I came close to putting a bunch of old Wheaties (commons) in 2 x 2's and giving those out with the candy Sunday night. Thinking it might inspire just one kid. Anybody ever do something like that?
I know I am late on this but growing up a neighbor did that and was one of my favorite places to stop at. I believe it is one of the main reasons I started collecting. Maybe next year!
This is an excellent idea if we are looking to recruit new members to the collecting community. Even dateless buffalo nickels are somewhat reasonable enough to throw into a youngster's treat bag.
I give out free coins to every kid I see at coin shows. I bought a crap load of NGC "Brilliant Uncirculated" George washington dollars and give them out. It is fun to se their faces light up.
We've done world coins (identified in 2X2's) and they seem to be well received. (We do give them candy as well.)
My only hesitation is that I don't want to advertise to local teenagers that I collect coins. Otherwise I think it is a great idea.
I also thought about giving out coins on Halloween. The only thing that kept me from doing it is the thought that I didn't want people knowing I was a coin collector and worrying about my house being broken into. It's sad that you have to worry about such things but that's the world we live in.
We don't get many kids at my place anymore (maybe 20 or 25) so I was thinking of giving out the nickle dollars they used before loonies. They're only worth a buck, but I see them on Craig's List being sold as silver ALL THE TIME. And unfortunatly most of the beat up ones I was going to give away have the same vayageurs in a canoe design as their silver counterparts. It's just begging for trouble so I went out and bought some of those chocolate dollars.
Great idea. I just put a bowl of candy out, and its a little late now to start digging around for my common wheaties and dateless buffalos. My only concern would be the security concerns that others have already mentioned. Then again, we could be a little paranoid... Really, maybe nobody would think much of someone giving away old pennies along with candy. After all, we're not talking about anything valuable, so the wheat cents might not be an item that screams "This is the house you want to rob!"
that'd be cool! and it would be a good start for some kids, i'm 14 and i like the idea of getting a wheat penny. although some kids would just give you a weird look and go "a penny"? but good idea!
I do something similar with a couple of Eisenhower dollars I throw in the bowl with candies. Security for me is not a big concern. However, I advice to be assure of what you do before you let the neighborhood you have "weird" looking coins in your house. Sorry if you try to come in my house without my permission whether I'm there or not
