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Show i r I i i " Twelve-year-old Steven Feltner displays large book he made to hold his cherished coin collection and, separately, one of his favorite coins. He'd like to find others in the area interested in his hobby to start a local coin club. Novices and experts alike can call him if interested. Coin Collecting Is A Great Hobby, Says Steven Feltner TROPIC Twelve-year-old Steven Feltner really likes money, mon-ey, the kind that jingles in your pocket. But Steven's interest in coins is a little different, he keeps his coins in books and watches their value grow. Steven is enjoying one of the world's oldest and most fascinating fasci-nating hobbies, dating back several sev-eral centuries. Coin collecting in American didn't start in America until about 1840, mainly because our forefathers spent their time organizing a new nation rather than affording themselves the luxury of a hobby. But Steven works hard at his hobby today, and is proud of his collection. His mother, Kris Feltner, is employed as a waitress and helped her son become interested when together they went through her tips at the end of a day. Birthdays provide opportunities oppor-tunities for grandparents and others to enhance his collection with additional important coins purchased from coin dealers. And other relatives have contributed coins they have held onto for years. The Bryce Valley 7th grader, a member of Boy Scout Troop No. 679, has earned his scout numismatist numis-matist merit badge along with 12 other badges as he works his way toward Eagle. Steven says that he has learned a lot along the way, that coins are produced in factories called "mints". The U.S. Mint was established at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1792, where eagles ($10 gold coins), half-eagles ($5 gold coins), quarter eagles ($2.50 gold coins), silver dollars, half dollars, quarters, dimes (originally spelled disme), half-dimes, copper cents and half-cents were issued. Steven is a member of the American Numismatist Association Associa-tion (ANA) which provides information infor-mation and benefits to serious coin collectors. Every year, to en-courage coin collecting, the ANA sponsors a coin auction ' where members can purchase coins with points they have earned through special activities such as displaying their collection in public, earning the Boy Scout numismatist badge, and talking to groups about coin collecting. Steven, who would like to be a police officer when he grows up, says he has an ANA catalog full of interesting information and products and would be glad to help anyone get started who thinks they would like to begin collecting coins. He is especially interested in starting a numismatist numis-matist club started so that area coin collectors can share their exciting hobby with each other. (See COLLECTOR on Page 5A) COLLECTOR From Front Page He can be reached at 435-679-8803. Steven's parents are Tim and KrisFeltner of Tropic. He has a nine-year-old brother and sisters, |