I went to a coin show today--not a big one, maybe thirty dealers. But I happened to look around and noticed that there were at least five school age children walking around looking at coins. At one point, a parent was watching his grade school son checking coins, and told the dealer the boy had become interested in Barber dimes. And a dealer I was talking to asked me if I had noticed the young people. Yes, most attendees were adults, several younger than me, but it was the youngsters that caught my eye. Did any of you have parents who took you to coin shows? It can be hard to learn about when and where these shows take place, and maybe a little more outside promotion needs doing. But it can be worth it.
Nothing is more fulfilling to me than to see a wide eyed youngster taking in an old coin. Reminds me of myself as a youngster...... No, my angelic mother worked herself half to death when I was a youngster. She wasn’t able to take me to coin shows but she fully supported my passion. And to this day I keep a large bag of no-date buffalo’s that I will give at random to youngsters. It’s entirely selfish. I can’t get enough of seeing that look of wonder in a kids eyes.
I never went to a coin show growing up but I have brought my son with me to several over the last year. He has developed an interest in quite a few areas and loves to go and see if he can add something to his collection. He is 8 now.
In the 90s, I was living in Las Vegas, a nice old gentleman started a coin club at my school. With parental permission, he took us all to a coin show. I was so starry eyed at how many tables there were and what all was being sold. I distinctly remember seeing a gentleman pull out a stack of gold coins he wanted to sell. I recall buying a stack of foreign bills and a 1900s IHC (I couldn't afford much more than that). I also remember that each kid that went got a free ASE. What did I do with mine? I put it in my pocket and found it still in my pocket after it went through the wash. I still have the ASE and the memories and love to see young, starry eyed kids at shows I go to.
That sounds like a wonderful idea! I would like to do something like that also, but how would you know if the youngster would care one whit about it?
Same at our local coin shows. There are always kids in attendance. Not hordes of them, but enough to take encouragement from.
I don’t. And you are right. About half the time the kid shoves it in his pocket and says thanks without looking. I only give them out when it seems right. These days it’s too easy to come across as creepy. I have hundreds of them and I figure they are only worth face value without a date. But the few times a kid gets wide eyes and his jaw drops.... It is so worth it.
Gosh. I didn’t even think of the part where one might seem a bit creepy. Yep, I need to think about that too.
Sadly, these days you have to be aware of things like that. I do something kind of similar, but less likely to get me suspicious glares from parents. I have a box of modern world coins (yeah, proselytizing for the Dark Side) that I let visiting kids play with. All of the coins are in 2x2 cardboard and mylar flips, with the name of the country printed on each. If a kid shows genuine interest, I'll let them choose one to take home.
And I think that's where the interest can start a youngster on the way to collecting. Given the year of a coin, tell them where it might have been and who might have held it. Spark their imagination!
My Dad has taken me to a couple coin shows over the years. I'm the only collecter in the family so it meant alot to me that my Dad would take me to something that he was not really interested in. Lots of fond memories and hopefully many more to come.
Some things ya gotta do yourself. My Father introduced me to collecting. I carried on from there.......
I didn't seize upon it. I did a little at first, probably worked a little on filling holes in a couple of albums, then dropped it for the majority of my life. Then my son inherited his grandfather's collection, and I'm back in it again. And spending my retirement savings! But! Enjoying it!
