Took the little one to a small local show- as always everyone was very kind and most wouldn’t let us pay for the coins she selected for her album (thanks again @mikenoodle, she’s almost filled it ) We started with her selecting some coins and had a good lesson on avoiding copper coins with corrosion when she tried to pick one. She has seen her mom and I watching “The Crown” on Netflix and likes Queen Elizabeth coins- I thought it was neat that she picked them in descending size this time. She also chose a 1950 5 pfennig since she’s 5. Next, she spotted a shiny polished Morgan in a flip and said “Daddy I want that big Queen Coin!” Well, this is new territory for education as identifying cleaning/polishing is going to take some further lessons, but I kept it simple for now with “let’s look at some other ones and spend our money on a prettier one that makes you say ‘WOW’.” The Hunt began and ended with choosing her first slabbed coin which has a PL obverse and great eye appeal for the grade level (and $60 price tag) IMO. Gave her a PCGS blue box this morning to go along with her album, all in all a fun morning followed by Starbucks and I feel blessed to be making these memories with my little girl for sure.
That's a great pickup for $60! Your daughter is a lucky girl to have you introducing her to this hobby. Have you pointed out to her how the portraits on her Elizabeth coins all differ? You could introduce her to type collecting by hunting down all the different Elizabeth II portraits. Or, you could introduce her to hammered coins by pointing out that there are other queens on coins out there, in particular, Elizabeth I. BTW, is that a Trinidad & Tobago 1 cent I see there in the lower left?
Great idea, thanks! Yes it is. A lovely proof she selected out of a large album and the dealer gave her a great lesson on not touching the surfaces of the coin.
Cool. It looks to me like she has, or is developing, some pretty good taste in coins! Did she pick that one out because of the bird, or because it was "shiny"? I trust you've taught her the difference between "shine," cartwheel luster, and proof/prooflike luster?
To be honest, this is only her second show and up to now I’ve just let her pick whatever she likes as I didn’t want it to feel too much like school... will start getting more into specifics/education as time goes on. I think she just liked the hummingbird but the coin has a really nice finish as well.
That is so great, John. I took my six year old boy to a small show and all the dealers were so generous with the boy. Coin dealers are just the best. From now on I proclaim Morgan’s to be renamed “Queen Coins”!!
Agreed, it is so nice to see how she is treated. One collector I met in the elevator almost got choked up saying how nice it was to see someone that young at the show which was touching.
Heh, well that’s what she wanted so I figured I might as well spend a bit more and get her a nice one to start a collection with. I didn’t buy anything for myself at the show but my first purchase of the year was waiting in the mailbox when we got home.
Nice! Find her a Churchill crown. Big "queen coin" for cheap. She'll just have to get past the grumpy bloke on the other side.
