National Rarities’ October Employee Spotlight

We can’t believe it is already the fall season!

This past year has been a challenge, but we can successfully say that we have made it to the 10th month of the year. With the holidays quickly approaching, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing that 2020 is coming to an end.

We can finally leave everything in the past and start anew. In doing so, we want to remind our fellow team members that we still appreciate everything they have done for us over the last three quarters of the year.

This new month, new season, and a new quarter, we specifically want to highlight our Senior Event Leader/Metals & Coin Manager, Justin Jones. Justin has done a tremendous job this past year, and we are so excited to celebrate him and all his hard work. Please join us in commending our Employee Spotlight, Justin Jones.

Q1: Describe a brief history of yourself and your relevant training.

I was born and raised in St. Louis. I started in this business in 2011 when I saw an opportunity at a local precious metal buying company as gold was hitting an all-time high price.  Since that market slowed down, I started working at a local coin shop with the traveling estate buying company, Lindstrom, and McKenney. While there, I worked with fellow National Rarities employee, Chad. He would later invite me to work at National Rarities, where I started in 2017. My training comes from experience and working directly with some of the foremost coin experts in the field.  Last year, I also received my Applied Jewelry Professional certification from the Gemological Institute of America. 

Q2: What does a typical day look like for you at National Rarities?

When I am not on the road with the company, my main focus is selling all our coins and assisting other buyers with pricing rare coins that our customers bring into the store. I go through every single coin our company buys and determine the best way to sell it. I am sure some people would find this tedious, but it is relaxing for me. I also answer many of the online submissions we get and help sort through the jewelry and other items we have purchased and prepared them for auction or refining. 

Q3: What is your favorite thing about working at National Rarities?

There are plenty of perks to working at National Rarities, but my favorite is the unique opportunity it provides to see an incredibly diverse range of people, places, treasures, and history across the United States. There are so many amazing things I've been able to see and stories I have been able to hear that I would never have been able to experience without this exciting career.

Q4: What is your favorite piece that you have purchased or sold? Do you have a story behind it?

I have seen many amazing, unique pieces in my experience, but the one that stands out the most is a campaign pin for the great Abraham Lincoln himself.  We bought this piece from someone in Massachusetts who had it in their family for quite some time.  We don't get to see pieces with that sort of historical significance very often. 

My favorite piece that we currently have for sale is this 1899 $5 Indian Chief large silver certificate.  I've only seen a handful of these notes in person, and this one is in exceptionally excellent condition.  

We are so thankful for Justin and his expertise! As the holiday months begin, we are reminded that our team is here to help us put on a successful season for our customers. We are beyond lucky to have Justin and our team of “rarities” for the upcoming holiday season.

Stay tuned for our next National Rarities Employee Spotlight in November! We need to continue to recognize the good and look at the glass half full instead of half empty during this unprecedented time, and our fantastic team allows us to do so!