Annual coin show coming to Weeks Center on Saturday

Attention coin enthusiasts, history buffs and collectors of all kinds. The Stephen James CSRA Coin Club will host a coin show at the H. Odell Weeks Activity Center on Saturday.

"This is our eighth annual coin show in Aiken," club vice president Jim Barry said of the event that's open to the public and scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. "We do it to bring together collectors and dealers and to trade and swap."

A variety of professional dealers will be available to buy, sell, trade and appraise all types and varieties of coins, currencies, paper money and tokens.

The show is designed as much for dealers with expansive collections as it is for first-time visitors.

It's also the ideal destination for individuals who have inherited or received coins and would like to have the value appraised or even sell them.

"We try to inform people about things," Barry said of the educational value of coin shows. "People think we just get together and play with coins. We really hold the show to support our nonprofit educational organization. We try to enlighten people and offer them a broad experience about collectibles and history."

Both Barry and the Stephen James CSRA Coin Club have been recognized for their efforts. Barry recently won the Glenn Smedley Award, which he said is given to a person who's deemed a collector's collector.

"It's given to someone who promotes the hobby and is informative," said Barry, who was quick to point out he's just one of many decorated members of the club. "This may be a small club, but it's an award-winning club."

In addition to the educational portion of the upcoming show, there are also several promotions planned.

Highlights include a giveaway to the first 100 children accompanied by an adult. Each child will receive one of the new Lincoln cent coins. There are plans to hold drawings where prizes include:

SBlt An uncirculated gold coin

SBlt The 2009 silver proof set, the largest ever

SBlt A certified coin, likely a Morgan Dollar

For all of the show's many attributes, the best might its price. Visitors won't need pocket change to participate. Admission and parking are free of charge.

Contact Noah Feit at nfeit@aikenstandard.com.