The art of collecting coins can seem quite exclusive and exclusionary, after all, most rare coins are expensive and in private collections that are worth millions almost as soon as they are discovered or even minted, but there is a myth floating around that regular people sometimes can find these rare coins in the belongings of a relative or in their own wallets accidentally. But it turns out, some of these rumors may have a lot more basis in reality than we give them credit for, as we can find hidden treasure even in places that we would not suspect, after all, the authorities did just find a numismatic collection of epic proportions and historical value almost accidentally.
While it is rare, some people die alone without any family around whatsoever and no legal heirs to their belongings. When this happens, in most countries the state is responsible for managing their estate, liquidating their debts, and auctioning their belongings. After that is taken care of, the remaining profits go back to the state and the matter is considered close. Because it is so rare and because we loathe to think of someone not having anyone that cared for them or that they cared for, these cases are not often publicized, but this case is exceptional, and it involves an even more exceptional coin collection that anyone could have imagined.
The rare coin collection that almost disappeared
The case happened in France, when, in 2024, Paul Narce passed away without any descendants in a small village in southwest France. He lived what many have called a lonely quiet life, rarely travelled and had an unremarkable house in his possession. But it seems like this very unassuming man had a very expensive hobby that he was very good at, and that is collecting coins.
When the assigned notary entered the home to start settling his affairs, he found a true treasure, almost worthy of a pirate, more than 1,000 gold coins hidden in the wall. And just like if it was any other valuable treasure, the coins were hidden behind a painting in a store room. And for good measure, early appraisals of the collection put the value of the stash at north of $2 million.
Auction house Beaussant Lefèvre & Associates, speaking with CNN, confirmed that the collection includes coins dating as far back as 336 BC from ancient Macedonia, along with extensive sets from the eras of French monarchs Louis XIV, XV, and XVI. Among the findings were ten bundles, each holding 172 gold 20-franc pieces, essentially the value of small gold bars.
Coin expert Thierry Parsy also gave a statement previewing the sale “Narce, who lived a modest life and didn’t see a lot of the world, spent all of his money on his collection, he quietly amassed one of the most extraordinary private coin collections we’ve seen.” Over the years, he built up a collection of gold coins “exceptional both in number, with more than 1,000 pieces, as well as the rarities it contains.”
While the total appraised value was quite high, they did not expect it to reach that much at auction, in fact, they had hoped to raise an estimated €2 million ($2.43 million). However, enthusiasts surprised even the most optimistic and the whole lot was sold in Paris for the whopping $3.48 million.
As impressive as this collection is, it is not likely that Narce paid that much for his stash, as finding rare coins over one’s lifetime, especially when it was easier to enter the hobby was cheaper, but the man had been sitting on a wealth of both money and history, and thanks to the diligent notary, his collection is now out in the world to be seen by others.