Coin money, paper money ... and rock money?

Collection to be on display during show at Sumter Mall

Ivy Moore / The Item Don Cann, an avid coin collector and owner of The Southern Cross, will be the speaker for the Nov. 14 Sumter Coin Club show at Sumter Mall. Here he holds a copy of The Numismatist magazine that explains how "The Wizard of Oz" book contained subtle political commentary on the presidential election of 1899 between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan.

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By IVY MOORE
Item Features Editor
ivym@theitem.com

Don Cann began collecting coins with money earned from his job as a paperboy, and he's since compiled a huge collection of all sorts of money, both coins and paper — and some from materials most don't often associate with money.

When the Carolina Coin Club of Sumter hosts its show at Sumter Mall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Cann will present a program on his collection of money and objects used as money, some ancient, some contemporary and almost everything in between.

The owner of The Southern Cross, which he calls "a museum and a store," Cann loves to show his collection to both numismatists and noncoin collectors, as he values the history associated with the objects.

"I love to talk to kids about coins and get them interested in collecting," he said.

Among the items in Cann's collection that are or have been used as money or in bartering is shell and feather money (tevau) of the Solomon Islands. Made from the feathers of the scarlet honeyeater bird, the tevau are formed into coils. European tokens of the 14th and 15th centuries, G'ieng, or "female money," was made in Northern Siam (Thailand) about 1296-1558; jade money was used throughout the history of China, and Cann has an extensive collection, along with the world's first money, Chinese knife money from about 2,500 years ago.

There are opium weights and a 123-pound carved stone used on the island of Yap primarily in exchange for a bride and much, much more. Cann said he will bring several examples of a variety of money to the mall, as well as some objects related to coins, and he can provide the history and uses of each.

Sumter coin club President Ken Lyles said several of the club's 45-50 members, who range in age from 10 to 104, will have tables set up from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.in the mall's center court with examples from their personal collections. They will offer some coins for sale or trade and will also assist in researching coins that are brought in during the show.

During the event, visitors will have the opportunity to win several door prizes, including a $5 gold coin and proof sets. Books with information and the current values of coins will also be available for researching and purchase. There is no charge for admission.

Lyles noted that the public is also invited to attend the regular meetings of the Sumter coin club on the third Tuesday of each month at the Sumter Recreation Department, 155 Haynsworth St. Annual membership dues are $5 for adults, $3 for those younger than 18. For more information about the Saturday coin show or the Carolina Coin Club of Sumter, call Lyles at (803) 775-8840.