Young Collector Profile: Marc Vazsonyi

Marc Vazsonyi’s numismatic adventures began at the tender age of seven, when he started collecting Lincoln Wheat Cents he found in circulation and through searching rolls. “I was fascinated by their unusual design and the concept of rarity across different years and mints,” he says. “My grandmother was also very influential in the beginning of my numismatic journey. She often showed me old silver and gold coins when I visited her in Switzerland, further fueling my interest in numismatics and giving me exposure to world coins very early on.”

Over the last decade, Vazsonyi’s collecting interests have evolved from vintage United States coins to world coinage, which more recently led him to the exciting realm of ancient coinage. “I collect Greek coinage from the archaic and classical period, as well as Swiss cantonal coinage from Zurich, St. Gallen, and Basel.” He loves collecting ancient coins for their artistry and history. “Holding a 2,500-year-old coin and feeling a connection to a person or place so far in the past is truly a surreal experience. I’m also fascinated by monetary history and find that ancient coins serve as the perfect medium for it to be studied through.”

His favorite coin is a hemidrachm from Thrace, Dikaia. “This coin is particularly special to me for several reasons, but what captivates me most is the charming archaic style used to depict Heracles. Very little is known about Dikaia beyond its coinage, which I find to be fascinating, as the coin serves as a legacy of a Greek city-state which existed about 2,500 years ago.”

Vazsonyi has parlayed his love of numismatics and history and a variety of interesting pursuits, including working for well-known coin dealer Jeff Garrett, the founder of Mid-American Rare Coin Galleries. “Jeff’s mentorship has played an instrumental role in my development and growth as a numismatist.” The young collector is also pursuing a degree in mathematical economics at the University of Kentucky.

“While I may not pursue numismatics professionally, in the future I hope to stay deeply involved in numismatics and eventually contribute to the study of ancient coinage with original research. I plan to continue nurturing relationships I’ve already built within the industry, while creating new ones along the way.”