Article: Olympics smart cards seen spurring collectibles market.

The Visa Cash cards introduced for the Summer Olympics are hot items for collecting and trading.

Indeed, enthusiasts see the Atlanta games as the impetus for a collectibles market in the United States similar to one that has been developing in Europe since the advent of chip-based phone and payment cards in the 1980s.

"When was the last chance you got to collect a whole new form of money?" asked Murray Church, publisher of MoneyCard Collector, a Sidney, Ohio- based newsletter. "That's what's exciting to people."

Mr. Church said the electronic-cash cards with photos of Olympic athletes, symbols, and other bright designs are attracting collectors from ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!