My Hunt for the Rarest Coins in My Collection

Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours immersed in the world of ancient coins, and let me tell you, nothing gets my pulse racing like finding a truly rare piece. Rarity isn’t just about how few were made—it’s that electric feeling of holding a sliver of history almost no one else has touched. I’ve learned that rarity can be tricky, subjective, and full of surprises. Today, I want to share some of those lessons and show off a few of my own heart-stopping finds.

What Makes a Coin Truly Rare?

Figuring out what makes a coin rare can be a real puzzle. It’s not just about how few were minted; things like how many survived, the story behind them, and even a sudden hoard discovery can turn everything on its head in an instant. I’ve found that many coins labeled ‘rare’ only earn that title after digging through catalogs, hunting on sites like Wildwinds or CNG, and occasionally just stumbling upon them. Take those ‘R5’ ratings in Emmett’s Alexandrian catalog—they scream “ultra rare,” but I’ve seen how the market can have a glut one day and be dry the next. My rule of thumb? Double-check with a few sources before you believe the hype, and never forget that a fresh hoard, like the one they found in Seville, can suddenly make a rare coin surprisingly common.

Glimpses into My Rare Coin Finds

Along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to acquire some genuinely scarce pieces. Here are a few from my cabinet that still make me smile:

• Etruscan AE26 (300-250 BC): I still remember this dark green patina beauty from Central Italy showing a man with a scepter and a dog carrying an aryballos. You’ll find it in SNG Cop. 44 and Visonà’s work—it’s incredibly scarce and a perfect example of how Etruria shaped Rome (think the alphabet and Greek myths). I let it go years back, but it’s still one of the rarest coins I’ve ever held.
• Seleucid Tetradrachm of Antiochos Hierax (242-227 BC): Struck in Alexandreia Troas, this silver stunner features Apollo seated on an omphalos with a horse grazing below. I pulled it from a hoard at Harlan J Berk—a SC-876 variant with control marks you won’t find elsewhere. Bright and graded gVF, its rarity comes from the specific workshop that produced it. Definitely the crown jewel of my Seleucid material.
• Klazomenai Diobol (499-494 BC): This little silver oddball shows a left-facing winged boar. While right-facing versions turn up regularly, I’ve never spotted another lefty like this online. At just 1.2g with some porosity but nice VF details, it proves how tiny die variations can create unexpected rarities.
• Carthaginian 15-Shekel (Early 2nd Century BCE): A bronze monster at 95g featuring Tanit and a rearing horse. Documented in Alexandropoulos and Müller, only four are recorded on Magnagraecia.nl. That scarcity makes it special, and I keep hoping another surfaces so I can update my notes.
• Alexandrian Obol of Marcus Aurelius (151/2 AD): Emmett rates this 6.0g coin with Caesar’s bust and sphinx as R5. Alexandrian issues keep you guessing—sometimes an R5 coin is everywhere, while a common one vanishes. With Emmett’s new catalog coming, I’m curious to see how these ratings might shift.

Navigating Rarity: Tips and Pitfalls

Confirming a coin’s rarity can be tough, especially when records are incomplete. I always cross-reference using standards like RIC, SNG, or Emmett, and I rely on tools like ACsearch or Wildwinds to see how many others are out there. But my number one tip? Don’t buy a coin just because it’s called rare. I skipped what was labeled a ‘rare’ imperial coin once because I worried a hoard might surface and crash its value—like my Postumus antoninianus (RIC VII 81). It’s rare today, but that could change overnight. Instead, collect coins that speak to you because of their history or beauty; let rarity be the icing on the cake. And when it comes to condition, I’ll take a coin with great details over a flawless one any day. My Caligula sestertius showing Pietas is a perfect example—it’s not perfect, but it’s a rare coin I could actually afford and I love it just as much as any million-dollar museum piece.

Why Rarity Shouldn’t Rule Your Collection

Even though I love the chase for rare coins, I’ve realized that rarity isn’t everything. Take the Eid Mar denarius—I’d want it for its incredible story even if it were common. At its heart, collecting is about what moves you, whether it’s an everyday Constantine follis or that quirky Domitian-Domitia hybrid I own that made it onto Wikipedia. My advice? Collect what you love, keep good records (I use a simple database), and always expect the unexpected. Because the true thrill isn’t in how rare a coin is—it’s in the hunt itself.

So, rare coins are like hidden treasures—they make the journey exciting, but they shouldn’t be the whole point. I’m still hunting for my next ‘winged dolphin man,’ but in the meantime, I’m enjoying the rare pieces I’ve found and the tales they carry. Happy hunting, everyone!