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 Replies: 6 / Views: 1,810 |
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Valued Member
United States
108 Posts |
After church yesterday, a young man about 12 years of age walked up to me with a couple of fundraising brochures, asking if I would be interested in buying some cookie dough and/or college football tumblers. Since I'm already on a 12-step program trying to beat my cookie addiction, and have no need for $30 plastic glasses when I'd much rather spend the money on coins, I was faced with coming up with an excuse not to patronize his enterprise. Pulling out my wallet, I decided the most convincing argument to support my rejection of his offer was to demonstrate a lack of funds. I opened my wallet to reveal a sad truth to the young man; not even a single paper dollar could be found. After genuinely appearing sorry for me and my apparent poverty, I said, "Yeah, it looks like I'm down to my last dollar again..." after which I opened a hidden fold and pulled out my 1878 Long Nock Morgan dollar that I carry as a pocket piece. His reaction was much the same as my own would have been at his age: complete amazement and fascination. He flipped it over and over again, then called his dad over and they looked at it together. "1878?" he questioned in astonishment over and over again, acting as if I had unearthed an antiquity befitting of its own exhibit at the Smithsonian. "This thing must be worth a fortune." We talked a little longer, during which I found out from his dad that his son is "a coin guy," and after asking him what he's most interested in, the kid replied, "mostly quarters, nickels, dimes ... pennies ..." My purpose for posting this thread is to appeal to all CCF members who have been involved in mentoring young collectors for their "best practices" advice. I'd like to introduce him to the hobby in a way that will hopefully produce a lasting appreciation for numismatics. Edited by Typeguy38
09/01/2014 09:04 am
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Pillar of the Community
Korea, Republic Of
1881 Posts |
I'd recommend getting a Red Book for him if he doesn't have one already. It's a good source of basic coin info and history (not so much on values though), and will allow him to explore other types of US coins and expand his knowledge. After that, I recommend getting some Washington quarter, Lincoln Cent, Roosevelt dimes, etc. folders for him. Collecting only the circulation strikes and clad ones, he'd have a complete collection just out of pocket change and having a full set of something would give him a feeling of accomplishment, which hopefully will keep him in the numismatic community for a lifetime.  Ask him to join CCF! |
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Pillar of the Community
Thailand
1509 Posts |
Nothing beats face to face encounters. Make an arrangement, if possible, to meet at his house, say, once a month. (Unfortunately, in this day and age, you have to be ultra-cautious for his sake as well as yours.) Ask him what he's obtained and then talk about your latest acquisitions.
You will get to guage his level of enthusiasm soon enough and help him (you never know you may get his father hooked as well).
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1118 Posts |
You said yourself in the "Bored with Series Collecting" thread you don't find that your cup of tea, probably neither will a 12 year old. It wasn't until I was 17 I sat down and did a cent set but when I was 6-12 I loved quarters. The Canadian Provincial set was fun and informative. Coin collecting is a lot like strip mall pay for your belt Karate dojos/day care centers, you have a blurring of intangible and material culture. Like how you learn fancy katas/dancing for a physical belt you also learn about mint marks, grade and composition but get to actually see and touch the fruits of your labour. With that in mind I can't help but feel an American map for quarters would be the best thing imaginable. You can go over capitals, history, geography and when he is done he can hold and see his work! Maybe you can slip a few IHC into some penny rolls and teach him about exchanging his allowance for penny rolls and see if that takes off too? |
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Pillar of the Community
1325 Posts |
At the age where you cannot make money to support yourself or to support a collection of high end coins, I would suggest CRH to them. He already likes the majority of coins in them, and a type set is always fun. 1965~current for the denominations he collects shouldn't be hard to get into folders or albums. If his father is willing to help he could try for halves.
Right now the best he could do should be getting something like silver for face value. IUf he cannot buy boxes, then rolls fromt he bank shouldn't be too hard for a kid to get even with how stingy the banks are these days. How else would a kid learn about money if they cannot get rolls to learn how many coins in a roll?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Coin collecting, as with any hobby, depends so much on each individual. Some go for it right away, others may not even start until in their 60's or more. Some are boys and some are girls. I've always thought it is a shame that so many parents do nothing to get girls involved in some hobbies like coins. At coin shows I see parents with boys all the time but seldom ever see a parent with a girl. Myself, I started collecting coins at about the age of 5. Never stopped. Many others start, stop, start again. So many find a collection they had as a kid and just sell or dump them all in a bank.
As to what to say or do to help inspire an interest in coins. Very tuff problem. With most kids today, all they think about is electronics. Parents are ruining kids with a cell phone for them already in grade school. And naturally always with an excuse. Adults just don't think of kids today that they should collect coins, stamps, beer cans, etc. So much easier for parents to just say here is a cell phone. Now go play with that.
If you really want to help kids with coins. Take them to a coin store. A hobby store. A Coin show. Show them on the internet about coins. Have them join this forum.
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Valued Member
United States
263 Posts |
Those are great ideas. I have been putting aside a small jar of routine circulated coins that I come across that are common now but may be less so when the newer relatives are old enough to not to put them in their mouths. I'll definitely go pick up some folders like you've suggested so once they've sorted through the jar they can fill in the holes. I gathered a few duplicates I had of circulated world coins from the late 1800s to beginning 1900s when a coworker said her son liked anything old. I learned that "old" to a 13 year old meant anything from over thirty years ago!  |
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Replies: 6 / Views: 1,810 |
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Posted 09/01/2014 09:41 am
