McCammon man collects coins for 66 years

“When I was in high school in 1949, I had a little tobacco sack full of coins that my father had given me and somebody wanted to by them. I had no idea what they were but I said no I couldn’t sell them because I got it from him. He gave me a coin book and showed me how to collect coins and it started from there,” Charles Carpenter said.

The 82-year-old had no idea that sack of coins would spark a passion

“Oh, millions probably,” Carpenter said.

Acollection of millions of coins.

“I never dreamed that much because I never figured I could afford it to begin with back in those days they didn’t cost as much as they do today, ” Carpenter said.

Almost every collector has one prized possession.

“This ($10 bill) was made in 1901 for a small town in California. A little mining town. This happens to be a serial number one, first one made and today there are none known to exist”

How much has he been offered for the $10 bill?

“$80,000 in cash. Everyone keeps telling me I should sell it but I keep saying ‘I don’t need to its nice to have something that nobody else owns,'” said Carpenter.

While he won’t sell it, he eventually will pass it on to someone who shares the hobby.

His son, David.

“Well that (coin)very easily could have been in Abraham Lincoln’s pocket at one point in time or UylssesGrant could have had that coin. I can hold that history in my hand,” David Carpenter said.

However, collecting holds a special place in his heart.

“It’s a connection to my dad and an appreciation for what he appreciates and enjoys,” Carpenter said.

It’s tradition the duo hopes will live on.

Te Southeastern coin and collectible show is held in Idaho Falls every year.