From bottle caps to classic automobiles, collectors both young and old leave no stone unturned in search for their treasure.

Many collectors spend money on things sometimes presumed to be meaningless, but the actual accumulation occassionally exceeds the collector?s small buys.

?I used to collect both baseball and football cards,? Daniel Kingen, ?09, said. ?My dad started my card collecting by buying a 1991 full baseball card set, but I haven?t bought cards since I was 8. I didn?t have much time for it and it was getting old. I?ll always keep them, though, because eventually they?ll be worth some big bucks.?

Although athletic cards seem to be the most common collectible, sophomore John Dinsdale began his compilation of 3-inch G.I. Joes since the age of three.

?I have 301 and know all their names,? Dinsdale said. ?When I go to swap meets, yard sales, and collectible stores I still look for ones I don?t have, but I only buy the older Hasbro 1992 collection. When I was younger, my cousin and I used to set up battlefields out in the yard and engage in a battle.?

Since 1999, five new quarters have been released every year. Each quarter represents one of the 50 states with pictures of landmarks, trademarks or state mottos.

?I?ve been collecting the state quarters,? Melanie Nachtigall, ?08, said. ?By 2008 all 50 quarters will have been issued and my collection will be complete. I started collecting them because I was interested in what each different quarter would look like.?

Although students do not prioritize their collection above other interests and responsibilities, their passion for collectibles remains constant.

?I first found out about the state quarters when I was in the 5th grade,” Nachtigall said. “We were given a project to design our own state quarters. I was given Louisiana. Now, every time I see a quarter I flip it over to check if I have it already or need it.?

Rather than accumulating objects, some students fill their time with active hobbies.

?I don?t collect because it?s a waste of time and money,? Aaron Ortiz, ?07, said. ?I?m not a pack rat. I?d rather construct things and use my creativity on weapons and graphics on photoshop.”

For most, collecting has turned into a lasting hobby.

“Although collecting certain items does not teach you anything in particular, it’s fun to have something that interests you,” Nachitgall said, “but sometimes they turn into an obsession. If you keep priorities straight, the hobby can provide a cheap form of entertainment that most people overlook.”