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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,453 |
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Valued Member
United States
172 Posts |
My daughter is 10 and I showed her examples of various 20th century coins and asked if she would like to collect a series of one of them. I had just completed my Jefferson nickel collection 38-present, so that was out; otherwise I think that is just about the perfect "starter" series for kids given the fact you can still dig 1930s, 40s, and 50s Jeffs out of pocket change every once in a while. She picked the Mercury dimes as her favorite (and who can argue with that?) with the Peace dollars in 2nd place. Personally, my favorites are Walkers, followed in a close second by the Peace dollars. We are, I guess, as a family fans of the interwar designs. So guess what? In November we started collecting Mercuries and Peace dollars! I got a roll of Mercs for just a few bucks over melt and that made an enormous dent in the album holes and we had fun sorting through them. Mercuries, in my opinion, are a good choice for kids, since the series is relatively short but has enough MM variation to be interesting. Also, as long as you stick with EF and VF coins, there are no "showstoppers" besides the obvious 1916D key, and to a lesser extent the 1921s. This is assuming you do not collect error or date overstrike coins. We are 5 Peace dollars from having the complete set (we got each other a 1921 high relief AU-55 and a 1934S VF for Christmas). In the end the Peace dollar series will probably be actually cheaper in toto than the Mercuries, but the good thing about collecting with a kid re: the Mercuries is you can buy one or two at a time in great shape for just a few bucks.... and what dealer does NOT have a huge bin of Mercuries?  Any other suggestions/experiences? Kevin. Edited by KevinH
01/19/2015 3:14 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1629 Posts |
My son collects too, although my situation is a bit different, he's 24 now. He didn't get interested till silver was starting to spike about 3-4 years ago. He started out buying Eagles till silver started dropping again. His interests since then have moved to the same as your daughters. He started out buying Mercury dimes, but has since moved to Peace an Morgan dollars. I have to admit, I like being able to spend time with him at his age going to shows, or the local flea market just looking at coins.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1839 Posts |
Great job getting your daughter involved. I have 4 boys and none have showed much interest. Perhaps she can involve a friend or two to help bring along more young collectors.
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Valued Member
 United States
172 Posts |
Thanks. Funny story. When we were looking through the various designs, she really liked the Peace dollar because as a kid it is instantly recognizable as "The Statue of Liberty Coin". Then I let her in on where the design came from: the medalist's wife Theresa and she thought that was very cool. My daughter then looked at the Morgans next to the Peace dollar and said "that lady needs to wash her hair!"  . Then I explained the history of the design symbolically as an example of US unity after the Civil War, and the fact that the "knots" in her hair were actually cotton bowls, wheat, tobacco, and corn leaves. She still was not impressed!  She liked the Mercury design and as a political science professor I get to sort of ruin it for her by explaining what that "thing" on the back (the fasces) stands for to different people at different times. She was mildly shocked that one of the symbols of one of our WWII enemies remained on the coin throughout the war. This led to a show and tell about the reverse of the FDR dime along with a brief lecture that the fasces, before it became Mussolini's symbol, stood for unity and strength in America and as far back as the Roman Republic (FUN FACT: there's a fasces on the Gettysburg battle commem coin and also on the Bela Pratt 1/4 and 1/2 Eagle reverses, in the clutches of the bird)....... all this as a father, coin collector, and academic who studies the period made my month! Edited by KevinH
01/19/2015 4:18 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
Not sure it counts but I got my younger boyfriend interested in coins haha. He was 19 when I got him hooked. I just had him go to a lot of dealers with me and he decided he wanted to collect and have fun too. He now has three albums Liberty nickels, Franklin halves, and Indian cents. I think the big thing is to make them involved with hunting as much as possible. When you go to the coin shop, you should have them go too. That way they can decide what they like. Dealers with a lot of junk boxes with loose coins can be a lot of fun. Coins in flips behind display cases, and prices on the back can be intimating, Once they start leaning towards what they like, get them a used album to put it in. It's starts being like a toy shop for a lot of kids haha. Edited by Bertensgrad
01/19/2015 4:22 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3049 Posts |
My son is 2 just about to turn 3...
We opened up the latest auction catalog that was mailed to me... and he shouts "COINS!"
Later on that night I ask if he wants me to read him a book before bed...
I pull out "The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins" and read him the first chapter... I'm lying down on the floor he's sitting on my back with his head on top of mine... asking what certain words mean... I know he doesn't get it.. but a father can be hopeful.. and it's great to spend the quality time!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5029 Posts |
Great stories...I am with tbone as none of my 5 have shown much interest. However there is always hope for them to take the plunge some day in the future.
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Moderator
United States
188770 Posts |
I am trying to get my son interested, but I think I will have to wait for the Skylanders and Minecraft phase to abate.  He has a few special coins of his own, not counting those piggy bank. He often brings me change, asking if anything is special. When they are I tell him why. I patiently wait for the day he asks me if he can keep the find. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1215 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
172 Posts |
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I know he doesn't get it.. but a father can be hopeful. No, he probably DOES get it! He sees the pictures of coins and he knows you like coins! The kicker is if he remains interested after a year or two. Maybe he will! |
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Moderator
United States
188770 Posts |
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My dad does. Good one.  |
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Valued Member
United States
172 Posts |
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I am trying to get my son interested, but I think I will have to wait for the Skylanders and Minecraft phase to abate I have bad news for you, Jbucks..... I am 48 years old and my interest in Minecraft shows no signs of abating  In fact, that same 10 year old daughter I talked about and I have constructed a complete CITY so far...... Edited by KevinH
01/19/2015 5:00 pm
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Moderator
United States
188770 Posts |
Well, I did say abate, not end, hoping for some pullback. But now I am like...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1215 Posts |
The thing is, I try to get my dad interested in coins, but he collects antique vases...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
I guess I've got my dad interested in coins... He doesn't collect much, but he enjoys looking through rolls with me.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I have a substantial coin collection. Also, several other collectable type hobbies. My Sons have no clue as to what they are nor could they care less. If something happens to me, I suppose my entire coin collection would end up at a bank.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,453 |
Posted 01/19/2015 3:53 pm
