Coin collection could be a form of investment that’s why parents nowadays want their children or grandchildren to start at an early age. Typically this type of collection is held by the parent on the child’s behalf and when they reach a certain age it would be given as inheritance. Collecting coins can be fun and educational for children too as they would know the history, geography and even politics. There are various benefits that would help children improve their organizational skills, ability to set and reach goals, gain specialized knowledge and obtain a greater understanding of monetary value.
If you’re wondering how you can have your child start to make an interest in coin collection and the types they can first collect, here are the basics you need to know.
Get a book about coin collecting
As you try to have your child’s attention and interest in coin collection, it would be a great idea to look for books that have lots of pictures and illustrations. You can also get books about the different coins around the world and include brief history such as how coins are made. This would give a better understanding of coin collecting terms and lingo which would go along with the hobby.
Help your child to decide
After getting the interest of your child and providing a background of coin collection, it’s time to help him decide which he would pursue. It’s recommended to start and focus on certain types of coins so that he won’t get frustrated and be discouraged with a lot of options. It could be a specific denomination such as nickels and pennies, coins from specific countries, same mint, specific ages or any type which he finds interesting.
You can also introduce foreign and world coins. Mints around the world have started creating commemorative coins with particular topics available online. Royal mint started creating beatrix potter 50p coin collection because of the popularity of one of the beloved writers in the UK. Childrens’ interest can be easily drawn to this collection as there are many characters to choose from. You can introduce the books first then the available coin characters. You can also find online the different coins which were created starting from 2016 up to 2019 which can be perfect collectibles for your kids.
Coin grading
This is the next aspect that a child should learn along the way. It would take some time but your child should slowly know what is coin grading and how it should be done. This is a way of evaluating the coin and how the scale works. If you are looking forward to a long term hobby of your child, he must know the basics. Fairly good idea of the coins’ worth will avoid paying too much or selling too cheap.
Proper way of handling coins
This is another factor for your child to know. It’s important how to maintain the value of a coin by proper way of handling and keep it in the best possible condition. They should wash their hands before handling the coin and avoid touching the surface. It should be held by the edges with your thumb and forefinger. Our fingers contain oil and acid which can damage its surface. In addition, coins should be placed on a soft surface. Don’t drag the coin across a table or any hard surface to prevent the damage. Remember that even a small scratch would bring down its value.
As early as now, study your strategy on how you can encourage them to start with coin collection. A child’s curiosity always starts with his mind asking what his parents are doing as a pastime. It’s not just a regular hobby but also a great opportunity to learn, every coin has its own story to tell. Coin collection brings a wide range of knowledge about history, culture and people using the currency.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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