From historical coins to old stamps and postcards, the Middle Georgia Coin Club hosts its annual Coin & Postcard Show and Sale at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter from Friday through Sunday.The show has been well established for more than 40 years, said Bill Lane, who has been with the club for 25 years and has been collecting coins for “eons.”
There will be roughly 140 dealers from states as far-flung as Michigan and Maryland who come down to Perry to participate in the show. Most dealers attend shows not only to sell but to buy as well.
“Dealers cannot make old coins,” Lane said.
In addition to old coins, there will be the 2010 Silver Eagles available from the U.S. Mint. They will be a week old when the show begins.
National suppliers also will be on hand for storage and display of collections. Authors and books will be available for reference.
The club has also asked two individuals to do free appraisals and certificates of authenticity.
Lane expects several thousand people to pass through the doors during the three-day show.
He said he loves to see first-time collectors trying to decide what to buy.
And there are many things to choose from. Lane said there is one dealer who specializes in Dahlonega gold coins. There will be all sorts of currency there.
Although the event is free, Lane joked that it might be expensive to leave.
Since he has been a collector most of his life, he understands what it’s like to get an exciting find.
He tells the story of a dealer who bought currency from a lady, and in a reference book it had only one known in circulation. And after that show, there were two known in circulation — in the world.
“The fun thing is it allows me to come in contact with anyone from rocket scientists to pig farmers to Indian chiefs to kids just starting out,” Lane said.
“That’s fascinating to me.”
Lane knows a rocket scientist, a few lawyers and engineers and loves rubbing shoulders with them, but his favorite activity seems to be helping children understand the value of a coin.
Source: macon.com
