Hello, can anyone tell me what is a good way to introduce kids to coin collecting, besides saving coins in piggy bank? Is there any kid-friendly set or coin out there (any website?) that comes with a little write up on the coins history, etc.. Something not too expensive. Thanks.
WOW is that a complicated question. There are so many things to consider. For one thing what is the ages of the kids in question. If 1, 2, 3, years old, not likely to be of any use. If 4 to 6 area, possibly the usage of coin forums like this one, a Red Book on coins, a few of those cheap Whitman Folders to try to fill from change would help. After about 7 to 13, there is so many other way more important things in life for them that sitting around with coins is just not really to interesting. At about 13 and up, there are now members of the opposite sex that surely are more interesting than some old, dirty, dented coins. Aren't those coin things supposed to be used to buy presents for girls?:smile All kind of kidding but also a little of real life. Today kids are realy into the computer age and computer games. Then too there is FaceBook, Utube, MySpace and on and on and on. A hobby like coins today is really tuff to interest the younger generation. I would suggest if possible taking kids to a coin show, coin store, purchasing some books on coins for them. Find some really odd looking coins for them to start.
Here's how I started my son, A decent magnifying glass 3 bucks for a 5x,a series two and three lincoln cent coin folders,and a big bag of pennies from the bank, once he had gotten those filled up and we worked on upgrading the coins together then moved on to modern nickles,he's getting pretty good at searching bank rolls for upgrades for coins he already has and loves it. Just start out with circulation type coins that are easy to come up with,later on he/she will want to upgrade to higher money,better coins. Take them to coin shops,shows,etc. Make it fun x5 you know a day out with dad or whoever seeing a coin show and having lunch together and answering as many questions as you can,If you don't already have coin media like the red book,or other coin books with good knowledge then make those among your first purchases. Once that seed is planted it will grow on its own given the proper roots(knowledge) and fertilizer(coins and time spent with a loved one). Before you know it they will be hauling you around to shows and lunch. Also remember it might not be the kids favorite activity right now but don't force it on them just have their stuff available and ready if they give it up for awhile,they'll come back when they want to. My children don't all collect coins,I have four and the oldest two are girls,they have zero interest in coin collecting,but I still have their starter sets put away in case they ever want them. My other two are boys, the older one took to collecting like a duck to water,once his feet got wet he turned into a coin collecting fool and don't even mention a show or coin sale because he'll remind and ask about it every single day,the younger son is sometimes interested in coin collecting sometimes he'll be in there sorting and having a ball,sometimes he'd rather play or do something different,thats okay with me,he'll get the addiction sooner or later. Start simple and make it fun,and spend some time helping them with it and enjoying it together, something that doesn't really get me wound up might be a real treasure to them,so If they are excited and happy I get excited and happy with them.
The US mint has ideas on this subject. Kids are really funny nowadays. You show them the beauty of an old Merc dime and they ask for a gold coin!! http://www.usmint.gov/kids/
My son had never shown any interest in coin collecting, but wanted to go to the FUN Show in Orlando last January. He was eleven at the time, and to say he was impressed by how big it was is an understatement. He also got to meet a few Coin Talkers at the show. We came back home, and told me he would like to start coin collecting. We agreed on Memorial Cents and Jefferson Nickels from roll searching. I ordered him a couple of coin folders, and we got started. We had a lot of fun doing it. He then said he wanted to advance and we discussed it off and on over a few days or so. After talking about it we agreed on doing a 20th Century set. We looked at all the different albums with the Whitman being the most complete. We're still working on it, getting close to being completed. A lot of the coins I already had, so the cost has been kept down. Also before we place a coin in the album he has to go online and print at least two articles on that coin. I enjoy it for him because if someone is dicussing a Barber or if he sees a Standing Liberty he knows what at least they are talking about and has certainly increased his recognition of coins. Raider and Dready (CoinTalkers) also helped him out by each giving him a coin for his birthday back in June. Some very great people here, and my son really likes to go to coin shows. I'm sure as he grows up coins will be sidelined for awhile, but I hope he will return to it. Also my little girl is starting to show quite an interest at times. This is due to her having a set of state quarters from circulation. Younger ones appear to like the fact each coin is different.
It seems kids and adults both enjoy filling up albums or folders with coins. I think for kids the best bet is circulating coins but you could buy rolls or bags of obsolete coins. These are mostly all picked over so finishing a set is almost impossibnle though. It can also get pretty expensive if you can't sell the duplicates at a good price. All the current denominations are great and can be completed. All have some really tough dates to make it a challenge. Trying to assemble one of these sets in nice condition is especially challenging. I personally prefer the quarters but each to his own. All the sets together can be assembled for less than a couple hundred dollars even including the albums so they won't bust the bank. It will take quite a while so the cost is spread out too.
I'd think just exposure to interesting pieces as you run across them -- perhaps an old design on a US coin, perhaps a world coin or three; whatever seems to interest the child. Possibly an inexpensive gift if he shows interest. If he responds, then start with the folders and visits to coin shows. (I've been collecting since I was 7 and saw a Barber Half for the first time... )
I am 15 and am way more hooked on coins than my father who started me. Trust me, take an easy approach, no hassle. He took an easy approach and now I am hooked. My advice is to start with the state quarters. they are all different and it gets kids to look at each one with variety. By the time I was ten I knew which state quarters to look at and which ones I wanted to keep
Another option is to simply spend some time with your child, show them of your favorite coins, tell them why you like it, maybe a bit of the history of the design. My uncle and my father did this, and though it took a while for me start collecting (I'm 22 now), it definitely planted the seed. I would have to agree that picking up a coin folder and helping your child fill it out would also be a good idea -- in hindsight, I really wish I could have had that opportunity. Like some of the others have said, the state quarters are good to start with because of the variety in them (heck, that's still a big part of why I like them).
Long time lurker, first time post. I can tell you what I am doing that is a lot of fun. The first time the tooth fairy came, there was a "special" coin, I think the first was a mercury head dime. The next time an indian head and lincoln wheat, a buff, then halfs, even a dollar. There is a special place to keep them. The stocking at christmas has something. The coin can be anything, old or new, shiny or not, a SAC or SBA, Ike, foreign coins, a half penny one Christmas, the Queen another year (yeah I know the Queen was on the half penny), even presidentials. This year it will be territories. In between, I keep all the state quarters I get and occasionaly I "find" one in my change and we go through the accumulated trove and put in a couple. We lack only Hawaii. Used a folder with a map so we have a history/geography lesson with each one. The attention span is short, so I kept it moving, and made sure there were a couple to put in every time we looked. Sometimes a couple of months would go by without really looking but then something will remind my child and off we go to the coins adn sort them. I also keep a PD folder that is "my" folder to give us a bit more to look for in the state quarter department. I have a roll of 1950 wheats to play with, touch, stack, and stare at. The coins I use are common date good, so the investment is minimal. Foreign coins are great as well for history and geography and relatively inexpensive. This has worked well to keep interest up.
