The first annual Bell County Coin and Collectibles Show, which was held this weekend at the Bell County Expo Center, brought about 250 collectors out to buy, sell and trade coins and other collectibles. In the crowd, dealer’s found young numismatics to join the hobby’s ranks.
Twelve-year-old Anthony Provenzano is one of those new collectors. Dealers at the show were already admired his experience.
“I’m very impressed, you don’t see that kind of advanced eye for quality at that young of an age except at a larger show,” Tom Bermel, a dealer at the show said. “He has a terrific eye for the details and he knows what he is looking for.”
Provenzano, who has been collecting since January, explained his strategy was to search for the errors in the coins he studied. He said errors defined the buffalo nickel’s worth and that he was looking for a good coin to fit in his collection.
“He buys some really good stuff,” Bermel said, who showed Provenzano several of his buffalo nickels.
Provenzano’s enthusiasm has even rubbed off on his older sister, Candace Stiles, 14, who started to collect Lincoln pennies this summer. Stiles purchased 12 new coins at the show from $3 to $9 for each coin.
“My collection is close to completion,” Stiles said, as she rips the pennies from their protective cardboard to put them into open slots of her sage Lincoln penny collection book.
The hobby can also bring some serious money to dealers who work the shows and treat their obsession like a business. Dealers show their wares off in a slab, a hard plastic coin cover that assures the grade or value of the coin, as they network with other dealers.
“You have to make it a good show,” Larry Cundari, a coin dealer said.
Cundari said he makes coin shows worth his while by talking with other coin dealers and trading coins. The promoters of the coin show, Bryan Jones and Dean Willis, said most dealers came out ahead over the weekend despite a slow day on Sunday.
“About 75 percent or more of business at the show is between dealers,” Jones said. “The coin market is very volatile, just like the stock market.”
The rest of the business is picked up by leisurely collectors that wander in, such as Provenzano and Stiles who still have work to do before they complete their collections. The young collectors took advantage also took the opportunity to talk shop with fellow collectors and dealers.
“These kids are the next generation of collectors,” said Soi Truonz, a coin dealer at the show. “It’s great for the hobby.”
ccarlisle@temple-telegram.com
