Freeman & Sear is a full-service dealership in the field of ancient numismatics and antiquities, offering coins and artifacts to its clients privately and via its internet website, as well as through its highly-regarded fixed price lists and auctions. It is based in Santa Monica, California, with a network of purchasing agents on four continents.
Since its inception in 1993, Freeman & Sear has emerged as the preeminent dealership in the western United States specializing in classical numismatics and antiquities. In nine years, the firm has acquired several thousand active clients worldwide, including major museums and universities.
Its principals, David R. Sear and Robert Freeman, are highly respected experts in their fields, with a combined experience of seven decades. Mr. Sear has authored five important handbooks on ancient numismatics, each regarded as essential to the collector. Mr. Freeman has authored articles on Celtic coinage and is currently working on a book on the subject.
London-born Mr. Sear has been involved professionally in the field of ancient art since 1958 when he joined the prestigious British numismatic house B.A. Seaby's. In 1964, he was appointed head of the firm's Ancient Coin Department, a position he held for nine years. In the early 1980's, Mr. Sear relocated to California, where he took the position of Vice President at Numismatic Fine Arts (NFA), then the world's largest firm specializing in classical numismatics and antiquities. It was here that he met and began a working relationship with Robert Freeman.
Mr. Freeman joined NFA in 1985, after pursuing post-graduate studies in the field of Celtic linguistics. He has been a collector of ancient coins since childhood, a hobby that evolved simultaneously with a keen interest in ancient history and classical languages. As a culmination of these pursuits, Mr. Freeman received a degree magna cum laude in History from U.C.L.A. in 1983. Beginning his career at Numismatic Fine Arts as a research assistant, Mr. Freeman displayed a tremendous aptitude for both the academic and business aspects of the ancient art field. He was soon raised to the level of Operations Manager and, subsequently, promoted to Vice President.
As the owner of NFA diversified his interests to include sports team management and entertainment, Freeman and Sear opted to form a new business focusing on their own areas of specialization. By 1995, the company was in a prominent enough position to conduct two major public auctions, the most important being a sale of ancient Roman bronze coins held in Zürich, Switzerland. From 1997 to 2001, it was one of three firms responsible for the "Triton" auctions, the most important annual sale of ancient coins held in the United States.
In 2001, the firm hired David S. Michaels as sales director. Mr. Michaels had held the same position at Classical Numismatic Group, where he assisted in the development and management of the firm's internet website. Prior to that, Mr. Michaels had operated two firms concentrating on ancient numismatics and had been a career journalist.
Freeman & Sear attained a major milestone with the launch of its internet website in July, 2002. The firm continues to publish regular print fixed price lists and mail bid sales, and to attend important trade shows in the United States and Europe.
