For a number of years now I've given my son a slabbed coin(s) as a Christmas gift. So far he hasn't shown much interest in numismatics but my hope is that eventually he'll look at his small collection and begin to wonder what it's worth and start reading more about the various coins in it. Like many of us here on CT, our numismatic activity has increased with age; especially in our golden years. My hope is that he'll eventually show enough interest in numismatics so that I can pass on my collection to him before I go to the harp farm and he can build on what I've started. This year I gave him a proof three cent nickel and a type 1 MS Buffalo nickel in a two slab display case. Hopefully, curiosity about the history of these old series will get him to do some research. My question to all of you, how many of you give/receive coins as a gift?
I think younger kids (even through teens) often won't appreciate it. But when a person starts learning the ways of saving money, investing, taking responsibility for their own lives, they will see the value in what you have given them. One day they will be grateful. I'd try bullion vs numismatics and see what happens.
I have received coins as gifts in the past. I have never met a coin I did not like, and always welcomed the gifts. The fact that someone close thought enough to give me something to further my hobby is a gift in and of itself.
How old is your kid? If I were giving coins to a kid, I'd probably start with circulated raw coins - something he can hold and touch. Kids don't understand value, but they do understand the visual and tactile aspect. I'd go with something classic but inexpensive, like a 40's Walker.
To me numismatics and history go together but bullion doesn't. For me, if all I was worried about was the price of precious metals then I'd miss out on numismatics.
My "kid" is now 31. The year he made his first work trip to Australia I gave him a slabbed gold Australian Rabbit as a gift. He actually showed some interest in it. In the past I've given him a few slabbed Morgans. He asked questions about grading so I was happy he just didn't say thanks and put them in a drawer right away. Next year I may put together a birth set of his grandparents.
See, I wonder if his interest in the rabbit was because it was gold and slightly less numismatic and slightly more bullion?
My 7 year old boy sure liked this one: ...just in case someone tries to find a gift for a small kid, a colorized coin may work ;-)
My grandson is an older teenager now. He lives halfway across the country from me. He happens to have a first class coin shop three blocks from his house and when I would visit over the years, I would always tote him with me to peruse the shops wares. About five years ago I started picking him up a coin while there. Usually a blast white Morgan or Franklin half. Something inexpensive and attractive. Well it has sparked his interest and now each paycheck he gets from his Walmart stocking job, he adds a coin. Last week his mom sent me this photo. You just never know who and when that bug will hit. I have every intention of putting a few of my nice coins in my will for him as I am sure he will treasure them as they should be treasured.
Like all hobbies, some kids like specific hobbies, other kids don't. I started collecting coins when I was like in 2nd grade. My mother worked as a waitress at the Buena Vista on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. She'd always get foreign coins either as tips or in some cases mixed in with change, most frequently Canadian quarters since they closely resemble in size, shape and weight U.S quarters. So she'd give me the foreign coins. I saved those until my teens and then migrated to collecting US coins. I'd say if kids aren't showing interest in a specific hobby at a their age, chances are they may never. I'm approaching middle age and all of the interests I had as a kid in regards to hobbies, I'm still involved in those specific hobbies: Coins, Astronomy, & R/C aircraft.
When my father passed away he gave his collection of Ike dollars to my nephew. While this really didn't spark any interest in him I still send him a graded Ike every Christmas. This year he got a 1977 NGC PR 68 Ike. Next year he will get a 1978 Graded Proof. I plan to continue this as long as I live. Hopefully he will end up with a complete graded set before I pass.
Christmas this year saw my grandkids each getting coins from me. A couple of the younger ones (7 &10) always are interested in coins when they visit me. I keep a bowl full of circulating coins and they each get to pick one or two. They go for interesting looking / shiny! It's a start! This Christmas, along with other gifts, each grandkid (ages 7 through 18) got a circulated cent, nickel, dime & quarter. Not just current circulating though, the last previous circulating before the current. Indian Head cent, Buffalo nickel, Mercury dime & Standing Liberty quarter. They all loved it! Didn't quite hold up to the gifts from mom & dad though, cell phones, electronics, gas cards etc.
I like giving and receiving coin gifts. I have given my 20 year old autistic nephew coins acquired when I travel abroad. I also gave him a Silver Eagle when he achieved Eagle Scout status. He likes them but I don't see him often enough to sit down with him to talk coins. He did fill a folder full of State Quarters though. One year my parents gave me this for my 22nd birthday, I'm sure they saw an ad for it in the Sunday paper inserts but it's the thought that counts.
I like giving and receiving coin gifts. I have given my 20 year old autistic nephew coins acquired when I travel abroad. I also gave him a Silver Eagle when he achieved Eagle Scout status. He likes them but I don't see him often enough to sit down with him to talk coins. He did fill a folder full of State Quarters though. One year my parents gave me this for my 22nd birthday, I'm sure they saw an ad for it in the Sunday paper inserts but it's the thought that counts.
I like giving and receiving coin gifts. I have given my 20 year old autistic nephew coins acquired when I travel abroad. I also gave him a Silver Eagle when he achieved Eagle Scout status. He likes them but I don't see him often enough to sit down with him to talk coins. He did fill a folder full of State Quarters though. One year my parents gave me this for my 22nd birthday, I'm sure they saw an ad for it in the Sunday paper inserts but it's the thought that counts.
My son has been into coins since he was about 8 years old. Not quite to the extent I am, but he’s 25 now and has other fish to fry at the moment. Every year I put a new silver eagle in his Christmas stocking. Been doing it so long it’s become rather ho-hum, but this year he got a second coin that was very enthusiastically received: a 1977 Austrian 100 Schilling commemorating the 900th anniversary of Hohensalzburg Fortress. Last summer my wife and I went on a vacation that took us through southern Germany (Bavaria), Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Our son joined us for a week for the Bavaria and Austria legs of the trip, and one of things we did was tour the aforementioned fortress in Salzburg. When coins connect us to memorable personal experiences, I think it makes them more special. He was very pleased to get this one. (Maybe next year Santa will leave a German or Bavarian coin in his stocking.) I bought him the proof version of the coin, but I didn’t photograph it and this was the best image I could find online: If anyone is interested, this is what Hohensalzburg Fortress looks like for real:
