Interview with Steve Contursi

Honored as one of “The Most Influential People in Numismatics” over the last 60 years— Coin World

How it Started

• From humble beginnings as a paperboy, meat delivery boy, pharmacy worker, and tutor
• At 13 years old Steve was already arbitraging coin professionals in New York
• Physics Professor vs. Coin Dealer
• Recognized opportunity to purchase first coin shop in Minneapolis 

Coin Market Diversity

• Rare coin market is a very misused term
• We buy the best of the best of the best (the Monets and van Goghs...)
• Every rare coin is a unique piece of art
• Looking for The Holy Grail

Steve’s Personal Investment Philosophy

• Steve’s strategy is definitely unusual... not a typical coin dealer mentality
• Willing to buy and hold irreplaceable items without a buyer already lined up
• There will always be somebody that’s going to need that coin
• Like buying oceanfront houses

Disciplined Investment Process

• Controlled largest available inventory in world for decades
• Elimination through investment parameters, tons of research, price comps, pedigree, proprietary formula
• Taking the emotions out of it completely
• Public information is only as good as how you interpret it

Access to the Best Rare Coins

• We provide liquidity to those who need to sell
• We constantly get offered the best collections that come onto the market
• Our reputation is built on trust and the fact that we do what we say we’re going to do
• Proprietary database of where coins are located around the world

Advice on Entering the Market

• Lower end market: enjoy yourself and have fun with it
• Higher end market: don’t underestimate what a professional can do for you
• You could learn online the steps to perform open heart surgery, but would you do it?
• We streamline the process to own some of the greatest rare coins in the world, providing comfort and saving time for clients

The Future is Happening Now

• Working with my son is one of the most enjoyable moments of my life
• The industry has always grown through technological advances over centuries
• Excitement about fractional ownership of historical coins