Estate Coin & Jewelry Galleria opens on Main Street

Jerica Garcia began to develop an interest in rare coins and currency during her childhood in the Philippines when her grandparents gave her Filipino Victory Series notes from World War II, along with Filipino coins from the 1950s and 1960s. To a young Garcia, the coins seemed ancient and her interest in coins and currency began.

Garcia’s interest in antiques, rare items and collectibles continued to grow when, at the age of seven, Garcia moved to the U.S. and began antiquing and attending yard sales with her grandmother on Saturdays. Garcia describes the yard sales of Kentucky as a hunt for interesting items that people happened to have in their homes. The idea of finding rare and antique items seems to hold the same promise of excitement for Garcia now as it did for her as a child.

“It’s like treasure hunting,” Garcia says of some acquisitions. “Even the most knowledgeable collector or dealer, they don’t specialize in everything, and there are things that they sell that they don’t necessarily know everything about. They could be sitting on a $100,000 note [paper currency] and they’ll put it in their junk box for $1, $10. You go through those things and you find something, and you don’t know the exact amount, but there’s something about it that you know is rare. You go home and do your research and there’s so much information---and you bought it [the note] for $5 and it’s worth $5,000.”

Garcia first professionally ventured into the coin and currency industry in 2005 when she began selling coins, currency, and stamps on eBay. Her first sales were of Filipino notes and coins and her collection ranged to include collectible Disney watches. She continued in the industry to develop a Price Realized Database on world currency. Her vast knowledge of coins and currency led to her job as a Registry Set Coordinator for U.S. and World Coins with the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, one of the biggest names in the coin grading business. In 2012, Garcia obtained her diamond certificate from the Gemological Institute of America and decided to bring her collection and vast knowledge to a storefront on Main Street in Sarasota.

Opening Thursday, Jan. 24, Estate Coin & Jewelry Galleria will sell the rare coins and currency, jewelry, and collectibles that Garcia collects through her network of dealers and private sellers. In addition to selling rare, collectible and antique items, Garcia will also offer appraisals, buy items and help customers to complete their collections.

“I want people to come in and be comfortable and be confident that whatever they bring in, we are going to give them an honest price and honest opinion and give them information about their piece. They don’t necessarily have to sell it to us, but at least they know that they can come to us if they want to know more about their collection.”

With two partners and an extensive network within the industry, Garcia feels confident that she can find information on any piece a customer brings in, or any piece a customer wants. While Garcia is known for her selection of Toned Morgan Dollars, the storefront will give her an opportunity to work with a range of customers and items. It’s an exciting way to grow on her already vast knowledge because, as Garcia says, “One thing about the business is that you never stop learning.”

Estate Coin & Jewelry Galleria, located at 1650 Main St, will celebrate a Grand Opening complete with door prizes, drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and a ribbon cutting on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 4:30 p.m. For more information visit the Estate Coin & Jewelry Galleria Facebook event page.

For more information on Estate Coin & Jewelry Galleria visit their Facebook Page and website.