Paul Blaise Marino

FLOWER HILL COLLECTABLES

- ANTOINETTE RAHN

In her poem “Children Learn What They Live,” Author Dorothy Law Nolte provides various examples of the action and reaction of life experiences upon children. If there were a version of this poem for the numismatic community, it might include the stanza, “If children live with inspiring examples of enjoying a hobby to the fullest, they will learn to take that interest to new heights.”

Such is the case for Paul Blaise Marino, owner of Flower Hill Collectables (www.flowerhillcollectables.com). A native of Massachusetts, Marino is a member of a multigenerational numismatic family. His introduction to the hobby, which is now the focus of his business, was courtesy of his grandfather, an avid coin collector. Additionally, his family owned a coin shop in New Hyde Park, Long Island, New York. That is where he learned a great deal of numismatic knowledge and the skills of operating a business.

“I learned the business working on Saturdays at my parents’ coin shop. In the summertime, I would work full time,” Marino said. “My father cautioned me not to stay in the business because it is a tough business, but I should learn as much as I could while I had the opportunity.”

Blaise also explained how his interest in coins developed, “I didn’t always appreciate or love the hobby until college when I started my own business. Once I started working for myself, my passion and interest in numismatics sparked,” he said.