Randy Steffens started collecting coins when he was 7 years old. The Mid-Missouri Collectors Show, in its first year at the Lake of the Ozarks, has given the Kansas City area resident a chance to put his lifelong passion on display here in the central part of the state.
"Every coin tells a story," Steffens said. "There's the artwork, there's the manufacturing process, there's the metallurgy, and there's the history."
His collection ranges from historical U.S. coins like Lincoln-head pennies to ancient Roman coins around 1,500 years old.
Steffens was one of 30 or so vendors at the Mid-Missouri Collectors Show whose collections included currency, stamps, postcards and sports memorabilia. The event began Friday afternoon, was open all day Saturday and will wrap up today.
In addition to free browsing time through the various displays, collection appraisals, and buying and trading opportunities, Saturday's program included a seminar on "First Names on National Bank Notes" presented by nationally known large-cents expert Steve Carr.
Show organizer Dave Sorrick, who was approached by Inn at Grand Glaize staff about starting a collectors' show in the lake area, has presented several collections-based and currency-collection shows throughout Southeast Kansas and Southwest Missouri, as well as the Route 66 Collection show in Joplin for the past five years. Based on the success of this first Mid-Missouri Collectors Show, Sorrick plans to make it an annual springtime event.
The Mid-Missouri Collectors Show will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today for its third and final showing at the Inn at Grand Glaize, located at 5142 Osage Beach Parkway in Osage Beach.
Admission is free to the public, and a grand prize drawing will be held today where attendees will have a chance to win an autographed photo of Stan Musial and other valuable memorabilia.