If you are looking for a challenging area to collect, try Severus Alexander (or any other emperor's) Provincial Coinage.  Provincial Coinage is coinage that came from the Provinces of Rome, the territories taken over by the Romans.  Much of this area was formerly controlled by the Greeks so the coinage text is mainly Greek.  To better understand the area in the Roman Empire, you can view the following map.  Provincial Coinage was produced for use in the local areas and was mainly bronze. Imperial Coinage was for use in Rome and for Imperial Costs (paying for the Army, etc.) and could be gold, silver, or bronze.   In the area of Roman Provincials,  you will not find a vast variety of references that make identifying your coins so easy.  It can seems like almost every provincial coin is another unknown.

While this area can be a frustrating for some, others will find it a challenge.  The variety and excitement of this area can be very interesting.  I wouldn't suggest this area to new collectors, but if you find Severus Alexander boring to collect, give this a try.

Here are a few examples of Provincial bronzes of Severus Alexander:

AE25 from Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis.  Ob.  Laur. head of Severus Alexander, Rev. Apollo stg. L., holding patera & branch.  AMNG 1025.

AE25 from Caria Harpasa, Ob. Sev. laureate head r., Rev. River god holding reed and cornucopia.  No known reference.

AE19, from Bithynia Nicomedia, Ob. Sev. Laureate head r., Rev. Eagle stg. L. on scepter wings spread, over altar.  No known reference.

AE21, Bithynia Nicaea, Ob. Legend M.AV.CEV.ALEXANDPOC AVG, Sev. Laureate head r., Rev. N IK AI E/ON between three standards.  Reference SGIC 3287. 

Billion Tetradrachm Roman Egypt.  Ob. Severus Alexander bust.  Rev. Serapis standing left.  Reference Curtis 1097.  (for more on Tetradrachms from Roman Egypt)

AE 29, Phrygia, Cotiaeum, 11.30g. BM-62. Rx: Asklepios and Hygiaia standing side by side, mint name in exergue, circular legend continuing in field naming P. Aelius Demetrius Celer, Archon for the second time. 

AE 25, Thrace, Marcianopolis, Ob. Laureate bust right.  Rev. Homonoia left.  AMNG 1011. SGIC 3269.

AE25, Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, Ob. Laureate bust right.   Rev. Concordia standing with patera & cornucopia.  AMNG 993 Variant.

AE32 Thrace Byzantium, Ob. Laureate bust right.   Rev. Torch.  Schon-G. Pl 97, 1707.

With the provincial bronzes you open your collection up to many new sub themes that you can collect.  Bronzes from each region of the empire, ones with animals on them, weapons, etc.  For those bored with the coins of the mints of Rome and Antioch, here lies an area that you can make important discoveries and enjoy thoroughly.  Please also see my page on the Provincial coins of Alexandria and Moesia.