I've read with great interest over the last few weeks some guest editorials in Coin World pertaining to kids and collecting. Some of the points made and experiences shared were rather disappointing to me, if not downright saddening. I'm contemplating submitting my own opinions but wanted to find out if I'm just being overly sensitive to this subject or if I'm not the only one with concerns. To those of you out there whose children enjoy this hobby with you, and attend shows with you, I'd like to hear of your experiences...both good and bad. How do you feel your kids are treated by the dealers? Does this affect who you purchase from? Etc....Any and all observations would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!
My boys only like to rummage through the 50 cent bins, and the like. There's a show coming up in March, and my oldest son has expressed insterest (for the first time) in going with me - so I'll let you know!
My son, aged 13, goes with me to coin shows & shops on a regular basis. He has since he was 10. And ever since the first time, he has been treated with respect. The dealers actually go out of their way to help him and answer his questions. There is not a single time that he was with me when he was not given freebies or special deals. Now you might think that is because was with me - but it wasn't. It was because he expressed an interest, a willingness to learn. I have observed the very same thing with countless other children in shops and at shows. If the child expresses an interest - the dealer is MORE than willing to treat them just like any other customer, they are even deferential to children. I have more than once seen a dealer make an adult stand and wait while he talked with a child. And the adult stood there willingly and patiently with a smile on his face the whole time. That's because they all know what the children represent - the future of our hobby
As some of you already know, I have two children who could care less about coin collecting. I have never been able to put my finger on exactly why this has happened. They gave me two grand-sons who were more that willing to collect coins, one who has continued this hobby into his 30's, the other one found that these were a good source of "quick" cash and proceeded to blow his collection. From all this, I now have a total of 4 great-grand children and the one girl is a "keeper". She and I will be traveling this summer to see the world and collect coins. The other children will be going with us, as soon as they are potty-trained. The enjoyment only gets greater as the children learn and want to get deeper into the collecting. Nothing gives a person greater pleasurer than starting a loved one on the road of coin collecting.
I envy you Old Dan! While I have children at home who collect, with our help and dedication, I have one grown who has gone on to collect and now working with his children to get them started. Great past time to share with the little ones! I will have 6 year old twins (little girls) from Kentucky, here this afternoon, and it will be their first visit to my home and I have every intention of planting the seed while they are here. Have buffalo nickels and world coins waiting for them. Hope it works!
The only one in this family that cares bout coin collecting is yours trully--Both my daughters don't give a hoote bout the collection I am building--They are definitely aware tho that "daddy" has a lotta doe stashed away and that one daaaayyyyy----(assuming I don't bail out) it'll all be theirs--Will they keep these items? I doubt it, they prolly cash my stuff out so fast it'll make your head spin--My ladies are plastic people (lubes credit cards) I guess to them credit cards is like free money LOL--they are spending that money faster than me--- But God, I do love all 3 so much--the 3rd person being my lovely wife-- I guess thats why I continue to worky my you know whaty off to support our habits---
My daughter, now 25 and married, is not a collector of anything. In fact, her favorite household appliance is the wastebasket. She is a very neat and controlled (dare I say controlling?) person. Hanging on to old coins is not for her. However, she is a saver. She has all of the coins, etc., that I bought for her over the years because she values them as savings. She is pretty good with money, work, credit cards, etc., very sensible. Some of that came from her experience in numismatics as a youngster. She worked half a dozen MSNS conventions as a YN page. She learned the art and science of waitressing there, basically. She also clerked in a coin store. A few months ago, I asked her about her experiences then, what she learned from numismatics, basically, either at the shows or at the store. She said: 1. Be on time. 2. You do not make money sitting around. 3. You do not need a college education to get rich but you do need some kind of specialized knowledge.
Clifford Mishler has a model: he says that collecting is a gene you do not inherit. In other words, there is something about collectors that makes them a certain kind of identifiable person, but it often skips generations. I am writing an article now about Proof Double Eagles and one of the big collectors of Proof U.S. gold was Ed Trompeter. His daughters were not interested in the coins, only the money that the sale of the coins would bring. That echoes almost exactly the words of Lorin G. Parmelee. He had one big sale in 1890 and another later. Interviewed for The Numismatist, he said that his kids had no interest in the coins, just the money that their sale would bring. On the other hand, there was some interest across generations in the Garrett family, though not much. Hallenbeck, Stack, Kagin, Berk there are a few generational firms in the hobby. ANA President Moritz Wormer's son, Charles, continued in the coin business as New Netherlands in the 1950s and 1960s. I am not aware of another generation after that. (It could be worse. Imagine the dismay of Marcus Aurelius -- and someone had to be the parents of the king known as Charles the Simple.)
I must say that even though I don't or have ever taken a child with me I hope to one day... Dealer I have learned like to talk to younger kids and tell all about their collection when they were our age....I too have been given great deals that I might not have gotten if I was older...I have also been to tables at shows where I almost have to show my money befor I get throught to them that I want to buy not look I was told by one dealer after I looked through a box of mint sets and bought about 5 he said as he was handing my change back..."put the sets back in order...just like there were"....maybe it was just a bad day but to me that is out of hand.... If I were you...go ahead and write the letter... Speedy
Kids and coin collecting. Interesting. I have been collecting since I was 7. I still have the 1886 indian cent with which I started the collection. I have a 5 year old who will eventually get my collection. I want him to take an interest in it rather than to sell it all off after acquiring the combo to the safe during the reading of my will. I recently acquired a complete circulated set of Jeffersons, 38-64, and an old Whitman folder. For those of you with a young child, you know where I am going, read no more. I'll just get him hooked by giving him a magnifying glass, a can full of coins (including the Jefferson set) and the blue folder. He'll be a collector in less than an hour. As for dealers and young people...I have only seen dealers taking time with the kids. One of our local dealers gives he kids a very significant break on the bid board. Our coin show had a kid's program with a money tree and a treasure hunt. Dealers took time to insure the kids had a good time and got some coins in the process. It was very encouraging since the young ones will grow to be the future of this hobby. Jack
Jack -- That was almost exactly how my dad got me started. Thanks for the fond memory. I tried the same with my son, but it didn't take. I do, however, still have the folder on my bookcase should he ever change his mind. Or perhaps, I'll save it for the grandkids. T.
I too have read some comments in Coin World, which were given to me by a friend , which made statements about children. One stated something to the effect of Why bother with children, they have no income to spend on coins, and my response was, no but daddy does !!! I have actually only taken my 11 yr old son to one show and into our local coin shop. We have had pleasant experiences in both places. At the coin show, upon entry, children were given an Ike dollar and most dealers were willing to answer my sons questions. Our local dealer, who is relatively new, enjoys talking to kids. He to gives away coins to kids, the peace nickel, and has a "special" section just for kids. There is one dealer in a town where I used to live, who I will not even go back to. Unless you are spending big $$$ with him, he ignores you. Dealers need to realize, that children will be the future collectors who will be spending money in their stores, or their children's stores.
Thanks for all of the input and thoughts guys. I'm happy to hear that the majority of YN's experiences seem to be positive...much like Joe's
