Coin shop owner has seen the best and worst of times

When Gordon Lowery was 15 years old he went to a coin show in Aurora.

"This gentleman had some sovereigns," Lowery said. "At the time they were $15 each. I said I wanted to buy the whole bag. I walked to the other end of the show and sold the coins for $17 each. That just got me started."

Lowery, who owns High Grade Coins in Elmwood Park, started collecting coins at age nine. By 16, he had part ownership in a coin store.

In 1966 Lowery was drafted.

"I sold everything when I went into the service because I was afraid I wasn't coming back," Lowery said.

He was shipped first to Viet Nam, then to Korea, where he worked as a medical specialist in the 44th mobile hospital. For 13 months he did EKGs, catheter work and some stitching.

He returned to the U.S. and finished his tour at Fort Fitzsimmons hospital in Denver, Col.

"I got stationed near a coin shop," Lowery said. "I bought three rolls of gold pieces and paid $48 each. I sold them three years later and tripled my money."

Out of . . .

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