Coin collecting merit badge

I did it!

I contacted the local scout troop and in about one month, I am teaching the coin collecting merit badge. There are about 10 boys. I'm going to give each a Log Cabin and a Formative, plus I will probably have a door prize (an Ike maybe?). I will give any boy who finishes the badge a 43 steelie. I was thinking about giving the first boy to finish a 40% silver Kennedy.

Any other Ideas?

I'm looking forward to it!!!!!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Maybe give each an album so they have a goal to complete it? I know that helped jump start me because I wanted to have a full book

 

Congrats! Sounds like it will be fine.

 

That's a great process. Have fun with it and the boys will learn a lot and maybe become lifelong collectors.

 

Worthy endevour.....hat's off to you my friend.

 

Kudos to you my friend! Sounds like you have everything under control.

 

If yer interested in them I have some of the older trifold album's I could send, and I could throw in a few coins too. Not sure what coins I could throw in and/or what albums I have, but, sure I can find some intersting coins for em and would love to see someone use the albums. These albums were, for the most part, given to me ~15 years ago. Since I switched to Dansco they are just collecting dust.

 

Ditto to that. I've thought about contacting the local scout leader myself about helping with that. I think danisanub has a good idea about the folders. I think the boys would enjoy trying to fill those up.

 

Another thought - how bout a 1998 or 2000 wide AM cent? Since they can still be found in change, it might spark some interest. If you want to include one, and need one, lemme know. I know I can spare one, and may be able to spare one of each, '98 & '00.

 

You could always give out an ancient coin. There are plenty of very cheap ones around, and those who have no idea how accessible ancients can be are often very surprised that whatever you have isn't in a museum. I'm sure the kids would get a kick out of it. I know I would have when I were that age.

I may be willing to supply you something, if you want to go this route.

 

What type of scouts? Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts?

I think the age may determine what kind of approach you take. If they're 8-year old cub scouts lincolns are probably a good choice. Boy scouts might be able to have more options presented to them.

I like Ikes and those would get their attention, but since they're not in ciculation, it might not be such a good idea.

 

Wow, thanks guys. Re the albums....yes. I would love to give those out and I'll take your extras!

I have only one wide AM (1998) that I found and was going to show that to them, but since it is my only one, I'm gonna keep it. I was planning on putting out a $10 bill and have them throw it away in the trash can as an object lesson. Then, after asking them if they would never really do that, I'll tell them that they might have done just that by spending a cent (or throwing) with a 98 or 00 wide AM then show it to them. Of course, I'll tell them the 92 close AM and the 99 wide AM are worth much more than $10...

I think that will spark their interest....but if you want to donate to the cause, PM me. I will PM jmon about the trifolds...

Any more ideas are welcome. I'm going to show them star notes as well. And, I'll show the the potential designs for the Boy Scout Commemorative for next year.

I'll have two scout meetings (2 hours) to talk with them about coin collecting (we'll have to cover the requirements of the badge in that time as well). I'll post a full report when I'm done.

Keep the ideas coming

 

Pocket Change.....

These are all Boy Scouts.......12-13 year old boys.

 

Gao: You'll have to educate ME on that.....lol. I don't have any ancient coins and didn't know that they are readily accessible. Please tell me more because you are right, I think they would love it! It might be cool to have a widow's mite since this scout troop is associated with a church.

 

I don't have any Widow's Mites, unfortunately (I have only 1 Judaic coin, which is worn to an almost unrecognizable state, but you're free to have it if you would want it for this). If you really want one or more of those, you can get some here, here, here, or here (search for "Widow's Mite"). As you can see, these coins are far from pretty, but I'm sure they would appreciate the history attatched to it.

I mostly collect Romans. In this area, most of what you find cheaply is the coinage from the Constantinian dynasty from the 4th century AD. Since that was the first dynasty that was Christian (aside from Constantius I and Julian the Apostate, whose coins go for more money than the others, anyway). You may want to check out Forvm Ancient Coins' under $40 list here if you want to see what ancient stuff you can get cheaply (it's ordered from most expensive to least, so you may want to start at the last page and work your way forwards). You could also get them some uncleaned coins (both Forvm and Common Bronze, who I linked to for the Widow's Mites earlier are good for this), since you can often get these for a couple bucks each, though they'll almost all be common coins from the 4th century, and plenty will be rather worn and unrecognizable (and I'm not sure if young boys would have the patience to clean them).

As for what I'm willing to provide, I can look through my collection tonight to see what I'm willing to part with for a cause like this. Off the top of my head, I'd be willing to get rid of some decent coins of Constantius II (337-361), an ancient counterfeit denarius of Septimius Severus (reigned 193-211, though since it was a counterfeit, it could have been struck at any time Severus' coins were in circulation), a counterfeit denarius of Antoninus Pius (138-161, though see the Severus note), a worn though very large follis of Justinian (483-565), and perhaps a worn silver denarius of Trajan (98-117) and a very, very worn silver half drachm from Parion that dates from about 480 BC if I decide that I'm willing to part with either of those two. In addition, I have a pile of coins from uncleaned lots that were worn enough where they didn't really have a place in my collection (you can tell that they're 4th century Roman, but that's about it). If you think they'd be thrilled with anything old, regardless of condition, then I could send you a bunch of those. If you think any of the above would be something you'd want to give them, let me know.

 

I'm thinking a field trip to the local coins shop is in order.

Love the album idea, you can get the paper ones for $3-$5. Maybe start with the state quarter album.

 

Yes, ancients are readily available. Its something to consider. And I think its definitely a good idea to make the Scouts aware of that.

 

by the way....for those who pm me regarding ideas or donations, I'm on vacation for a few days starting tomorrow and it may take a little time getting back to you....

 

If you choose to use ancients, there are two good points to be made:

Just being old does not make a coin valuable. There are many ancients that sell for less than your cents with AM spacing issues.

Coin collectors value condition. A popular type might sell for under $5 is so-so condition and over $100 in really, really nice shape. Of course, this same thing goes for modern coins but they will be able to see the difference more easily in Widow's mites than in MS60 and up cents.

The scout badge is aimed at modern coins and few towns have a coin seller that would allow a boy to follow up on the interest if you started it. I'd probably skip it unless you are in a big city with active coin clubs and regular shows.

Of all 'old' coins available cheaply and having historical relevance, the leader to me is the bronze 'blanca' of Ferdinand and Isabella who sent Columbus to discover America. They are ugly, ordinary and nothing like as old as the Constantinian ancients that sell for the same money but most 12 year olds have heard of them.

 

Kudos Bobbeth87,
Maybe giving a magnifying loop as prize would be nice?
When I was a Scout we collected our birth year set and also brought a few rolls of cents to search through, it was exciting when someone found a nice wheat.

Our Scoutmaster brought a common date AU shinny and spectacular looking Morgan dollar (he drummed it up a bit) and a worn old looking 1932 D Washington quarter (he downed played it a bit) and asked if we were to have a choice between the two which would you rather have? And then said remember condition can make a big difference.

It was a valuable lessen for me. Even though he did lead us on a bit.