What are the kids into these days?

Before this whole Covid thing, were you guys seeing more younger folks at the shows?

Sometimes I let youtube play in the background while I'm reading and it has a tendency to select "stacker" videos on its own violition. I could not help but notice a lot of these stacker videos seem to be hosted by guys at least 20 years younger than me. That might be because it's the young folks who make youtube videos. But it does make me wonder if the demographical age of our collector base may (finally) be getting younger?

What are ya'll seeing?

 

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I do not know. I don't know many collectors out there but the ones I have known were older. Myself on the other hand got into the hobby at age eleven, and am getting back into it again, now in my mid twentys.

 

I started collecting when I was about 8 yrs old. I have been collecting since then (57 now). I think it is just a phenomena of the hobby. When I was in my 20's most shows and the coin clubs I belonged to the collectors were older then me by a couple decades of so. Dealers that I delt with were seldom younger than mid 40's in age. Like you, I have seen a lot more "younger" people involved with the hobby. I am not sure if it is for the love of collecting coins or the gathering/ obtaining of bullion (see all of the stacking videos)

 

Nice post Doug.

 

Very true, also most major shows take place during weekdays when school is taking place. Usually we are having to skip school to go to shows/seminars.

From what I remember anyways, the Nat money show was packed with kids on Saturday back in February. FUN also had several YNs.

Youtube is a hotspot for YN's, I see more kids/teens on there than adults. That's because youtube is widely used by younger generations already and when finding out more about numismatics YT happens to be one of the first places to go to. Unfortunately the site is also wired in a way that misleading videos i.e. "find this $6000 coin in your pocket change" are promoted over actual educational videos.

IMO the best way for YNs to start is to get as deeply involved with the ANA. Go to the events and everything you possibly can. They have a wonderful program and manage to give a lot to the under 18 crowd.

 

In my fifty plus years of collecting coins, the vast majority of fellow enthusiasts I have met, started this hobby in their mid 30's or later. A significant number attribute their interest to coins they inherited.
I began collecting coins in my 20's in a haphazard fashion, randomly buying coins at flea markets, garage sales and asking bank tellers if they had any loose coins available. I never had the urge to attend coin shows and rarely purchased coins, however, when I did, it was to fill a hole in one my Whitman coin folders. Wheaties, Buffalo's, Mercury Dimes and Morgans were my choice.

Ps. During the past few years, I have sold 99% of my accumulated coins. The remainder will be given to the one relative who shows interest in the hobby. So far, there are zero candidates even though most know of my interest in coins as a collector.

 

We have two granddaughters and they both enjoy learning the coin collection hobby. We encourage them and help them along the path. We are proud of them and all the young people continuing this very important endeavour. I certainly agree with GDJMSP. Thanks everyone for continuing the wonderful world of coin collecting!

 

I have been collecting since 5 years old (72 years now). But, I didn't stop to let life happen. I keep collecting right through raising 6 kids. I have gone to one coin show in the last 40 years. It was in Houston and was a big disappointment. It was a significant affair as Houston goes. To me it seemed more like a clique gathering. The dealers spent most of their time visiting with well known friends and/or customers. I and others not in the clique couldn't get close enough to look let alone buy. Several youngsters there that were "inadvertently" pushed back by the crowd. I took my disposable income, left and never went back.

 

I have been told of similar visits by a few CC pals.

 

I started in 2006. My father left his coin collection to my brother and I when he died in 1996, but it was never given to use until the will was probated in 2006. I didn't even know that he collected coins. Most of them were the run-in-the-mill quality even though we both got about 20 Morgan Dollars and 5 Peace Dollars in average shape. My brother picked it up because my parents lived in California and so does my brother. He gave me a list of everything (there were about 40 $2 in average shape and year. He asked me to divide it. I divided it into A and B and I told him to pick which one he wants and I would take the other one. I told him I would buy them from him several times. He always says he will give them to me, but it hasn't happened. If they're in the same shapes as the ones I got, not much in there, but it did give he a start, so I started collecting about 20 years ago at 62.

 

Like alot of us introduced at a young age then slacked off ,then picked it up periodically over the years ,sounds about rite to me!

 

Hey! You got me beat, age, not time collecting.

 

I started in 1962, age 11. At Christmas, my grandmother gave my brother and I each a spring loaded rocket coin bank and a pile of pennies. We sat there for hours shooting pennies into the slot in the rocket...because it was a rocket! Don’cha know.

In the mid-60s she gave us mint sets because she couldn’t get proof sets...Special Mint Sets...65, 66 and 67...as well as regular sets. By that time I was several hundred IHC, wheat, buffalo and mercs collected. I have now, after 58 years, given parts of my collection to my sons and am mentoring my niece in Houston who just turned 11 yo.

The interest is there. Like the rest of us life happens and may inject a pause here and there, but it’s always magical to collect beautiful jewel-like coins and they lure you back to the hobby...Spark

 

Lately I've been seeing younger kids, perhaps early teens, at shows. A couple of months ago I went to a local show where I saw two young 'uns--I'll guess early teens--at a dealer's table and I and the dealer struck up a conversation with them. They were all decked out with their Red Books, albums, etc. We were talking mostly about Nickel 3-Cent pieces and a few other things. It's good to see that perhaps this hobby does have a future. They were there to learn something. And I saw them at other tables buying. This old fogey (I'll turn 65 in a few days) likes to see that.

 

I had one of those rockets, too!!!!! Loved it!

 

My coworker's grandfather in his mid-eighties was given a box of old coins. I have yet to see them. Apparently he is interested in learning more and I have offered my humble help. What things should I pass on to him rather than being overwhelming at the start? My coworker seems a bit taken as well and knows little about this stuff.

 

@Neosynephrine ...if he is receptive to your help:

He will need to have a working knowledge of grading. Gently mention there could be some rare coins there. I’ve always promoted patience with collections needing identification and grading, so if he is in good health time may be on his side. Don’t be pushy and see how he responds. Good luck...Spark

 

I think eBay And YouTube have helped bring younger people into collecting. Lots of videos and easy to browse millions of coins from all over the world from your computer.