CENTRALIA, COIN, STAMP, ETC. SERVES FOUR-COUNTY AREA FOR OVER THREE DECADES
Centralia Coin, Stamp, Ect.
618-533-4200
528 W. McCord, Centralia, IL
https://centraliacoin.com/
Having just celebrated its 35 th anniversary in 2024, Centralia Coin, Stamp, Etc. continues its legacy as a family business built on community spirit and a passion for coin collecting.
The business was founded in 1989 by the late Dan Griffin, a former school administrator, and his son, Blake Griffin, who manages the store today.
Though originally carrying baseball cards, the business ultimately shifted to coins, a shared passion of both father and son.
“My dad had a vision that he wanted a coin shop,” recalled Blake Griffin. “It started out with me renting space from and selling baseball cards in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Baseball cards were kind of fading away at the time, so he and I decided to pool our inventories, and I’ve been doing that ever since.”
Griffin said coin collecting was something he became interested in during his youth, while accompanying his father to trade shows.
“I started learning the hobby early on with him, going to coin shows when I was a kid. I would just follow along and set up at those trade shows,” Griffin recalled. “I was always interested in the hobby, and he taught me coins throughout the years. It’s my passion.”
Formerly located at the corner of Broadway and Cherry, Centralia Coin, Stamp, Ect. moved to its current location at 528 W. McCord in 2022.
The only active coin shop in the four-county region, Griffin said he sees business from distant counties as well as other states.
“We draw business from Effingham as well as Paducah, KY, and Evansville, IN,” said Griffin. “I’ve got a lot of business from Crawford County as well. We draw from a pretty good radius.”
Griffin said he has seen many changes during his 36 years in the market, saying the gold and silver market is now far more sought after than coin.
“A lot of my business now is in the gold and silver trade. We have a good collector base [for coins],” said Griffin. “About 80 percent of our business was in collectable coins and paper money. I’d say that’s flipped. Now, about 70 percent of our business is gold and silver.”
“My true passion is still coins. Rare coins and paper money,” Griffin continued. “I think rare coins are a good investment. Rare is always good, regardless of what it is. Whether it be coins, gold or silver. I don’t think people can go wrong with putting a little money into those markets.”
Griffin has also balanced his passion for coins with his passion for Centralia, having served two years on the Centralia City Council, and a total of 22 years on the Centralia City Schools Board of Education.
“Having a business in Centralia means everything to me. I was born and raised here, and I raised my kids here,” said Griffin. “To be able to do anything for 30 years is a milestone for anybody, but to do it in your hometown; it’s a big deal. It was a big deal to my dad, too.”
Looking to the future, Griffin said he plans to continue serving the Centralia community and carrying on the lasting legacy of the business he created with his father.
