BOCES Career & Technical Education culinary students hosted a recent Kiwanis Club luncheon where prominent numismatist Anthony Swiatekdiscussed old coins and currency, which might be worth a great deal more than their owners realize.

Swiatek and his wife, Gloria, own Minerva Coins and Jewelry, located on the first floor of their Italian villa-style building at 63 Spring St.,overlooking Congress Park.

A leading authority in his field, Swiatek is past president of the 32,000-member American Numismatic Association and was on its board for 10years. He also authored the 712-page "Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States," and has been an expert witness for the U.S.Attorney's Office on coin fraud and coin grading.

During the Clinton administration, Swiatek was invited to Washington, D.C., for White House ceremonies to mark the striking of the Sacagaweadollar.

Swiatek told Kiwanians about the 5,500 Sacagawea dollars that General Mills included in boxes of Cheerios, prior to the coin's release forgeneral circulation. Five years later, it was discovered that there is more detail in the tail feathers of Cheerios Sacagawea dollars, compared tothose produced for circulation.

Because there are so few Cheerios versions of the coin, those in mint condition are quite valuable. Ten years ago, one sold for $34,500.

So Swiatek encouraged listeners to go through old coin collections and try to determine their worth.

"You never know," he said.

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Expert:Coins worth more than meets the eye(https://www.saratogian.com/news/local-news/expert-coins-worth-more-than-meets-the-eye/article_e3e76b42-e8f4-11e8-95b2-974b7d71f517.html)