RARCOA - An Important Name in Numismatics

From the beginning of their partnership, Dreiske and Shapiro shared one overriding and very ambitious goal - for RARCOA to carry at least one of every American coin in stock. While their goal was obviously never fulfilled, RARCOA was well known for regularly stocking two or three examples of major rarities at any time.

Ed Milas joined RARCOA as a partner to David Shapiro in 1972, after Ben had retired to Florida the year earlier. In 1974, Ed purchased David's share of the company. While he had operated his own rare coin firm prior to joining RARCOA, it was now Ed Milas's turn to add to RARCOA's milestoned history.

In 1976 RARCOA co-founded the Chicago International Coin Fair (CICF) with Krause Publications. CICF was the first midwestern coin show dedicated to non-US coins, and successfully drew collectors and dealers from around the US and across the Atlantic.

Beginning in 1979, RARCOA collaborated with Stacks's, Paramount, and Superior to present a series of high-powered annual auctions which became known as the "Apostrophe Auctions". These sales - Auction '79 through Auction '90 - were purposely limited to 2,000 lots, 500 from each principal. In all, these 12 sales included 24,000 lots with a total value of over $135 million, an average sale price of over $5,000 per lot!

Many of the greatest rarities in American numismatics were sold by RARCOA in these sales, including the Dexter 1804 Dollar, an 1894-S Barber Dime, and dozens upon dozens of proof gold coins. Auction'79 included the first Brasher Doubloon sold at public auction since the Ten Eyck sale in 1922.

In 1988 we moved to our current location in west-suburban Chicago to accommodate the changing character of our business, and to provide a more private atmosphere for our clients.

On the other hand, we're not named Rare Coin Company of America by accident. For almost 40 years, RARCOA has been and continues to be known as a leading buyer of rare and important numismatic coins of the United States. Additionally, we are regular buyers of high quality rarities from Ancient Greece and Rome, Europe, Asia, Mexico and Spanish America.