Coin collecting, aka numismatics, has been a popular hobby for centuries. Over time, many individuals and organizations have amassed impressive collections of coins from all over the world. If you’re searching for a bit of inspiration to build a grand coin collection of your own, here are some of the most amazing coin collections in the world.
The British Museum Collection
The British Museum in London has one of the world’s largest and most impressive collections of coins with over a million coins and medals from around the world. The collection includes coins from ancient Greece and Rome, medieval Europe, and modern times. It also has thousands of paper notes, such as a 14th-century Chinese banknote.
The Eliasberg Collection
Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. was an American numismatist who built an extraordinary collection of coins. The most interesting feat was that Eliasberg Sr. — at one point — collected every coin ever minted in the United States from 1792 to 1960. After his death, the collection was sold in a series of auctions in the 1980s and 1990s, fetching a total of $44.5 million.
The King Farouk Collection
Although his rule ended in exile, King Farouk of Egypt was a passionate collector of coins for his entire life. At the time of his death in 1965, his collection was one of the largest and most valuable in the world. The collection included rare and historic coins from ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt, as well as more modern coins from Europe and the United States.
The Smithsonian Collection
If you want to see some of the rarest coins in the world with your own eyes, take a trip to The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. This world-renowned museum has over 450,000 objects in its collection, including the 1804 silver dollar — one of the most famous and valuable coins in the world.
The Virgil Brand Collection
Virgil Brand was an American collector who built one of the most comprehensive collections of coins and medals ever assembled. Financed by his role as the president of the United States Brewing Company, Brand eventually built a collection that featured over 350,000 coins.
As a coin-collecting enthusiast, he was known to openly welcome other enthusiasts to see his collection. However, he eventually contracted a skin disease and became a recluse before his death in 1926. After his death, the executors of his estate sold the collection at auction — dismantling one of the most impressive private coin collections in the world.
The Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection
Harry W. Bass Jr. was a prominent American businessman and politician who focused primarily on collecting coins from the United States and Mexico. In the 1960s, he joined the American Numismatics Association, eventually becoming its president — and with good reason. His coin collection focused mostly on gold coins, but he also assembled one of the most well-documented collections of large U.S. banknotes, specifically from those made around the Civil War.
Get Started on Your Coin Collection Today
It may take a lifetime to amass an impressive coin collection like the ones listed above. But wherever there’s a will, there’s a way. Start small and within your budget, head to our coin gallery in Newport Beach and we’ll ensure you get the best value. Whether you’re buying, selling or wanting to trade coins, we can help. Our Numismatic experience has helped hundreds of people start or liquidate a collection over the years.
With London Coin Galleries of Newport Beach on your side, you can turn your hobby into a valuable, wealth-building venture.
