I was thinking of putting together some kits or baggies of coins for scouts to earn their coin badges. What is required for them? What can I do to help them, and what should I NOT do so they EARN the badge? Also are foreign coins acceptable, or do they have to be US?
I would start them out with small cents. Its the most popular and easiest accessable coin we have. If you need some small cents to help get you started just let me know.
Is the purpose of a badge for them to learn about coins? Or for you to do the work. If you do the work for them, what do they learn? Let the kids learn on their own. The requirements of this badge is not difficult. http://www.boyscouttrail.com/boy-scouts/meritbadges/coincollecting.asp Let the kids learn on their own. If you want to have the kids EARN their badges, answer any questions when they ASK them.
Probably the best help you can give is to call the boy scout council in your area and let them know you are a collector and are willing to help with the presentation for the badge. I'm sure they would love to have someone with experience help them. It should only take one night of your time for the presentation and the leaders can take it from there. I have done it for my son's troop and it really isn't hard at all. The hardest part is keeping it simple and not talking too long.
I tried donating all my Canadian 'doubles' some of which were pre 1900, so i corresponded to the local scout office here in Toronto. I made mention that Id like to donate them to a less fortunate kid so he can try and get his badge. They wouldnt here of it so they provided me a name of a coin dealer in which I could give them the coins and he would determine a fair buying value. He would then forward the money to the scouting organization. I passed on the whole thing...Im conviced they are much more valueable giving them to some kid, then giving them to a dealer for less than trends value so a profit could be made. Its a shame they blew it. if I only knew a kid that met this profile, he's have them in a second.
