Eckenrode Rare Coins
Interview with Betty Eckenrode and Karen Schultz
Q: How did Eckenrode Rare Coins start?
Betty: My husband, Denny Eckenrode, started collecting coins in his 20s. He eventually got aggressive with the hobby and opened his own business. Denny was a full-time State Trooper when he started his business. When he retired, he opened a full-time shop. He started Eckenrode Rare Coins in the 90s. Prior to that, he partnered with a friend to run another business called DDS.
Q: Eckenrode Rare Coins is currently located at 20 E. Penn Avenue in Cleona. How long have you been at this current location?
Betty: We’ve been here for 12 years. We’ve always been in Lebanon County.
Q: What’s a typical day at Eckenrode Rare Coins look like for you?
Karen: We see an equal number of people coming in to buy and sell. Generally what we buy is what we know we’re going to sell, based on collectability, demand, value, etc. We have a very good reputation. We treat people fairly and we’re honest. I’d say our reputation is our biggest draw. People will find little treasures and they’ll bring them to us, and we’ll tell them whether it’s worth anything or not.
Q: What is one thing that someone might not know about Eckenrode Rare Coins?
Karen: We say “coins” on our sign, but people might not think to come in for jewelry. As long as they don’t mind “gently used” or previously owned pieces, they could get some good buys.
Q: Where would you say the greatest portion of your customers is from?
Karen: They come from all over…from Lebanon County, Schuylkill, Cumberland, York, Juniata, Dauphin and Lancaster Counties, and even Philadelphia. We make contacts by going to the coin show in Baltimore and meeting both new clients and other dealers. We trade, buy, and sell within the dealer network if we need to get something for a customer.
Q: Which of your services would you say is the most popular? Trading coins? Selling jewelry?
Karen: We sell a lot of gold and silver bullion. People want to make an investment to protect their wealth. We see people of all ages coming in to buy bullion so that they can have a physical, tangible asset in case paper money ever loses its value.
Q: Who else is on the Eckenrode Rare Coins staff?
Karen: We have two coin collectors/dealers. Jim Davis specializes in foreign money & U.S. currency, and Jim Roland specializes in U.S. gold coins. They both know silver and U.S. coins very well. The majority of our business is done with U.S. coins. Between the both of them they have 50-60 years of expertise. We also have a jeweler, Ann Shelly Peirce, who comes in the second Saturday of every month.
Q: What is the greatest value you get out of your Chamber membership?
Karen: Interacting with different businesses so that we can give referrals to our customers.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like for our readers to know about your business?
Karen: Basically, we have something here for everyone. We have gold and silver collector coins, bullion, jewelry and currency for those who are just starting or who are adding to their collections. Copper coins are big collector items here as well. We are a one-stop-shop for anyone who wants to buy one or several items, or someone who wants to sell one item or an entire collection.
Eckenrode Rare Coins is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. They can be contacted by phone at 717-272-4579, or by email at eckenroderarecoins@comcast.net.
***Photo Caption: The Eckenrode Rare Coins staff (from left to right) - Jim Davis, Betty Eckenrode, Karen Schultz, and Jim Roland.
