Nothing quite matches the feeling of acquiring the last piece in a collection. For instance, isn’t it great to get the final player card for your baseball team roster? Or putting in the last piece of a puzzle that you’ve been working on for a while? This kind of excitement is what draws kids into collecting coins too.
Coin collecting is an exciting and rewarding hobby, but it is not for the faint of heart. To become a coin collector, a kid must show patience, commitment, self-discipline and maturity. Coin collecting is ideal for kids who want to (or parent who want their kids to) develop skills in the following areas:
- Self-esteem
- Reading comprehension
- Organization
- Mathematics and understanding the value of money
- Knowledge of history, politics and geography
- Appreciation of art and culture
- How to make and achieve goals
If coin collecting sounds like something you (or your child) might be interested in starting as a hobby, read these 5 helpful clues on how to become a coin collecting pro:
Clue #1: Start Simple
Completing your very first coin collection is a huge accomplishment. It is also an exciting feeling – the kind of feeling that can turn a fun activity into a serious hobby. But to experience this success, it is important not to start by trying to collect a coin set that is too difficult or not interesting enough.
For instance, you probably don’t want your first coin collection to be all pre-1800’s $20 Liberty Double Eagle gold coins (unless you are prepared to spend at least $7,000!). Rather than going for rare and expensive coins, start with easier-to-find, cheaper coin sets like a 50-State Quarters collection, Lincoln pennies, or the Presidential $1 coins.
Once you’ve completed these, then you can gradually expand your collection with more difficult (and more valuable) sets.
Clue #2: Buy Coin Folders
Coin folders are an easy and inexpensive way to store and organize your coins. They can also help you show your collection off in style. Coin folders and containers typically cost less than $5 and can be purchased online.
Clue #3: Get a Good Magnifying Glass
Most coins are small, which means you will need a high-powered magnifying glass to really appreciate the fine details and engravings on your coins. A 10x magnifying glass is usually sufficient for serious coin collectors – however if you are young it may be best to start with a 3x to 5x coin magnifying loupe.
Clue #4: Find Informative and Interesting Resources
Don’t you want to become an expert on your coin collection? Fortunately, the internet is full of fun ways to learn all about your favorite coins, including their values, history, designations and see hundreds of cool photos. You can even find awesome (and free) interactive coin games to play online.
Whether you are a parent, educator or young coin collector, be sure to try out our free custom search engine to locate hundreds of educational and fun resources related to coin collecting and investing for kids.
Clue #5: Share Your Coin Hobby with Friends!
Sure, you can enjoy you coin collection on your own, but it’s always more fun to share your hobbies with friends or siblings. Together, you and your best friend can compare collections, swap fun facts about each other’s coins, and even plan your next coin purchases together.
We hope these clues help you discover the thrill and excitement of collecting coins!
Check out the other articles in our Kid’s Corner for fun tips, tricks and advice, including how to start a collection and caring for your coins.