Popularity or Rarity

Lately have I been stumbling over same rare coins, bidded on some and could win at occasion as well, added them to the collection. 

Rare: it can occur that a significant quantity exists but the majority is owned by musea and numismatic institutions. Those coins are seldom offered for private sales. Or just a handfull are known to exist, (maybe one day a hoard is discovered and there appear some more rarity's).

Although most collectors are always looking for that rare missing coin in their collection can it occur that once a coin reaches the extreme rare status that coin type becomes unknown, loses popularity or sometimes even end up in total  obscurity.

Was lucky to add some bronzes, one is a Tressis fleet coinage, checking acsearch learns that it can take many years before one example is being offered again or perhaps if it will  happen.

At the other side do we have the popular coin types, sometimes rare but als not so very rare and everybody seems to  be looking for them. On auctions is a real nice specimen of those fought over heavily. Roman rare Imperial and Republican pieces which are very attractive are very difficult to acquire, on Roman provincials for example or Celtic coins do we encounter still very rare specimen on auctions, certainly expensive but no need yet for a new mortgage on the property..... Don't know for how long the provincials will be affordable compared to Republican and most Imperial coinage. Was lucky to acquire some nice specimen!

What kind of coins would you prefer to collect, very popular or very rare? Hope to read what choice you would make.