After more than 60 years in Birkenhead Market, one of the site's oldest traders has moved to a new store on St John's Pavement this spring. Thanks to a loyal customer base, the business remains as popular as ever in its new home.
A family tradition spanning decades
Run by Peter Halpin, MCC Bullion and Collectors Centre is a family business originally founded by Peter's late dad, Tommy, in 1963. Arising from Tommy's passion for stamps, the aptly named Stamp Shop was a cornerstone of the market for over six decades, catering to avid collectors across the region.
Peter, who started in the market as a Saturday boy alongside his dad, has now been running the business for around 40 years. Despite starting out as a modest venture, the business is now a well-known destination for precious metals, pre-owned jewellery, coin collections, and bespoke workshop services.
The family-run business is today co-run by Peter and his daughter Alexa Halpin, continuing the family tradition. Peter's other children have worked in the shop too, though they have since gone on to other careers, including jewellery making.
Loyal customers and community spirit
Peter said: "In the early years we started to expand the little stamp shop to introduce coins and medals. To this day we get customers that we had in 1960 that are still interested in what they were all those decades ago. I can't believe how long we've been in business that I still see customers that bought off me in the early days."
Speaking of the community feel of the shop over the years, he added: "We're not just a shop, you know [customers] by name which is a big thing in this day and age."
Alex said: "We're very lucky that we built on our community over the years and we keep building on the foundation that Tommy laid."
Expanding into precious metals
Reflecting on dad and granddad Tommy, from Birkenhead, Peter and Alexa recall how he was known well in the town as a "kind" man, having worked in the shop late into his life before he passed away in 2015.
Peter, who was born in 1963, the same year the Birkenhead Market site opened, said: "You don't retire you just do less days until you can't anymore."
Today, the business continues to expand and as a precious metals buyer now ranks among top traders in the industry. Customers visit for gold and silver bullion - coins made of precious metals usually bought for investment purposes.
The shop also specialises in jewellery, militaria, bank notes, and die-cast models - miniature replicas of vehicles and aircraft. Clients include collectors, local residents, and veterans from the armed forces seeking medal mounting services.
Rare finds and personal highlights
With shop finds including ancient Roman and Greek coins, fossils, and pre-loved trinkets, Peter said: "Nothing surprises me these days. It's hard for me to say 'I've never seen that before'." He added: "Everything's got a story to it."
As a personal collector, Peter's highlights include Titanic-related items bought from auctions, including discharge papers from someone working on the Titanic before it set sail.
Peter said: "The biggest thing you can take from any successful business is being passionate about things you deal with. You are the go-to person." He added: "There isn't too much competition. People that do their homework end up finding our services."
