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Two of the world’s oldest and most rewarding hobbies – stamp and coin collecting – will be on display in Tauranga this month.

Tauranga and District Stamp Club’s Stamp and Coin Fair will be held at the Wesley Methodist Church on October 10 from 9am to 3pm, with help from the Tauranga Numismatic Society.

The fair will open the door to the wide and wonderful world of philately – the study and collection of stamps – and numismatics – the study and collection of coins and currency.

“There’s a particular thrill in holding a small object that has travelled through decades, changed hands dozens of times, and somehow survived to reach you intact,” Tauranga Numismatic Society’s Rick Peers said. “That’s the enduring appeal of stamp and coin collecting!”

He said philately is as much about history and art as it is about postage.

“Every stamp is a tiny canvas commemorating a monarch, a war, a scientific discovery, or a national milestone.”

Beyond their visual charm, stamps can carry genuine philatelic value that has nothing to do with their printed face value, he said.

Tauranga District Stamp Club’s Brian Ducker enjoys philately. Photo / File

“Rarity, printing errors, and limited runs are what drive this value. A stamp printed with an inverted image, a missing colour, or an incorrect perforation can be worth thousands of times its original price – the famous ‘Inverted Jenny’ 24-cent from the United States is perhaps the best-known example, but New Zealand has its own prized rarities among early Chalon Heads and pictorial issues.”

Peers said condition matters enormously too.

“An unused stamp with original gum and crisp perforations will always outvalue a worn, heavily postmarked equivalent.

“First-day covers, complete sheets, and stamps with clear, legible postmarks from significant dates also attract keen collector interest.”

As for numismatics – it offers a fascinating dual appeal, because a coin can carry value in two entirely different ways, Peers said.

“The first is numismatic value: what collectors will pay based on rarity, historical significance, mint marks, striking errors, and condition.

“A coin’s grade – how well it has survived wear and handling – can make an enormous difference. The same coin in ‘uncirculated ’condition might be worth many times more than one that’s been jangling in pockets for 50 years.

“Limited mintages, commemorative issues, and coins from short-lived currencies or transitional periods are particularly sought-after.”

The second is base or intrinsic metal value – this is simply what the coin’s raw silver, gold, copper, or nickel, content would fetch if melted down.

“Pre-1946 New Zealand and British coins, for instance, were struck in silver, meaning even a common, well-worn shilling or florin carries real value purely from its metal content, regardless of any collector premium.

“This is a helpful starting point for beginners: even coins with no numismatic rarity can still be worth holding onto simply for what they’re made of.”

The world of numismatics and philately are on show in Tauranga this month. Photo / Supplied

Peers said collecting stamps and coins rewards curiosity – and that is why the hobby ensures.

“It teaches history, geography, art, and economics almost by accident, and connects generations – many collectors inherited their first album or coin folder from a parent or grandparent.

“It’s also refreshingly accessible: you can begin with a handful of coins from your change jar or stamps soaked off old letters and grow a collection as your knowledge and interest develop.”

Tauranga and District Stamp Club’s David Stafford said whether you’re a lifelong collector or simply curious about where to start, the Tauranga Stamp and Coin Fair is the perfect place to browse, buy, sell, and swap.

“Dealers and enthusiasts will be on hand all day with expertise, bargains, and the kind of stories that make this hobby so addictive.”

The fair will be held at the Wesley Methodist Church on October 10 from 9am to 3pm.