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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,819 |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12813 Posts |
I just had a really fun experience with my 5-year-old son and wanted to share. I was doing some work in my office and the safe was open. My son walked in and started to ask me about all the stuff in there, which is 90% coins and paper money. So we spent the better part of an hour going through them and opening up sets and albums I haven't laid eyes on in years. I had a blast. Knowing that my collection will be going to him in 40 years or so, it was a lot of warm fuzzies for me to show him all the cool stuff I have collected to date. Anyway, I really hope he takes after his old man, gets the coin collecting bug, and expands/refines my collection when the time comes. I look forward to possibly even collecting with him for as long as I can. Lots of fun and smiles, even though I was panicky at times about messing up the OGP with eager little fingers. Knowing that I may have to sell it all to pay for baseball, soccer, guitar, vocal, etc. lessons, camps, dues and fees, I need it to keep as much value as possible!  I know many of us numismatists are older and have adult children (I got a bit of a late start), but what are your experiences with your younger kids and your coin collections? Edited by CelticKnot
08/19/2021 10:05 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
You're so lucky to have this experience. My daughter used to be able to read the dates on coins when she was 4 or 5 with a magnifying glass. Mostly nickels and she has a small collection but 35 years later, life is all about social media on a phone. One of her sons, my grandson had some interest in Lincoln Cents and I sent him a loupe and a lot of tubes to sort with but I never heard from him as far as that goes.
When I was a kid, I was taught to at least send a thank you card. So I give up.
I wish that you have all the best times collecting with your son for many years. I would have loved that experience you had. Keep it alive.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3638 Posts |
My coin collecting hobby was on hiatus during my kids' younger years, so we never really had any interactions regarding numismatics then. Now my daughter is 37, and has zero interest. My son, who's 34, seems to enjoy looking at my coin and currency collection with me, but that's as far as it goes. So now I'm working on my eldest grandson, who's 14. However, while he's shown interest in the historical aspect, he doesn't show any real interest in actually starting a collection. I've got two younger grandkids (3 and 5), and I'm going to start working on them before too long  . Member of SPMC, FCCB, ANA and ANS. My U.S. Classic Commemorative Complete Set: https://www.NGCcoin.com/registry/co...sets/278741/My U.S. Fractional Note Set: https://notes.www.collectors-societ...eSetID=34188 |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Starting a youngster out with an empty folder and a roll or two of coins to fill the holes is a good way to see if they have any interest in the hobby. It could be a Saturday tradition with you and yours  John1  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
My experiences with kids and coins is nothing but a loss. I USED to give Proof and Uncirc sets to about 14 relatives and friends for Christmas. After many years of this I found that almost all were just sold on ebay or taken to a coin store. Not one of those kids or relatives and friends ever became a coin collector. |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Giving coins to a non collector is futile. Even giving coins to a collector from a non collector most times does not work out well. John1 |
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Valued Member
United States
266 Posts |
My son is in his late 20s. He seems not to want to collect anything. I think his generation is like that. He does know that my coin and bullion collection is worth something and I told him it will all be his. So I think he is interested in that. I also told him many times not to bring it to a pawn shop or coin shop. If he want more money for it, he'll have to sell it himself. God willing, I won't have to sell it and it will be his problem.
I take that back, he has started collecting mint in-the-box N64 game cartridges. They can be quite pricey.
Edited by HappyHippo
08/20/2021 07:32 am
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
You don't always get what you wish for . I started collecting hoping my children will pick up the hobby when I go ; For get about it . at 42 ,41 and 35 they don't know the difference between a collector coin and a fender washer . So I gave up on them and concentrated on my 4 grandchildren . Out of the 4 only 2 are high candidates to continue my collection , but anything can happen in the future . There is no such thing as a sure thing . Stay with your son and just hope that he takes to it ; It's all we can do .  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9152 Posts |
I started in the 90's collecting mostly circulation coins and then thought I would do an album for each of my kids (3) and went to do some for my grandkids (7) so that when I pass they will got some thing. I showed them what I was doing and said "if you find a coin you like I will put it in your album" this happened a few times BUT NO real interest from any. Kids are 50+ and the youngest grandkid is 21. I had 2 of the grandkids ask 'when I get the coins can I spend them' so they will not get them till I pass then I won't know what they do with them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1484 Posts |
A "collecting gene" seems to run through some families, but there's no guarantee those who inherit it will want to collect — as noted above — the same thing(s) you do. In some cases, the collecting gene morphs into the hoarding gene.
