The State Quarter Series, and beyond -- revisited

Just a couple of observations, and fishing for your thoughts:

1. I am really amazed at how many total coin-neophytes collect state quarters from circulation. My tellers at the bank, friends collecting for their kids, and I've even befriended the usual post office ladies who collect these quarters.
2. In every example I sited in number one above -- not a single one knows anything (or cares!) about mint-marks. These are folks that want one quarter for each state and territory, and that's it.
3. This series has been going on for 10 years now, and these folks are still excited to see the new coins. (A post office lady just purchased a $10 roll of AU Guams from me -- I sold it to her at face). She didn't care about mint mark, or condition -- she just wanted a lot of them: some for her, some for her sister, and so forth.
4. The question occurs to me: has their ever been any organized effort (by any of the big numismatic organizations) to do "outreach" to these folks to get them to expand their coin-knowledge or coin-collecting interest? Is this a huge opportunity that's being missed.
5. And, finally: I know that we, as collectors, are seriously getting "collector fatigue" with the multiple changes on the quarters every year, and now national parks (and the Sac dollar yearly change) . . . but, out there in the world of non-serious collectors, there are a whole lot of people collecting these -- perhaps there's even more of them than us. And, if so, perhaps, for their sake, this national park series is a good idea.

I'm hoping this thread doesn't turn into a "bash the national parks idea" thread. I was more interested in just providing some food for thought, and also to ask the question in #4 above.

 

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You make valid points. The fact is, the State Quarters campaign was HUGELY successful and brought a lot of people into our hobby....even at the neophyt level. An outreach would be a great idea. I just recently went to the boyscout site and saw the requirements for the Coin Collecting Merit badge. I plan to sign up to be a counselor and offer to teach the merit badge at the local troop. I will promise a steel penny to any who pass, or better yet, I should give it out to all who show interest. I dunno, but this is something I'm going to do. I'll let you know how it goes.

Bob