Coins minted from different years come together under one roof, proudly on display. Hundreds of these coins, ranging from material, are viewed from underneath glass classes or in the pockets of folders by people who are passionate about the art of collecting.
On Oct. 19, The Delta Coin Club held their 55th annual coin show, hosted in Eagles Hall on Bourbon Street. The club has relocated numerous times since its founding in 1957, but they have been returning to the hall again and again.
“We’ve been collecting coins for 40 to 50 years now — all our merry life,” says Coin Club Treasurer Ron. He and his wife, Joyce, the secretary, collect coins together and have been in the club for 10 years.
Though everybody is interested in coins, not one person has the same method for finding and storing these coins. The hunt for coins itself can take on various methods.
“There’s all sorts of sources. People buy coin rolls from banks or credit unions. They can find coins on Amazon, or Ebay, or at auctions. People will even get out metal detectors and find coins that way — that’s becoming more and more popular,” says Cliff, a member of 20 years.
Members also like to specialize in a specific kind of coin. Jay has been collecting silver dollars for most of his life, but there are other forms of denomination out there such as bullions, which are coins “valued by their weight and fineness of a specific precious metal” according to the United States Mint’s website.
They are also different methods of storing these coins and putting them on display. Many will keep their collection in safes or safety deposit boxes, but others will store coins in wooden boxes, folders, and glass cases. Some even wrap their coins tightly in plastic bags and bring them to shows like that.
It is important to store coins in a way that will not expose it to intense moisture, cutting it off from the atmosphere as much as possible so the coins will not corrode. Exposure to the elements can lead to darkening or gray discoloration. It is important to preserve the coins in a way that will prevent unnecessary contact, according to Cliff. Besides keeping the coins away from the elements, collectors will utilize toning which can help with discoloration as well as grading
“I don’t clean them. The oils in our hands can cause a lot of damage, and a coin can lose up to 40 percent in value,” says Lyndah, who displays not only coins but fossils and gemstones.
It is vital to maintain these coins because while collecting is a hobby, it can also act as a business. Collectors will go to coin shows all over California, selling coins for up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Member Rubin, who had previously been president of the club for five years in a row, started collecting coins when his father wanted to turn it into a business. As a child, he thought his father was “crazy,” but helped him pack and set-up for shows. It was only until a man at one of these shows changed his mind.
“He said ‘I bet you have the coin I’m looking for in your inventory. You should take a look.’ Well, I look at all those coins in the inventory and sure enough, they’re there,” Rubin said.
He began to take it more seriously after that, and has been collecting coins since the ‘80s. It is now a hobby he shares with his own nephew.
Numerous members became fascinated by coins through a family member — Ron and Joyce began when Joyce’s father passed away, leaving his own collection for her and her sisters. Bruce, a coin collector since 1957, started collecting pennies with his great uncle.
Many started collecting coins as a child only to neglect the hobby when reaching their teens or early adulthood. Factors such as work or starting a family got in the way. However, the love of collecting remained, and years later they picked right back up.
The club is full of passionate people who love the hobby so much they are considered lifetime members. One such member is Syd, a 99-year-old man who has been collecting coins since he was nine years old.
“My folks owned a grocery store, and I used to get the Indian head pennies from the cash register. I didn’t know one coin from another. They weren’t good enough, so I moved on to a bigger denomination … Now, I’m just collecting $1 notes and federal reserve notes,” said Syd.
The club, while full of people with different kinds of coins found with varying methods, they all have one thing in common: an interest in collecting something that enables them to connect with other people. The Delta Coin Club is one with a wealth of history, from both the knowledgeable members and the coins itself.
The Delta Coin Club meets every 1st and 3rd Friday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in Eagles Hall.
