Just a little about our store and the people in it
Mark Ostromecki
That's me. Mark Ostromecki. I am the owner and operator of The Coin And Stamp Connection. I have 4 stores located in Southern California. Two in Solvang, One in Santa Barbara, and One in Burbank. Since they are all pretty much self run they are only open certain days a week. Burbank is open by appointment only. I have been collecting coins since I was 12, and have been doing so since then. I opened my first store when I was 18, and now I have 4 shops that are all filled with historic pieces of art. COINS! My main idea of thinking is: If i can get a small percentage of turnover on my sales then i'm happy. I'd rather sell stuff cheaper and faster than wait months to get more for it. I price and buy all my items competitively. Even the largest silver store in the U.S. sells their silver and coins for way more than me. So stop by and see for yourself.
-Mark
-Mark
Courtesy Of www.syvjournal.com
Archive » May 7, 2009 REDISCOVERING ANTIQUITIES AND TREASURESBy Wendy Thompson, Staff Writer
The Coin and Stamp Connection holds no secrets.Ostromecki wants to share his knowledge and hopes others will share in his discovery: the discovery of the joy of coin collecting or the history of dinosaurs.He remembers the world of discovery that stamp and coin collecting opened for him as a child growing up in Los Angeles, when Robinson’s department store still had a coin and stamp collector’s section.He still gets an almost child-like excitement over collecting, even after all these years. He said he began collecting as a child because of his parents, whose familyemigrated from Poland and London to Los Angeles.“My brother Andrew and I were typical nosy kids and found a box full of foreign coins and stamps,” Ostromeckisaid. “They gave Andrew the stamps, and I got the coins.”
He said while his parents shopped, he and Andrew discovered a whole new world, actually a whole old world.Ostromecki, 49, said he literally traded in his milk money to get where he is today.“I discovered I could drink milk at home and use the money to buy Lincoln pennies instead,” he said.Later, the coin expert moved to Macy’s, and so his parents began shopping there, to accommodate their sons’ fascination.He began collecting seriously in 1971 and then opened his first store at age 18, after the Macy’s coin collector retired and turned his collection and business over toOstromecki.
“For myself, it taught me the value of making money, the value of saving money, the joy of collecting, history, and the joy of getting to meet different people,” he said.His parents encouraged him to finish his education, though, so he held down three jobs, including running the coin store. He got his degree in accounting, then chose to do what he loves.“I chose the hobby I enjoyed over the 9-to-5-er,” he said, smiling.Coin collecting is a hobby that all sorts of people can afford today — even children who drink their milk.“It’s a hobby that teaches value of money; the value of saving,” Ostromecki explained. In fact, he recommends children begin with a collector’s book for $3.99 and start by collecting pennies. Then he would recommend that a youngster buy a $20 – $30 book, such as the “Cherrypickers’ Guide” to learn to find value in hidden spots.
You could say collecting also teaches kids to do their homework.“You could find a nickel in a collector’s box that could value in the hundreds, even six hundreds, if you have the right knowledge,” Ostromecki said.In coin and bill collecting, it definitely pays to do your research. Ostromecki once bought a 1878-S Morgan Dollar for $25. Because it had a long nock arrow rather than the shorter nock arrow, it was worth $3,000, which he learned by doing his homework.“I’m a family friendly collector,” he said. “Many dealers don’t want to deal with children or are too busy.” He said he also will appraise collections, but he’s careful to note he is not a certified appraiser. He will give complimentary, 30-minute appraisals.“I am very fair,” he said, telling the story of one woman who brought in her collection she said was valued at $4,500. “I gave her $23,000 for it.”So why choose Solvang? Because of its thrift shops.
