Our journey and friendship began on TikTok, which opened the door to our first roles in numismatics. We began working with established dealers and their auction houses, learning the trade from the inside. After years of helping to build what others had started, we felt ready to venture out on our own and create something from the ground up. That’s how Phoenyx Curios was born — a business shaped by our experiences and driven by our passion for collecting.

But coins are only part of who we are. Barbara was collecting Pokémon cards in the late 1990s and early 2000s, while Kieran built his own collection of Skylanders alongside collecting cards with his kids. Both of us have grown Funko Pop! collections and figure/figurine collections over the years, because collecting should be fun, personal, and a reflection of what you love.

Our coin collections hold special meaning too. Kieran’s pride and joy is a Mint State PCGS‑graded 2007 double‑head 5c coin he discovered while “noodling” — the Australian term for coin roll hunting.

Barbara treasures her mother’s 1981 mint error 5c, struck on a 1c planchet. It was one of the first coins she ever had graded, and it sparked her lasting fascination with error coins.

Kieran’s noodling adventures have brought home some incredible finds over the years — the kind of discoveries that remind us why we love the chaos of collecting. Here are a few of his favourites.

Over the last five years, Kieran has found 5x 2012 Red Poppies

1966 5c Split Planchet, obverse only, which Kieran found noodling and got graded through PCGS

1966 20c Wavy Baseline, which Kieran found noodling and got graded through PCGS

2000 $1 Mule, struck with a 10c die on the obverse side, which Kieran found noodling and got graded through PCGS

2000 50c Incused Millennium, where the Union Jack is recessed into the coin rather than raised, which Kieran found noodling and got graded through PCGS

Our logo reflects this journey and what matters to us as well. The phoenix was chosen by Kieran as a symbol of building from the ground up, while Curios was chosen by Barbara to capture her love of all things curious, unusual, and interesting. The “Y” was quietly placed by Barbara as a reference to Kieran’s initials — something he didn’t realise for more than six months, which still makes Barbara giggle to this day. Every element of our logo was intentionally chosen because it carries meaning to us. Just as every collection carries meaning to its owner, the gold infinity symbol and the phoenix’s rainbow wings were chosen to represent the autism spectrum — an important part of our lives and the story behind Phoenyx Curios. Together, the name and logo embody resilience, inclusivity, and the joy of collecting.

Phoenyx Curios is the result of these experiences — a place where coins, trading cards, and collectibles come together. Whether you’re starting your first collection or adding to decades of work, we’re here to share the thrill of discovery and help you grow a collection that truly reflects you.

Kieran & Barbara at Adelaide Coin & Banknote Expo 2024

Kieran behind Phoenyx Curios' table at Orange Spring Fair 2025