‘It holds a lot of memories for people’: Medicine Hat Coin and Stamp Spring Show sees major turnout

“The stamps, it’s got like a picture and a lot of it holds memories for people,” he said.

“Especially for older people because it’s like “oh, I remember that day, I remember that year with that stamp” so I think that’s why they hold their value.”

Garry James, another stamp collector and vendor, said a used stamp is a snapshot into someone’s life and represents an important moment in time.

“Getting into the history of stamps, a used stamp is much more important than a stamp that’s brand new because that stamp that’s used has gone somewhere in the world,” James said.

“It’s been something important, that piece of information that was in that envelope was important to somebody at some time,” he said.

“To me that’s the most interesting thing about stamp collecting.”

Manfred Sievert, 91, was an original member of the club and has been since 1965.

Sievert says that he still collects for the same reason others do.

“Why do people collect? I think just to get away from the daily grind.”

Brown said that the coins in our pocket might be worth more than face value.

“Actually, it’s pretty good [odds]. It’s pretty good, even some of the coins issued a few years ago, the one with the poppy on it, they sell it for five dollars sometimes,” Brown said.

“So you’ve got that coin that was just 25 cents and now it’s five dollars,” he said.

“So it’s strange what coins will be worth money later on.”

Brown and James say that the best advice they can give people is to start collecting for fun and join the community.

The next show will be in the fall.

by Adrian St.Onge

‘It holds a lot of memories for people’: Medicine Hat Coin and Stamp Spring Show sees major turnout

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