Soon after learning that I was going to be a dad for the first time last year, I began tossing around ideas for a unique way of putting together a birth year family tree of coins for my unborn child. She's almost four months old now, and after toying around with dozens of ways to assemble such a set, it's almost complete. I just need some input from the CCF experts to help me put the finishing touches on my first "exhibition" style project.
My first idea was to use cents, which would allow me to go back several generations on both sides of the family for a reasonable cost. However, picturing the finished product with a bunch of dark, worn coppers was not appealing for a display in a little girl's room. Assembling birth year type sets was too expensive because several years inevitably included key date issues. So, I settled on the following criteria:
One coin for each birth year
Silver composition of at least 90%
Must exhibit a design element shared by all other coins in the set
Uncirulated coins only (if possible)After cross-referencing all available issued for the years needed, I found only one common theme: the eagles on the reverse. For baby, obviously a shiny new
ASE would do just fine. For dad (1984), I discovered the reverse of the otherwise hideous (IMHO) 1984 Olympic Silver Dollar actually features a very nice eagle portrait.
For mom (1988), I had to get creative. Since dad couldn't have an
ASE and had to settle for a commemorative dollar, and since the 1988 Olympic Dollar didn't feature an eagle on the reverse, I found the low-mintage 1988 Young Astronaut's Medal (yes, I know, not technically a coin; but the composition is exactly the same as a commem dollar).
The grandparents' birth years spanned a broad range, but still with one eagle-themed coin in common: the
Washington quarter. Not super-interesting, but it just-so-happened that all circulation issues for the years needed were 90% silver.
I'm still waiting on the earliest quarter to come in, but all the rest are in air-tites, which are attached to little mounts I made from old checkers. I then found a football display case at a local arts/crafts store that has a mirrored back, and a silver frame in which to display her picture.
What I need help with now is the staging: I need suggestions on how to create a little vertical separation between the rows of coins; maybe some type of clear vertical risers to elevate the coins toward the back. Also, any suggestions for appropriate labeling that wouldn't be too distracting.
Thanks for any input!

