NEBRASKA CITY - A Jefferson nickel, French coins and a collection of 123 Indian head pennies highlighted the Nebraska City Coin Club’s first show in 1965, as well visits from beauty pageant winners and a brief address from the city’s mayor.

Indian head penny collector Roger Winkelhake brought his wife on a date to the coin show before their 57 years of marriage. He said it has always been his favorite show.

Winkelhake: “It’s a lot of the same people. That’s the great thing about it. It’s just that the organization of the Nebraska City show has been so well done that it’s quite similar. By the crowd today, this is about as well attended show you’ll see anywhere.”

 

 

Michelle Chase of the Gold & Silver Trading Post in Bellevue says people are comfortable trading newer coins online because they are all pretty much in the same condition, but for older coins they like to see the coins in person to judge their grade and their value. She said they also like to meet others with similar interests.

Chase: “It’s been good overall. I guess nothing record breaking, but it’s all fun, just interacting with community and getting to know everybody and developing those relationships. I’ve got customers who come back year after year just to see me. Even though they could drive a half hour away to come to my store They wait until this show. Once a year they see me.”

Bill Witte, a 40-year member of the coin club and metal detector hobbyist, said he is sad to think it will be last of the coin shows.

 

Witte: “Over the years people have gotten more online. A lot of coin auctions online.”

Winkelhake, who was originally from Talmage,  called the news of the last show disappointing.

Winkelhake: “For me just attending today, the friends you’ve made over the years. You know, dealers are the people, whatever, they end up being your friends. It’s just a great hobby. It’s what you collect. If you collect guns or cars or whatever, it’s the travel and just meeting people.”

Ron Matson of Papillion says the dealers and the people have drawn him back to the show for 24 years and he expects coin collecting to be a vigorous attraction in the future.

 

Matson: “There’s a lot of activity with some of the new series of coins that they are starting to put out. It started with the presidential dollars and the state’s quarters. A lot of younger people became interested in coins at that time.”

Witte said for him the highlight of the final show was a silver medal of five ounces of silver that was made to honor John F. Kennedy.