Stamp and coin fair ready to send it

ALTHOUGH sending letters by post and carrying cash may be becoming a thing of the past, the practice of acquiring stamps and coins as collectibles is still going strong.

Now the Bendigo Coin and Collectibles Club and the Bendigo Philatelic Society are putting on the largest collectibles fair in the region since before the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 40 traders filling over 100 tables at an upcoming event.

Bendigo Stamp and Coin Fair co-ordinator Paul Brownlie, who’s also treasurer of the coin club and committee member at the philatelic society, said the pandemic had an unexpected impact on the pastime.

“The good thing about collecting coins and stamps is that everyone couldn’t go anywhere, and they had excess money to dispose of, so they were filling gaps in their collections,” he said.

Along with the stamps and coins, He said there will be a variety of other collectibles on offer at the event.

“We do have one person who has militaria, another person who’s selling Lego, another man selling football cards, and the other table holders selling other collectible items,” Mr Brownlie said.

“We’re not strictly bound by coins and stamps, stamps now aren’t as common as they used to be, but all the rage now is coloured two-dollar coins and coloured one-dollar coins from Australia.

“You’ve probably heard of the Vegemite coins and the Matildas coins, they’re very, very popular through the Woolworth’s stores, the only way you can get them, but very, very collectible.”

Mr Brownlie said stamp collectors are often interested in the stories the items tell and what they might say about the time and place they came from.

“Seeking stamps from all over the world and every stamp that’s made, you want the story off the stamp,” he said.

“Why did they put that person’s head on the stamp, or why do they have that scene on the stamp?”

The Bendigo Stamp and Coin Fair will be held on Saturday 5 August between 9.30am and 3.30pm at Prince of Wales Showgrounds.