My Quest for the Rarest Coins: Treasures from My Collection

I’ve spent decades collecting coins, and nothing gets my heart racing like uncovering a truly rare piece. Over the years, I’ve held coins so scarce they feel like ancient whispers in my palm, each with a story that keeps me hooked. Let me share some standout treasures from my collection and what they’ve taught me about rarity – straight talk from one collector to another.

The Crown Jewels of My Collection

One coin I’ll never forget is this Etruscan AE26 from Central Italy, circa 300-250 BC. It shows a solemn figure with a scepter and a dog carrying an aryballos, all wrapped in this gorgeous dark green patina. Only a handful exist – it’s referenced in SNG Cop. 44 and P. Visonà’s work, which still gives me chills. Then there’s my Seleucid tetradrachm of Antiochos Hierax (242-227 BC, Alexandreia Troas mint). I scored it from an unpublished hoard, and those crisp surfaces with sharp control marks? Absolute perfection.

• My Roman Egyptian Marcus Aurelius as Caesar obol? Emmett rated it R5 – meaning maybe five exist. Still pinching myself over that one.
• There’s also my Licinius I follis from Antioch, another R5 rarity. The Jupiter and Victory details are so sharp you’d swear they were minted yesterday.
• And my Caligula sestertius with Pietas reverse – yes, that rare type that broke records recently. I got mine in a more affordable grade before prices went crazy.

What Rarity Really Means in Our World

Here’s the truth about rarity: it’s not just numbers. I’ve learned to cross-check everything against sources like RIC, Emmett or Alexandropoulos. Take that Constantine I follis from Siscia with the victory reverse – supposedly only three known. But without concrete proof? I keep my skepticism handy. Auction houses play games too – I’ve seen “R5” coins pop up constantly while supposedly common issues vanish for years.

My best tip? Study minor varieties religiously. Like that Klazomenai diobol with the left-facing winged boar instead of the usual right-facing type – that tiny difference makes all the value. I live on Wildwinds and ACsearch tracking patterns, but remember the Seville hoard? Overnight, “rare” coins became paperweights. That’s why I now chase historical significance over pure scarcity – saves both heartache and wallet-ache.

How I Collect (And What I’d Tell My Younger Self)

Chasing rarity alone? That’s a fool’s game. I learned this hard way when hoards tanked my “unique” coins’ value. Now I follow the history – like my dream to own an “Eid Mar” denarius not because it’s rare, but because it witnessed Caesar’s murder. This mindset led me to my unique Domitian-Domitia hybrid. It’s not my focus area, but holding that slice of history? Priceless.

• Buy smart: Let rarity be the icing, not the cake. I’ll always pick a solid VF coin with papers over a “rare” corroded lump.
• Keep records: My database notes every reference and known example – it’s saved me from overpaying countless times.
• Love the hunt: The real thrill? Uncovering stories. Like my Constantinopolis commemorative with that weird double border – probably some mint worker having a bad day!

At its core, collecting rare coins is about stubborn passion. Whether it’s my Carthaginian 15-shekel piece or that elusive Byzantine mint, each discovery feels like time traveling. Stay curious, verify everything, and never forget – the truest rarities are the coins that make your pulse quicken when you hold them.