I have a few nephews and a niece to to buy presents for Christmas. In the past I have bought various 1 oz silver commemoratives from the mint, Braille, Lincoln, etc. I was wondering if anyone had an idea of which of the ones that are available you would buy for best value for the kids down the road. Additionally if there are other ideas with coins I am all ears, or in this case eyes.
I always think state quarter proof sets are cool. All but the 1999 silver state proof sets are still reasonable. Perhaps a graded silver mint set in 69PR would also be nice. Other past silver commemorative coins are nice, just try to purchase the right design given the interests of your nieces and nephews. Summarily, a graded coin is always cool (unless they like raw coins).
http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wc...ctId=16602&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=47506 http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wc...ctId=16504&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=13738
I have lots of 'junk' coins laying around, clad and silver. I like to give a whitman folders ($3) and a handful of coins to get them interested. Modern pennies and nickels for little ones, silver dimes and quarters if I want to give something more valuable. This gift is fun, as it's interactive and valuable, and creates a shared interest. However, if they're potentially irresponsible (might spend them at face value) or if a more formal gift is required, I'd buy the silver proof sets from the mint - they're simply stunning, and the base metal is an investment (the premium for th proof coinage and the shipping/packaging is your 'sunk cost' - like a disposable toy). My $.02
Maybe some of the silver rounds that have designs of obsolete coins, such as the FE and IH cents, Buffalo nickel, Mercury dime, etc., and others I can't remember.
How old are they? I just bought the book A Pocketful of History: Four Hundred Years of America-One State Quarter at a Time for one cent through Amazon. Not quite a children's book, but there quite a few coin books for children. My next purchase for my child will probably be the Presidential Coin Collecting Kit, and perhaps books like 26 Letters and 99 Cents, Follow the Money, and The Coin Counting Book.
I think the alternative reverses get good kid-praise: Sacageweas, 2004-2005 nickles, 2009 pennies, of course the quarters since 1999...
Hey people thanks for all the great suggestions. I love the animal idea and Top Cat's links were a big help too. Collecting the quarters was so good, well I've already done that. They have the Whitman folders already.
