In a room full of coins dating back decades and sometimes centuries, one of the most fervent collectors wasn’t even yet a teenager.

Zach Abel, 12, and his dad David made the drive from Hattiesburg to Vicksburg this weekend to attend the Vicksburg Coin Club’s 96th coin show being hosted at Riverwalk Casino.

“My dad works in Utah so every time he comes back he would bring some coins for me so that is how I got into it,” Zach said.

With his binder full of dimes, half dollars and other coins, Zach was on the hunt for deals to add to his ever-growing collection. Since starting about a year and a half ago, Zach’s main focus has been on Mercury dimes, because he said he can get more bang for his buck with the smaller coins.

“He loves the idea that I do that he’s holding a piece of history that has survived all these many of years,” David said. “First, I think he got into collecting by what was economical to collect. That was what led him to other things, but he still likes the design of the Mercury dime, the FDR half-dollar and the Walking Liberty. He likes the designs and the artwork.”

Allen Knight also attended the show with his son along with his dad, making it three generations searching for coins that caught their eye.

“My son is studying ancient Egypt in school so he looking for Egyptian coins and I am looking for silver bullion,” Knight said. “I enjoy spending time with him and piquing his interest in history and collectibles.”

The show featured 18 dealers from throughout the south selling a variety of coins, collectible cash and silver and gold bullion.

“Anything from U.S. and foreign coins to also bullion being modern gold and silver,” said Jody Wooten, chairman for the Vicksburg Coin club, of what is available at the show.

“You have different types of collectors. Some are into the bullion and some are into the numismatics being the collectible side of it.”

Wooten said he is one of the younger members of the club at 48, so it is encouraging seeing younger collectors get involved.

“Some of the kids, a lot dealers give them a buffalo nickel or an Indian head penny or something just trying to intrigue their interest in coins,” Wooten said. “There are some kids that come in and are smart enough to know already that buying gold and silver is the way to go. It is a chance just like playing the stock market to make some money.”

The show started Friday and continued all day Saturday. Wooten said they expected 75 to 100 people to come through to buy and sell Saturday.

The show wrapped-up Sunday at 4 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at Riverwalk Casino.