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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,555 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1227 Posts |
So, I have a cop who comes into my store sometimes, who has a nephew in the single digits with a birthday coming up. He collects the State Quarters, and I offered to help her find the few that are still missing. I also offered her my worn, recently-upgraded holed 1900 IHC for him--little boys are grubby, hard-wear creatures, and I think this coin will have the "cool!" factor of being old, the "whoa!" factor of the wear and damage if presented right ("Who do you think put a hole in this coin? It looks pretty old--maybe Teddy Roosevelt carried it for good luck when he was hunting!"), and of course there is the rugged beauty of a worn IHC that seems more boy-appropriate than, say . . . a Walking Liberty. (This is going to be horribly politically incorrect, but I have yet to meet a PC 8-year-old, so--how many little boys, also, love playing Cowboys and Indians?) I kind of want to give him another coin that he could collect easily at his age without having to put in the big bucks* and was debating giving him one of my 1935 Buffalo nickels. I know there are keys in the series that will be out of his reach for now, but I think a whole lot of what he'll need will be readily available in junkbins for fifty cents or a buck. What are your thoughts? *think "big bucks" for a little kid. Anything over, say, ten bucks is going to be stupidly out of his reach. Moved by Forum Mom from Classic US coins forum to Main Coin Forum. |
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Valued Member
United States
461 Posts |
I like the idea of Buffalo awesome coin, I bought an 1935 in XF for just $1 recently, so this is a nice 80 year old coin you can get in still a nice grade for a couple bucks. Something silver might be fun too like say maybe a Barber dime you can get a nice VG of a common date for a Barber dime for $4. And Barbers still look good in VG grade. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1227 Posts |
Sirdizzy, I don't have any Barbers (unpopular opinion: I actually don't like their design AT ALL), but I could throw a War Nickel at him. I know those are contemporary coins and therefore not really under the purvey of this section, but it might be fun for him to see how our nickel has changed throughout time--I have a V I just picked up whilst purchasing an IHC that I don't want, too. |
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
I think the buffalo has that cool factor. It's old. It has a very different design. The cowboy and Indian thing again. And they usually look very good with wear. It'd make a cool conversation piece for him as it is so recognizable. Kudos for helping a youngster out!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I also think the Buffalo/Indian Head Nickels are great for kids. Also, any of the Indian Head cents. Even if worn, they are something kids all like. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
World coins. Hundreds and hundreds of different designs from all over the world and a couple hundred different countries and often available for 10 to 25 cents apiece. Even for coins going back into the 19th century.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
My 9 year old has been collecting for at least 3 years now. He is working on a set of UNC Franklins and also has a collection of UK Pennies (big coins that are common and inexpensive) and Swedish coins (family heritage). Like his dad, he has also been know to buy whatever coin catches his eye.
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Valued Member
United States
223 Posts |
Maybe give him a Dansco album for either pennies or nickels. Challenge him to fill them up with either coin roll hunting or circulation finds. Coin collecting doesn't get any cheaper than that. Maybe fill one of the semi-key holes or just a couple random spots for him to get started.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
592 Posts |
Quote:
Sirdizzy, I don't have any Barbers (unpopular opinion: I actually don't like their design AT ALL THANK YOU! I thought I was all alone. Butt ugly terrible design, so bad I'd rather look at our completely bland and charmless modern obverse designs than look at a Barber, and buying them is out of the question unless it's below spot. That said, you could maybe give the kid a proper dime, say a 1940s Merc. That would be a good way to go. Edited by SaintRidley
10/04/2012 01:41 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1227 Posts |
SaintRidley, I *whimper* don't wanna part with any of my Mercs. Although I guess I could, in the name of hooking a YA. I actually live in Scottsdale AZ ("The most Western town in the West"), so I'm leaning toward the buff nickel--it's a part of the culture down here. As for the Barber, the modern small-denom Swiss coins have a similar design that's actually quite beautiful. I think the main problem is that Barber did not consider his medium--the coins didn't wear well, and unlike coins that are made to be beautiful both in UNC and after many years (like the lovely Morgan dollar), it quickly goes from "kinda charming" to "oh dear god" when put into circulation. |
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Valued Member
United States
439 Posts |
Conder has a good idea, you can get a lot of foreign coins cheap and just let him go crazy. Who knows what can happen with that. I have quite a few hanging around the house just to take when I visit my daughters school, or the kids section of the local library, and "lose" here and there. I've seen kids just have a fit when they find something odd like that and run around wondering just what they have (even a couple of adults). Another idea might be Eisenhower dollars. The whole set can be completed pretty easily and cheaply and kids always love a big honking chunk of silver, even if it doesn't have any silver in it. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
World coins. Hundreds and hundreds of different designs from all over the world and a couple hundred different countries and often available for 10 to 25 cents apiece. Even for coins going back into the 19th century. The more I think about that I too think this would be a lot of fun for a kid. Don't know if there are any flea markets or coin shows in your area but around me I've seen piles of world type coins cheap. At one flea market a guy usually has a bin full of them. That would be fun for kid if given a hugh pile of them. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1227 Posts |
Just keep in mind this is a kid I don't know, and I barely know his auntie. I want to pass on something small, not have her go "errr . . . . " when I dump a bunch of change on her.
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Valued Member
United States
344 Posts |
Quote:Another idea might be Eisenhower dollars. The whole set can be completed pretty easily and cheaply and kids always love a big honking chunk of silver, even if it doesn't have any silver in it. I was going to suggest Ikes as well. Big, silver, readily available, not that expensive, and a coin most boys have never seen. I used to use them for coin tosses when refereeing little kids soccer matches. They were always a hit. Edited by tgauchsin
10/08/2012 08:49 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
A Buffalo nickel still fascinates people who have never seen one. Best choice I think. Doesn't one of the State Quarters have a buffalo on it? Wait until you receive feedback before overwhelming the lad and his mom. As for my opinion of Barbers? My signature says it quite clearly. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10038 Posts |
An Ike and a buffalo - can't miss with these two. Kids like big, and kids like buffaloes (OK Bison!).
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,555 |
Posted 10/02/2012 01:47 am
