Meet Our Staff

Lee J. Bellisario – Owner / Numismatist

• A numismatist with more than 59 years of experience
• Yearly contributor to the United States Coins Book (Red Book) from 1975-2025!
• Member of Professional Numismatic Guild (PNG), ANA, PCGS, and NGC
• Master’s degree from the University of Delaware in History
• In 1976 he established the auction division of New England Rare Coins, which developed into the largest rare coin auction house in the world, and in the same year was selected to call the prestigious American Numismatic Association’s annual auction.
• One of the first four coin graders at The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)
• 4th dealer member of the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS).
• Lee has been published in numerous numismatic and investment publications. These include Coin Dealer Newsletter, The Numismatist, The Rome Report, The Guidebook of United States Coins (Red Book), US News and World Report, Newsweek, and Personal Investor

Afarin O. Bellisario – Financial Advisor

• Handles all finances for Bellisario Rare Coin Gallery
• PhD in Engineering at MIT
• MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management

Our Rare Coin Services

• Sell your rare coins: When looking to sell your collectible coins with BRCG you will be treated with the respect you deserve. We are committed to offering you the highest price for your collection.
• Coin appraisals: Appraisals done at our safe and secure gallery are most often free of charge. On a weekly basis, Bellisario Rare Coin Gallery works with lawyers, insurance companies, banks, courts, trusts, etc. for professional written appraisals.
• Buy rare coins: As your rare coin dealer of Massachusetts, and one of the largest rare coin dealers in the northeast, Bellisario Rare Coin Gallery maintains a rich inventory for you to choose from. 
  

Our Grading Philosophy

Lee Bellisario, owner of Bellisario Rare Coin Gallery, was one of the first coin graders at PCGS in 1986, making him a part of what is now a standard in the numismatics hobby – third party grading service. Over the years, Lee has acquired rare coins based on more than just a third party numerical grade.

Numerical grading has brought tremendous order to the market place, but rare coins are not simple uniform commodities. Rare coins are also a high art form. The aesthetics, eye appeal and overall beauty can vary greatly between two coins with the same numerical grade. It takes many years of experience acquired from examining and trading in countless thousands of rare coins.

Lee has that experience and the peer respect of his fellow top level numismatists. He has utilized his grading eye and formalized standards in the purchase of every coin he acquires for his inventory or for his clients.