Rock River Coins & Jewelry opens for business

SILVIS – Rich Holman says his new business – Rock River Coins & Jewelry – is more than a coin and jewelry shop. It’s a place where families shop, have a good time and feel comfortable. He says the business at 89 Ninth St., has the features to prove it. First, there’s a lounge area […]

SILVIS – Rich Holman says his new business – Rock River Coins & Jewelry – is more than a coin and jewelry shop. It’s a place where families shop, have a good time and feel comfortable. He says the business at 89 Ninth St., has the features to prove it. First, there’s a lounge area where customers can relax while their friends and family members shop. 

Not far from the lounge is a cardboard box filled with money known as the “Kid’s Grab Box,” which contains numerous foreign coins, foreign paper money and some coin-like tokens. The items in the box are not of great financial value, but are great at keeping many kids busy. “The kids enjoy looking through it. And if they’re good, they get to take one with them,” said Mr. Holman. Those features and other aspects of Rock River Coins & Jewelry were on full display Tuesday, Aug. 1, during a Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“We have a full inventory and we’re ready for business,” Mr. Holman told a crowd of about 30 people. In addition to showing off the store’s inventory of coins and jewelry, Mr. Holman held a “show and tell” for the crowd when he showed three silver bars during the ceremony. Each bar contained 100 ounces of silver and is valued at about $2,800. In addition to selling items, he said Rock River is in the business of buying precious metals. “If you have broken jewelry at home, now is the time to cash it in,” he said. Mr. Holman said coin collecting is alive and well in the region. For many people, it’s more than a hobby; it’s a financial investment. “They are trying to diversify (their investments) with the economy being the way it is,” he said. And gold and silver can be hefty investments. On Wednesday, Aug. 2, for example, the price of gold was listed at $1,946 an ounce, and silver was at $23.96 an ounce, according to moneymetals.com. Rock River Coins & Jewelry has a wide variety for just about all collectors. The store’s website lists everything from a 1981 Liberty dollar proof for $6 to an 1899 Morgan dollar for $500. While the storefront is a new business, Mr. Holman is not new to the business. His parents, Rick and Kay Holman, owned and operated Holman’s Pawn Shop for many years in Moline, East Moline and Silvis. He grew up working in the business, buying and selling gold and silver coins and many other items. Mr. Holman, who retired as a sergeant from the East Moline Police Department 2018, also is an auctioneer. The business, which opened in early July, also is planning to have a grand opening ceremony and celebration from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. The event will have live music as well as fun and games for the family, according to the shop’s Facebook page.