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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,656 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
626 Posts |
Hi all, just kicking an idea around in my head, thought I might share it with you. When my grandparents passed away back in 2004-5, I had the chance to go through some of their belongings to get some items for personal memories. I made it known to my uncles that if they found and collectible coins/currency that they would be a welcome addition to my collection (the only serious collector in the family) and would be handed down, never sold for personal gain. Long story short, anything of value they discovered went to a pawn shop. But all of that is for another thread. What I am getting at, is that I did find a container with about $10-$12 in Lincoln Memorials that I was allowed to have.
They have been sitting in a closet since I got them, cannot bring myself to mix them with general circulation coins, even though that is all they are. Since then, my family has grown and I now have three grandkids that truly admire me and all that I do. I tried to get both of my daughters interested in collecting when they were younger, but the bug never really caught on with them. I just so happen to have three Memorial folders, and I thought that I would take the cents from my grandparents and get each of them started on a set. Then they could spend time on the weekends when they stay at my house to go through my stash and fill the empty holes. They would then have a set started with coins from their great-great-grandparents, and finished with coins from their grandfather (me).
Any ideas or suggestions to improve on my idea?
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
Sounds like a wonderful idea to me!  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
626 Posts |
Hoping that the intrigue from a discontinued series and the fact that they coins are coming from their great-great-grandparents catch their interest better than when I tried to get my daughters interested in "pushing dad's worthless pennies into a folder".
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I had to reread your thread a few times but now I got it. you want to give your grandkids a set of Lincoln memorial cents that your grandparents had saved, with you kicking in some of your own. That's a great idea, I'm sure they will love it and might pick it up on their own.
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
I think a lot depends upon the ages of the grandkids.
If they have seen your collection, seen you working on the collection, and expressed interest -- then fine.
Otherwise, I would suggest you start them on collections that have less sentimental value and see how it goes.
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Pillar of the Community
798 Posts |
When my grandma was giving me a coin of hers she waited for all my cousins to leave first, I then asked her why and she said that if they saw her giving me coins they would want some too and that they would just end up loosing them ending up under the couch in there living room or on the floor somewhere but she new that I collected them and was interested in them so she was confident they would go to a (safe) home which was all she wanted. Be VERY careful who you decide to give your coins to. How old are your grandkids? What you could do is show them a large variety of coins and if they like a certain design of one then that can be what they can focus on...unless they like all coins. If I were you id let them know that they are not for circulation but then the pennies in your thread actually are I think.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
626 Posts |
My grandkids are 2, 4, and 5. They always want to be involved with whatever I am doing, so I am sure it will be quality time together. Hopefully building memories that will last a lifetime.
The sets would remain in my custody, until the time comes when I feel they can continue on their own. If they do end up spending them, which is highly doubtful seeing as how a folder full of cents amounts to about a buck and can't really buy anything with them, it is not a loss of anything besides sentimentality. Of which, I have since acquired other items that my grandparents "left me" that I hold more dear than this bowl of Memorial cents. I will start another thread about that another time.
If all works out well, I can get them started down the right path with U.S. coins, or if the cents bore them, I have several pounds of foreign coins that need to be gone through.
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Pillar of the Community
798 Posts |
Ok, that's cool. You know Iv always wondered what it would be like to have started coin collecting when I was five. Iv figured that my parents would of needed to get me started and tell me how things are but they don't collect coins so when I did start coin collecting I had to learn everything myself. I too have several pounds of foreign coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
75 Posts |
My dad started me off at about 4 with the State Quarters. I was crazy about them... for a month. The incomplete sets then found a shelf for quite a few years. About 3 years ago I took up collecting on a serious level. Now at 14, I think that I will always collect, at least to some degree. My point, is that they may not immediately take to collecting, but that is no reason to think they never will. I think your idea of building the sets with them and then "keeping them safe" for them is a wise plan. If they continue to express interest, encourage it! If they end up forgetting about it or don't show interest, you can always wait until their teenage years and gift them to them with a card or folder inscription describing their significance. I know that I personally would value both a childhood memory and sentimental gift such as that. It incorporates their early childhood, time spent with their Grandpa, and their great-great grandparents. I think you can safely guess that they will treasure them even if they don't decide to collect. It is ultimately up to you of course, but that is my input as someone who is close to the age and same generation as your grandkids. Also, reading back on it, I realize that I assumed your grandkids were fairly young. If this is not the case, I apologize, but a similar logic would be relevant. Hope this helps! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6478 Posts |
Where latex gloves. Just to be safe. ;)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
I enjoyed the fact that my eight y.o. daughter liked my roll hunting/collecting hobby and she was hooked on finding wheat cents.
That is, until the Iphone6 came out. She's eleven now and there are more important things than crappy coins.
When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Moderator
United States
188213 Posts |
Quote:
I enjoyed the fact that my eight y.o. daughter liked my roll hunting/collecting hobby and she was hooked on finding wheat cents. Quote:
That is, until the Iphone6 came out. She's eleven now and there are more important things than crappy coins.  Well, you tried.  |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,656 |
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Posted 03/12/2015 5:52 pm
