OTTUMWA — If you’re looking for some spare change, you might want to make your way to Bridge View Center this weekend.

The 70th annual Iowa Numismatic Association’s Coin Show and Convention gets under way Saturday and Sunday.

The show brings together those interested in collecting coins and various currency as well as encouraging more people to become active in the hobby.

“There are different reasons that people collect coins,” said Denny Ross, vice president of the Ottumwa Coin Club, which is a co-host of the state event.

He said some do it for enjoyment, others for the monetary gain. Ross said some do it for the art of the coin design and some for the history.

Dealers and collectors from around the Midwest will be selling and trading coins.

“We encourage anyone in the community to attend if they are even curious about coin collecting or just want to see what it is all about,” Ross said. “Coin collecting is the biggest hobby in the world.”

Ross said more Americans are starting to collect coins since the inception of the state quarter collection.

Right now, there are 45 members in the Ottumwa Coin Club. They meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Albia Road Baptist Church.

“We encourage anyone to come check it out,” Ross said.

He also said club members do not just collect American money; they also collect world currency and coins that date back as far as 1,000 years.

“There was one coin in New York that sold for over $7.2 million; that was just one coin,” Ross said.

The show will include various programs and will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, contact Ross at (641) 932-2731 or via e-mail at: sixty2one@iowatelecom.net.

Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.