Soft Retail Open | Shire Post Mint
(Westfork, Arkansas) Beginning on October 2, 2021, local family-run fantasy coining operation Shire Post Mint is opening its doors to walk-in customers for the first time. Now a custom-designed building and retail space on 52 W Main St in West Fork, the company previously operated privately in Springdale. At their new location, Shire Post Mint welcomes all visitors from 10am to 5pm every day to shop for a variety of hand-crafted coins—from favorite series like The Lord of the Rings and A Game of Thrones to specialty in-house designs, like Moon Coins and breakable Pizza Coins.
The new space also supports outside artists and craftspeople by including a selection of locally-produced and handcrafted small goods, books, and jewelry that are perfect for additional unique gifts. Items featured include greeting cards by Postal Planet, candles by Whitney, handmade wands, herbal items by Yarb Apothecary, and more available exclusively at this space.
The building and grounds are also designed to add to a fantastical experience, with much more to come. The October 2 opening marks the beginning of the transition of this site into a destination that will include food trucks, book readings, tours of the shop, and outdoor events, as a new social center for the West Fork community located an easy drive from Fayetteville. Although these events cannot yet be executed due the pandemic, Shire Post Mint urges frequent trips to see its additions.
Shire Post Mint was founded 20 years ago in 2001 when Tom Maringer bought his first antique coin press. He had a passion for coin collecting and his years of knife-making gave him metalworking knowledge. His techniques of hand-engraving steel dies and pressing one at a time were used in the 1800s and earlier. After a few years of research, refinement, and building a small following online, his work caught the eye of George R.R. Martin, who was interested in having coins made from his series of books, A Song of Ice and Fire. Since then, Shire Post Mint has grown into an internationally-recognized company known for attention to detail and a high level of craftsmanship, all while still being super nerdy! For more information or online shopping, see shirepost.com
Support the business and find unique gifts starting October 2. Masks are required for entry and, due to the size of the space, capacity is limited to follow social distancing safety protocols.
Visit our gift shop at 52 W. Main St, West Fork, AR 72774. Open 10am-5pm, 7 days a week