There are no serious coin collectors among my children, but two have a passing interest.
It's good to start young, as the OP has done. Good luck!
For me, I got started on coin collecting around age five when I was handed a Whitman folder and a metal lunch box full of Lincoln cents; my younger siblings needed attention and my Mom wanted me to have a hobby.
Edited by halfamind
08/20/2021 11:27 am
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12813 Posts |
Thanks for the thoughts and comments so far, everyone. I don't expect that my son will really take my collecting passion and run with it, but one can hope. As HappyHippo said, I hope I don't have to deal with selling it! Quote:
I take that back, he has started collecting mint in-the-box N64 game cartridges. They can be quite pricey. Isn't that nuts? There are now companies that will grade and "slab" old console video game cartridges. What a world! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5177 Posts |
I think there is some evidence that being the "collector-type" is genetic (a collector is born, not made), but coin collecting is too specific. There is tons of proof however that being artistic definitely is a genetic trait. Science can even point to a specific chromosome in case of having a strong affinity for (composing) music. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy...eativity-dnaEdited by NumisEd
08/20/2021 12:15 pm
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Valued Member
United States
292 Posts |
My grandfather got me interested in collecting coins when I was 9 years old in 1965. With my weekly allowance of 25 cents I pulled as much silver and wheaties as I could. With birthday money I'd go to a coin shows and buy BU Morgans for $3.00. By the time I was 14 I had my complete Jefferson and Roosevelt collections pulled from circulation. It was a great time to be a kid and to be an amateur collector. And the connection to my grandfather still means so, so much to me. My nephew seems to have an interest and he's appreciated the IHC I've given him. Edited by EDM
08/20/2021 6:58 pm
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
This is a great story. We should all be so lucky to have moments like these. |
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Valued Member
120 Posts |
Quote:
There is tons of proof however that being artistic definitely is a genetic trait. I was born unto a crafty art-type mother and a musician/hockey player dad and now in the latter stages of my life, I claim I was born with a microphone in hand. My 3 kids were skating before ever coming close to breaking the double digit mark and 2 of them are passionate painters/drawers. Quote:
(I got a bit of a late start), Too, me. My first child came when I was 36 and I didn't start coin collecting, or, as I like to refer it, hoarding money I will never spend, until I was just about 49, 3 sum years ago. My kids thought me insane when I began my mountain of metal but, we had a few Eater Coin hunts with a selection of fine pieces for them. They were happy and no missed chocolates were found months later melted in the window, lol. Do my kids have any passed down dna type instructions on becoming a future coin and currency collector? My grandparents collected Canadian silver but were not "collectors", a savings account for their children type of thing. My mother collected Canadian Pennies prior to them dying out but was not a "collector", just a "throw it in the bucket" type. I'm kicking myself now for not realizing my passion in this field way... way way back when I could have gotten the good stuff at face at the bank. |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
251 Posts |
It's a bit of a pity to read so many people having no lucky interesting the younger folk. I've come to the unfortunate conclusion that almost everyone born in this age is more concerned with technology and can barely tear themselves away from their phones for 5 minutes to appreciate anything else. I don't plan on having children in the future, but I do hope I can at least find someone to pass the hobby on to.
"Casual collecting" is nearly dead anyway, it seems virtually everyone of my generation just taps their card instead of bothering with physical cash.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,819 |
Posted 08/20/2021 02:23 am
