Growing up, Curtis Hite often visited his grandparents on the Delaware coast, where he sifted through thousands of pennies his grandfather had. “He was very into coins, and I would always like to look at his collection,” says Hite, the CEO and chairman of technology consultation company Improving.
He started his own collection around age 8, beginning with valuable coins his grandfather handed down. And today, he has more than 100,000 pieces, ranging from sixth century Arabic artifacts to present-day currencies from more than 125 countries.
“It always interested me, and it never went away,” Hite says. Over the years, he has read up on the hobby, hunted new coins at flea markets and estate sales, and even taken notes from staff at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, the largest collectibles auctioneer worldwide.
Hite documents his coins in detail, noting grade when relevant, history or known backstory, and more. “I have no intention of reselling,” he says. “I like to preserve the history, not just do it for the money.” His favorite pieces include 2,000-year-old widow’s mites from Jerusalem—pennies named for the Biblical story in which a poor widow gives all she has to God—as well as antique Irish coins from the 17th century. “They were made from melted cannons,” Hite says.
Coin collecting has taught Hite to be detailed in record keeping, transparent, and mindful of where he places trust in the business world. “People are trying to scam you quite often,” he says. “That happens in coin collecting, just like it does in any other business. We do need to extend trust to people, but you’ve got to extend it smartly.” Relationships, he adds, are key to growth in both arenas; some of his greatest additions to his collection come from friends who are aware of his passion.
Hite is building a new home with a walk-in safe and room to store and display his coins and corresponding documentation. He hopes to keep growing the collection and eventually pass it down to the next generation. “I want it to be something I can continue to do as I age and share with family.”
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