Richards Coin Exchange is located in downtown Amherst. Coming from east or west on Route 9, turn north at the top of the hill at the Town Common. Go 3/10 mile, through the intersection with the banks and the Subway shop. On the left is the fire station and a CVS store. Across the street is Bart's Ice Cream. Just past CVS a driveway leads to a municipal parking lot; a sidewalk sign points to Richards Coin Exchange. The store is in the back of the building, facing the parking lot, between Sandy's Barber Shop and D.P. Dough.

Click here for a Mapquest map.

Paul Richards has been an entrepreneur his whole life - for many years he owned Richards Drywall, and has also operated a painting company, a lumber yard, and even a guiding service in Nova Scotia. When he retired from full-time business in the late 1990's, he continued his entrepreneurial endeavors by opening Richards Coin Exchange.

Paul began as a collector a long time ago. "My uncle was a coin collector and I used to run to the bank for him. He'd give me $20, I'd buy silver dollars or rolls for him to look through, and he'd give me a nickel or a quarter.

"Back then you could still find Barber coins in the rolls - quarters, halves. I had a pretty nice penny collection when I was a kid - all BU. The first 1909S-VDB I bought was $26 in BU."

Paul is particularly knowledgeable about repunched mintmarks, overdates, and similar varieties. He is also very knowledgeable about full-step Jefferson nickels, which he has been collecting for 30 or 40 years.

It's a very cozy little shop, but in addition to a well-organized full selection of coins and supplies, Richards Coin Exchange offers many other collectibles, with a strong emphasis on badges and tokens. "I'm interested in all kinds of badges - police, fire, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, political, you name it. Any type of pins or buttons. Cigarette lighters, whistles, fishing licenses, knives, jack-knives, all kinds of collectibles."