My Brush with Ancient Rare Coins in Florida: Lessons in Scam Avoidance

As a longtime coin collector, I’m always hunting for special pieces, but a recent online encounter with a Florida dealer taught me some eye-opening lessons about staying alert in our hobby. It all began when I was tracking down a particular shipwreck coin and found an offer that nearly swept me off my feet.

The Trap That Almost Snagged Me

While searching online for an Ex-Lutine coin, I spotted ancientrarecoins.com advertising one with its original 1938 box and COA for just $200 – including free shipping to the UK. My heart skipped a beat until I noticed identical coins listed elsewhere for much higher prices. That bargain basement number screamed trouble.

Warning Signs That Saved Me

When I looked closer, several alarm bells went off:

• The listed address belonged to Gables Coin & Stamp Shop, a respected dealer who confirmed they’d never heard of the site – likely their identity was hijacked
• No real human presence in the ‘Contact’ or ‘About Us’ sections, just vague placeholder text
• Sketchy details like a disconnected phone number and broken payment links
• A quick WHOIS check revealed the domain was freshly registered through Wix – classic hit-and-run setup

This whole mess reminded me of the oldest rule in collecting: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. A few minutes of checking can save you years of regret.

How I Build Trust in Coin Deals

Through hard experience, I’ve learned nothing beats seeing coins in hand or working with dealers you know personally. My favorite vendor earned my trust by sending coins on open invoice – letting me inspect before paying. That relationship paid off when I submitted a batch to CAC and over 80% earned green or gold beans. Good people deliver good coins.

Real-World Tips to Dodge Scams

Here’s what works for me in today’s market:

• Always verify physical addresses and look for ANA memberships
• Demand clear contact info – if you can’t reach a human, walk away
• Treat underpriced rarities with extreme suspicion – cross-check against NGC or PCGS listings
• When buying online, use protected platforms like eBay but check seller ratings carefully
• Swap stories with other collectors – we protect each other by sharing scam alerts

Wider Lessons for Smart Collecting

This episode showed me that nobody’s immune to scams, especially when hunting specific treasures. Florida’s become a particular hotspot for these schemes lately. Whether you collect ancient bronzes or modern bullion, focus on building relationships with trusted sources and always get important pieces graded. Our hobby’s a wonderful adventure, but it pays to keep your wits about you. Trust that gut feeling when something feels off – stay sharp, stay safe, and let’s keep protecting this passion we all share.