have been found in the environs of Salona in Illyria... Grierson supports a date in the 540s-550s...while Hahn dates it to 562-565...the reduced size, simplified design, and scarcity of these bronzes speaks of a short-lived issue of limited circulation.&quot;</p><p>CNG Auctions (several)</p><p><br /></p><p>I didn&#039;t include shipping in the prices noted above, but most of these were from the USA, so $3 to $5 or so for shipping generally.&nbsp; No auction fees because I always use eBay.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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