Collecting 101: New Mexico Coin-Stamp and Collectible Expo makes return to Albuquerque

John Krist has been a collector since he was 13.

Forty-five years later, Krist has amassed a wonderful collection of Roman coins.

“It’s easier today than it was 20 years ago to collect,” Krist says. “There are more people that collect and sell them. With the internet, it’s more accessible. Before that, you had to wait months, sometimes years, before someone brought them into town.”

Krist is the driving force behind the New Mexico Coin-Stamp and Collectible Expo, which makes its return to Albuquerque on Friday, Aug. 18, through Sunday, Aug. 20, at the Ramada Plaza Midtown.

The three-day expo will have vendors from around the country selling collectibles ranging from comic books, die-cast cars, coins and more.

Krist says there will also be some appraisals happening throughout the weekend.

“There’s art to collecting,” he says. “People collect anything from matchbook covers to coins and stamps and dolls. You name it, people collect it.”

Krist says categories include: banknotes, stamps, casino chips, world coins, postcards, posters, maps, jewelry, oil paintings, sport cards, Civil War memorabilia, books, folk art, albums, balloon pins, “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” memorabilia, Hot Wheels, Southwest pottery, rocks and minerals.

The expo will also be hosting a canned food drive.

“We will be giving away 1,200 collectible items at the expo,” Krist says. “Participants will be asked to bring a canned food item to the expo, and they will receive a collectible item for each item that they bring up to 25 items.”

The food items will then be donated to local churches and food pantries, Krist says.

The items that will be given away include coins, stamps, sport cards, comic books, albums, Hot Wheels, toys and historical documents.

Krist used to own a collectibles shop in the Southeast Heights and found that it helped the youth.

He’s carried on the expo to honor his late brother, who also loved collecting.

“Collecting is a fun hobby for all to have,” he says. “We want this event to be a family-friendly way to have fun. Because everyone collects something, it’s amazing to hear those stories. The expo gives back to the community as well.”