Eight-Year-Old Collector Wins 1808 Half Dollar

Eight-Year-Old Collector Wins 1808 Half Dollar In Coin Giveaway Competition

Reno, NV..Out of hundreds of submissions in a coin giveaway contest aimed at youth in northern Nevada, 8-year-old Garrett Allen's entry was drawn from a drum at Southgate Coins by Pati Falk, senior director for elementary education for the Washoe County School District. This drawing climaxed Southgate Coins' four-month-long competition—launched during National Coin Week in April—designed to introduce kids to coin collecting, and help kids to link old coins to history.

All entrants aged 12 and under, answered six questions pertaining to the year 1808. These questions, with answers, are as follows:

1. Who was the president of the United States in 1808? (Thomas Jefferson)

2. Who won the presidential election in 1808? (James Madison)

3. How many states were in the Union in 1808? (17)

4. Which well-known leader of the Confederate States of America was born in 1808?
(Jefferson Davis)

5. Who was the emperor of France in 1808? (Napoleon Bonaparte)

6. Which famous German-born Austrian-school-of-music composer premiered his Fifth Symphony in 1808? (Ludwig Von Beethoven)

After drawing Garrett Allen's entry, Pati Falk, an educator for 25 years, verified to attendees including members of Reno's Chamber of Commerce, and local TV and newspaper reporters, that he had answered correctly all six questions. Proclamations were then read commemorating the event, including one from Reno's Mayor Robert Cashell. Southgate Coins' owner Rusty Goe called Garrett Allen on speakerphone to inform him that he'd won the contest, but Garrett was still in school (third grade), so Goe left a message with his 13-year-old brother.

Later that afternoon, Garrett arrived with his mother Fay, at Southgate Coins to claim his prize, an 1808 capped bust half dollar dollar, graded Fine-12 by ANACS, valued at approximately $150. Garrett Allen, who was born in 1999, told Goe that he had nearly completed a "P & D" set of Statehood Quarters, and that he was interested in many other types of coins, including old Lincoln cents.

The young boy, who attends Silver Lake Elementary School in Reno, told Goe that he's interested in history and that he has studied the Civil War a little. Goe asked Garrett where he found the answers to the questions about 1808. The 8-year-old replied that he looked some of them up on the Internet and that he referred to a book he owns about U.S. presidents. Garrett added that his 13-year-old brother Cole, "who's really into music," helped him with the Beethoven answer.

When asked if he might take the 1808 half dollar to school and share it with his classmates, Garrett answered, "Probably not," because he was concerned about losing it, or possibly someone stealing it from him. Garrett wasn't sure just how long he would keep his newly acquired half dollar, however, it was suggested to him that if he kept it until he was at least 58 (in 2058); it would be 250 years old.

Rusty Goe
Southgate Coins
Reno, NV
Phone : (775) 322-4455

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