"I Have Coins"-- And Much More

Getting ready for the holiday season was a bit of a “just-in-time” process for Rod Crochiere, owner of I Have Coins, an emporium of not only collectable nickels, dimes, and quarters but also vintage comic books, baseball cards, and more.

Located at 15 Main Street, Unit 7a, he noted that his first day open was the day of the Downtown Partnership-sponsored Harvest Festival at the start of October. “I was rushed to open and I have been unpacking products and getting things ready in the store up until about a week ago,” he admitted.

Previously, Crochiere had only sold coins. “Once I moved into the larger space, I started selling the Pokémon cards and comics I had been buying for my new location,” he said.

“I collected comic books until I went into the Navy in 1993; when I got out in 1999, I needed money and tried selling some books and found the return was disappointing,” he said. But he said he wanted to find a hobby to get into that had a more solid return on the investments he was making and discovered numismatics. Crochiere started collecting in earnests, mostly as a member of the Blackstone Valley Coin Club.

“I quickly accumulated a large collection of coins and had extra items I wanted to sell or trade and ended up setting up at local coin shows,” he explained. Then, about two years ago he set up a `by-appointment’ shop (when Covid started) to see if a coin business could be viable in Franklin. “It was the worst timing to open but I found that there were people in Franklin looking to support my business and that I could do much better -- but I would need a better location,” he said.

Crochiere said he was able to take advantage of Acapulco’s moving out by taking over some of the space they left vacant. “I brought in Pokémon cards because my son loves them and I want him to get involved in my business,” Crochiere explained. Then, he added the comics in because “the comic book-based movies have reenergized the comic book hobby.”

“I’m the only place to purchase coin or comic collecting supplies in town and I have the largest collection of Pokémon cards in the area, said Crochiere, though he did note that. “Pete’s Nerd Emporium,” across the street also carries Pokémon cards and maybe some supplies.

Crochiere said he also does appraisals for sports cards, comics, coins and Pokémon cards as well as educational discussions with parents and collectors. “Purchasing is 50% of my business so I’m always looking for collections to buy.”

Store hours for the holidays are Sunday 12-3, Tuesday 9-4, Friday 9-5, Saturday 10-2.