My Rarest Coin Revelations: A Collector’s Personal Journey

As a lifelong coin collector, I’ve spent decades immersed in numismatics, and that thrill of discovering a truly rare piece never fades. From ancient relics to medieval treasures, I’ve held coins that feel like physical fragments of history. Today, I’m sharing some personal highlights from my collection – not just to showcase rarities, but to explore what makes these pieces meaningful beyond their scarcity.

Showcasing My Rarest Treasures

Through luck and persistence, I’ve acquired some extraordinary coins. These standouts tell my collecting story:

• Etruscan AE26 (300-250 BC): This Central Italian bronze piece, with its male figure and dog holding an aryballos, still haunts me. That deep green patina! Though I eventually sold it, this SNG Cop. 44 reference remains one of my most memorable finds, a tangible link to Etruscan culture before Rome’s rise.
• Seleucid Tetradrachm of Antiochos Hierax (242-227 BC): I remember spotting this silver stunner in a dealer’s tray back in 2015. Minted in Alexandreia Troas, its Antiochos I and Apollo Delphios design leapt out from an unpublished hoard. That SC-876 rarity designation felt earned after examining hundreds of coins.
• Constantine I Follis (AD 319): This Siscia bronze, with Constantine’s helmeted bust and twin Victories, supposedly has only three known siblings. Whether true or not, it taught me to always double-check rarity claims against catalogs and archives.
• Alexandrian Obol of Marcus Aurelius (CE 151/2): Emmett rated this Egyptian coin R5, but I’ve learned such ratings can surprise you. Some “rare” coins appear frequently while supposedly common ones vanish – a good reminder that rarity guides are just that.
• Postumus Antoninianus (CE 263): Found in a Cologne group lot, this Providentia reverse piece (RIC VII rare) proved how hoards can rewrite rarity overnight. Now I appreciate coins for more than just scarcity.

What Rarity Really Means in Ancient Coins

Rarity’s a tricky beast. Over the years, I’ve seen coins become rare for countless reasons: tiny mintages, unique variants, or historical accidents. Take my Klazomenai diobol with its left-facing winged boar – seems unpublished! Or my Carthaginian 15-shekel coin with the raised-foreleg horse, documented as exceptionally rare.

But here’s the rub: rarity doesn’t always equal value. My Caligula sestertius sold for far less than museum-quality pieces despite its scarcity. Condition and collector demand often trump rarity alone. And with discoveries like the Seville hoard always possible, I’ve shifted toward collecting history rather than exclusivity.

Hard-Won Tips for Collecting Rare Coins

If my journey’s taught me anything, it’s this:

• Research is your best friend: I live in catalogs like RIC and Emmett. Before buying, I scour CNG and ACSearch archives to verify rarity claims – it’s saved me from overpaying countless times.
• Grading matters: Learning precise terms like gVF (good very fine) transformed how I evaluate coins. My Augustus dupondius is scarce in any condition, but high-grade examples? That’s where real premiums live.
• Collect what speaks to you: I treasure my “Eid Mar” denarius for its history, not just rarity. Buying solely for scarcity risks heartbreak if a hoard emerges. My R5 Licinius I follis resonates because it connects me to that era.
• Document everything: My notebooks overflow with provenance details and references. This habit actually got one hybrid Domitian coin featured on Wikipedia – what a rush!
• Love the chase: While I still hunt white whales like the “Winged Dolphin Man,” the real joy is in the process. Cultivate dealer relationships, haunt auctions, and stay patient. The best finds often appear when you least expect them.

Why We Really Collect

At day’s end, my rarest coins aren’t beloved for their scarcity, but for the conversations they start with history. Whether it’s that unique 1579 Dombes gold pistole or a common issue, what matters is feeling that tangible connection across centuries. I’ll never own every rare coin I admire, but handling ancient metal and sharing these stories? That’s the true magic of our hobby.