Getting younger people interest in collecting coins.

Although I am 19, mostly everyone in my coin club is over the age of 50.

Someone on here said the average age of a coin collector is 57.

Most I know started collecting as a kid.

I don't see many younger people interested in collecting coins, well at least not in my area.

I personally think that the "baby-boomer" generation of coin collectors should spark interest into younger people, and encourage them to collect coins.

 

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There's a good amount of YNs here, you, me, at least 15 others...

I read somewhere.... Maybe in Coin World or some other place.... that most collectors, start out very casually as kids, drop it when High School comes around, and pick it back up around 25 years of age... Many kids dont have the level of passion or interest in a certain area to become really serious. That is why I think you dont find as many young collectors as you do older ones...

Just a thought.

 

I see most younger collectors buying things like comics and sports cards. After all thats how I started, then I moved into coins.
So it might be phase thing.

 

20 over here. Started out at around 13, dropped it between 15-19, and picked it up again a few months ago.

 

One thing I have done is to help younger kids get their Merit Badge in Numismatics. I have volunteered for a couple of local troops and have really sparked some interest in a few youngsters. I encourage any dealer or Eagle Scout in the Forum to do the same.

 

I completely agree. We need to get more YN's interested in coins. I believe it is one of those things like disc golf. Not very many people know about it, but once they do they are dedicated. I sent a PM to Peter about sponsoring a YN for one of the ANA summer sessions. Each session minus room/Board+ food and traveling expenses is around $600. I thought if we all came together and donated a 10 dollar coin that we could collectively come up with the $596 Session expense. We could have one of the moderators handle the donated coins, and throw them up on one heck of a lot via eBay. The value would be there, and someone from CT might even be the winning bidder. We could then enter all YN's from CT with say for instance 50+ posts, and draw for the winner. I believe it would be a good idea, and would be good PR for Coin Talk. I never got a response back, so I am assuming there is some liability concerns. Just food for thought.

~Jason

 

I started at the age of 14, at the age of 16 now, and I just ran into another YN in my coin club in walmart today, In my coin club, there are 4 YNs (Ages 8-12) me and another 16 year old the rest seem to be the parent or the ancients (not Ancients collectors but are literally artifacts ) and there are about 23 artifacts, so I have to agree with you that there aren't many YNs, but I sure am glad there are to continue this traditional hobby.

And Jason, that sounds like a great idea, Did you factor air-fare? I'd be happy to donate/enter if Peter goes with the idea :thumb:

 

No, I didn't factor in transportation, food, or board. If the winning bid for the lot was higher than 600, then whatever is left after ebay/paypal charges should go to helping fund CT. Just an idea. I understand when your talking 18 and under it does get dicey. Would be nice if a YN planned on going with a family member.

 

When Rickmp had that contest for the roll of '25 wheat cents, I was quick to think "Man, I would love to give them to younger kids to spark their attention to coin collecting" So when I won it, I was happy because I am giving them to any random kids who take an interest in my collection. I usually take some of my coins to the library and go through and "Price" them when really, I am just oogling at them with amazement, and when a kid gets interested at what I am making faces at some of my cool coins, they come and ask about what I am looking at, so I tell them a little about them, give them a couple wheaties and buffalo nickels, and they go on their merry little way. I am not sure what they do with them, but I sure do hope they don't spend them. But if they do, I'll probably get them back while roll searching.

 

I was sure it sounded too good to be true. Well, If it does get the go go, maybe for 18+ YNs could enter, I know a few who would love to do that. If it goes, I will definitely participate.

 

What got me interested into coins was when my dad showed me the coins he had from his childhood, and what really sparked my interest was the history that went along with the coins. I still love how something so small and meaningless to some people can have so much history behind it. Unfortunately, most of the kids around my age (born in early 90s) barely know their history (and certainly don't have an interest in it), as they would rather spend their time watching Jersey Shore.

 

i would deffinitly like that, and i know all about not being able to find any yn's there is one kid in my school that i know of, and he doesnt do really anything at all. i think all he has is like a couple of mercury dimes and thats it.

 

I have that problem here too. I knew a Vietnamese exchange student who knew more about American history than more than half of my US history class. Talk about pathetic.

 

So it's up to me to spark some interest? I try. Who sparked your interest?

 

I've seen that many many times. My history professor told me about an article he read that said a group of seniors at multiple colleges were surveyed on their knowledge of US history, and the average score was something like 50%. It's very sad.

 

The two biggest influences were looking through my dad's old coin collection and a few of my siblings starting a collection of world coins for me.

My dad used to have a bigger coin collection, but his 1st wife divorced him back in the 70s, when they used to "wife gets half" thing.

 

When I took history in HS i was somewhat disgusted, there are many major events they leave out of history books. I always liked how they were very skim on the part about us invading Indian land and making them move elsewhere.

 

If we setup some algorithm on the subject, I'd say at least 5% of the people that are just getting into collecting were motivated by shows such as pawn stars, hardcore pawn, storage wars, ect... Keep em coming.

 

Hardcore pawn is such a trash show, I don't even watch it anymore, though I do watch storage wars and pawn stars and get jealous when people on storage wars get that hoard of coins...

 

It was my Dad who got me into collecting too. Dads' have a profound influence on their offspring and a little encouragement goes pretty far, though I daresay you're a little "far off" from the dad influence at this point in your life.