Ostromecki said three years ago, he took his 79-year-old mother out for a drive and discovered the thrift shop on the corner of Oak Street, while picking up items for one of her collections.“Around the corner I saw a for rent sign. It just seemed like the right location,” he said.With two other coin and stamp stores, one in Santa Barbara and another in Burbank, Ostromecki has little free time. When he’s not running one of the stores or shopping for a new collection for his mom, he said he watches “Antique Road” show every minute he can.“I enjoy what I do, and I just go nuts!” Ostromecki said.To see dinosaurs, fossils and raptor eggs, or to get started on your own collection, stop by the Coin and Stamp Connection at 444 First Street, (805) 693-0100. It’s open Saturday and Sunday by appointment.
The Coin and Stamp Connection holds no secrets.Ostromecki wants to share his knowledge and hopes others will share in his discovery: the discovery of the joy of coin collecting or the history of dinosaurs.He remembers the world of discovery that stamp and coin collecting opened for him as a child growing up in Los Angeles, when Robinson’s department store still had a coin and stamp collector’s section.He still gets an almost child-like excitement over collecting, even after all these years. He said he began collecting as a child because of his parents, whose familyemigrated from Poland and London to Los Angeles.“My brother Andrew and I were typical nosy kids and found a box full of foreign coins and stamps,” Ostromeckisaid. “They gave Andrew the stamps, and I got the coins.”
He said while his parents shopped, he and Andrew discovered a whole new world, actually a whole old world.Ostromecki, 49, said he literally traded in his milk money to get where he is today.“I discovered I could drink milk at home and use the money to buy Lincoln pennies instead,” he said.Later, the coin expert moved to Macy’s, and so his parents began shopping there, to accommodate their sons’ fascination.He began collecting seriously in 1971 and then opened his first store at age 18, after the Macy’s coin collector retired and turned his collection and business over toOstromecki.
“For myself, it taught me the value of making money, the value of saving money, the joy of collecting, history, and the joy of getting to meet different people,” he said.His parents encouraged him to finish his education, though, so he held down three jobs, including running the coin store. He got his degree in accounting, then chose to do what he loves.“I chose the hobby I enjoyed over the 9-to-5-er,” he said, smiling.Coin collecting is a hobby that all sorts of people can afford today — even children who drink their milk.“It’s a hobby that teaches value of money; the value of saving,” Ostromecki explained. In fact, he recommends children begin with a collector’s book for $3.99 and start by collecting pennies. Then he would recommend that a youngster buy a $20 – $30 book, such as the “Cherrypickers’ Guide” to learn to find value in hidden spots.
You could say collecting also teaches kids to do their homework.“You could find a nickel in a collector’s box that could value in the hundreds, even six hundreds, if you have the right knowledge,” Ostromecki said.In coin and bill collecting, it definitely pays to do your research. Ostromecki once bought a 1878-S Morgan Dollar for $25. Because it had a long nock arrow rather than the shorter nock arrow, it was worth $3,000, which he learned by doing his homework.“I’m a family friendly collector,” he said. “Many dealers don’t want to deal with children or are too busy.” He said he also will appraise collections, but he’s careful to note he is not a certified appraiser. He will give complimentary, 30-minute appraisals.“I am very fair,” he said, telling the story of one woman who brought in her collection she said was valued at $4,500. “I gave her $23,000 for it.”So why choose Solvang? Because of its thrift shops.
Ostromecki said three years ago, he took his 79-year-old mother out for a drive and discovered the thrift shop on the corner of Oak Street, while picking up items for one of her collections.“Around the corner I saw a for rent sign. It just seemed like the right location,” he said.With two other coin and stamp stores, one in Santa Barbara and another in Burbank, Ostromecki has little free time. When he’s not running one of the stores or shopping for a new collection for his mom, he said he watches “Antique Road” show every minute he can.“I enjoy what I do, and I just go nuts!” Ostromecki said.To see dinosaurs, fossils and raptor eggs, or to get started on your own collection, stop by the Coin and Stamp Connection at 444 First Street, (805) 693-0100. It’s open Saturday and Sunday by appointment.