BSA merit badge -- need advice

Hello,

Some of you may recall that I teach the coin collecting merit badge for the Boy Scouts. I've shared my power point presentation with a few folks on here, but lately I've been scouring the internet, swiping great coin pictures, and expanding the presentation.

Thus far I've added some things about errors and problem coins. I have the errors covered, but as to problem coins I've only covered:

1- cleaning
2- whizzing
3- tooling
4- corrosion

I know I should find a good pic of ruined luster from dipping. But what else should I add for problem coins?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

That is one of the badges that was added after I turned 18 back in 2000, would have been on my sash otherwise

I think adding examples of adjustment marks on older coins and how they are different from wiping hairlines would be a good thing to add.

Also, plugged holes. Usually pretty obvious, but sometimes it's a really good job and hard to notice.

 

I hate to tell you this, but the coin collecting merit badge has been offered since 1938.

 

Do you have any information on coin counterfeiting? Examples could include coin copies/novelty coins & altered coins like a 1944-d cent that is converted to a 1914-d cent or a coin with a added/pasted on mint mark.

 

How about:

* counterstamps
* verdigris
* various off-the-shelf conservation products (to be used with caution)
* how NOT to clean a coin

 

Well now I feel cheated. I was in the BSA from 1991 to 2000 and worked as a summer camp counselor in 2002 and 2003, never heard of the coin collecting badge until years after that.

 

mac226, thank you for your service to help build the future leaders of America.

 

My son (now in college) is an Eagle Scout. I tried repeatedly to pique his interest in doing the coin merit badge, but to no avail. Admittedly, my motivation was mostly selfish — I figured he'd turn to me as a resource and I would get to follow his progress firsthand.

 

maxfli, congratulations -- as a distinguished Eagle Scout he'll probably be ON a coin some day.

 

@mac266

Artificial toning

 

.... aaaaaannnnnd the can of worms opens again. If you ever find a way to teach scouts how to detect AT, you need to turn over that curriculum and teach the graders at PCGS. They apparently lack ANY clue whatsoever.

 

I feel your pain! My older son is an Eagle scout, and the younger one is almost there. I couldn't interest either one in the coin collecting merit badge!

 

The difference of hairlines and polish lines . Keep up the good work .

 

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges/mb-COIN.aspx

Link listing the requirements to obtain the coin collecting merit badge

 

haha by the time I knew about the coin collecting merit badge I already had my eagle and numerous other awards. I couldn't be bothered with it

 

I like to give them a little more history of coinage in general to go along with the American coinage that the merit badge is based on. I go from ancient hand struck through medieval, cover the mechanization process from screw presses up through steam presses and I hit a little on design, covering hand cut dies, punches, galvanos and reduction lathes, hubs, collars, and edge lettering. Below is a pic of a coin I made for my son's troop. I have made them a half dollar sized challenge coin out of pewter for 1st class and up, but when they make Eagle, they get one struck in silver with the below design and their name engraved it. The pic is a pewter test for aligning the engraved name.

 

I was going to say that I received my Eagle in early 1977 and I have the Coin Collecting Merit Badge. One of my favorites!!!!

 

You certainly need to include some examples from the altered surfaces category. I would go with these two:

1) The use of putty on gold coins
2) Artificial frosting to create cameo effect

 

* Plating and/or replating/reprocessing.
* (Very) basic counterfeit detection