My Close Call with Ancient Rare Coins Florida Scams

I’ve collected ancient rare coins for years, but a recent encounter with a Florida dealer nearly burned me. It started when I spotted a shipwreck coin online—an ex-Lutine piece complete with its original 1938 box and COA—advertised for just $200, including free FedEx shipping to the UK. My pulse quickened, but something felt wrong. And boy, was I right. Let me share what I discovered and how it reminded me to stick to my collecting principles.

Spotting the Red Flags

When ancientrarecoins.com popped up, the deal seemed too sweet—and in our hobby, that usually means trouble. A closer look revealed several glaring issues:

• The coin was priced way below market value—similar pieces were going for over $250. That alone smelled fishy.
• Free international shipping on a rare item? Classic bait for unsuspecting buyers.
• No actual humans mentioned anywhere—just a suspicious phone number like +177228228195 that looked like a typo.
• Dead links throughout their site, especially when trying to pay. Legitimate dealers don’t have vanishing payment options.
• The address matched Gables Coin & Stamp Shop, a respected Miami dealer. But when I called them? They’d never heard of the site. Turns out scammers had hijacked their address, and Reddit threads confirmed similar warnings.

This whole mess taught me: if your gut says “no,” listen. A quick WHOIS search showed the domain was registered through Wix in March 2025 with a near-expiry date—textbook scam behavior.

Building Trust in Your Coin Buys

After decades in this game, I’ve learned to protect myself. I now insist on seeing coins in person when possible, or buying only from dealers I’ve built relationships with. My favorite example? One honest dealer sends coins on open invoice—I inspect before paying or returning. That mutual trust paid off when I submitted 50-60 coins to CAC: over 80% got green or gold stickers, proving quality.

• Always verify dealers: Look for lifetime ANA memberships or physical shops like Gables—check their photos and reputation.
• Start small online. Build relationships with sellers who have clear histories and actually answer questions.
• Watch for “bargains” on entry-level rarities like mint-state Vespasian Aurei—scammers prey on new collectors.

Even on eBay, I’ve found gems by focusing on one-time sellers with fair shipping, but I never skip homework. Remember—trust takes time to earn.

Staying Vigilant in Today’s Market

Florida’s become a hotbed for coin scams, likely thanks to its numismatic history and online anonymity. My advice? Stay sharp. Scammers constantly adapt, using fake ads and stolen images. When hunting rare coins, verify everything—domain registrations, payment methods, even unexpected FedEx emails.

Collecting should bring joy, not stress. By sharing close calls like this, we protect our community. Keep your eyes open, cultivate trusted connections, and happy hunting!