Children can benefit a lot if they start pursuing a hobby like coin collection. Read on to learn more about the advantages of pursuing coin collection as a hobby.Coin Collection is a hobby that has existed as one of the most popular pastimes for both children and adults for a long time. There is something about coins that instantly attract people towards them and to most coin collectors the urge on knowing, labelling and hoarding coins is an answer to the primitive urge of possession. For kids however coin collecting is a
hobby that can help them become more knowledgeable and smart and also boosts many of their skill sets.
Advantages of Coin Collection
- Coin Collection is good for kids who want to improve their reading skills and comprehension ability.
- The organizational, ordering and planning skills are enhanced while collecting coins.
- New interest is developed in the history, culture and events of different countries and civilizations.
- Goal setting and goal reaching qualities are learnt.
- There is more sensitized understanding about the value of money.
Starting off with Coin Collection
Usually, children should be motivated to take-up hobby like coin collection by some adult. If you are interested in inculcating the basics of coin collection in your children then you must first start educating him or her about coin collection first. There are several good books on this subject but an exceptional one is “Coin Collecting for Kids by Steve Otfinoski”. Look for a book with lots of illustrations as children are highly visual creatures who learn more by observation.
You can get your kid a coin collector’s guide and a small folder where they can collect and keep coins. Children are naturally inquisitive and this may spark off their interest. Initiate discussions on value, importance and history of coins at dinner table conversations and also talk about your own coin collection experiences. This will also spark off some interest in kids about this particular hobby.
Learning the Ropes of Coin Collection
If your kid is interested in collecting coins only of a particular country like USA or UK then get a book that is specifically about that particular country.
It is important to remember that most children have a short
attention span so starting them off on a too broad arena of coin collection will tire them sooner. Make sure that your children have a sharp focus on coin collection i.e. they have a period (time frame) of interest or they have a country of interest.
Only one aspect of collecting coins should be taught at one time. There are many aspects which your kids can focus on like:
- Collecting coins of a specific denomination like nickels, paisa, penny or lire etc;
- Collecting coins of a specific nation
- Collecting coins that have been minted out of the same mint (meant for slightly older children)
- Collecting coins of a specific time frame for example collecting coins which were in use between the year 1930 and 1950 etc;
Where to Look for Coins
After you first gift your kid with a small coin collection box and a guide you will also have to help him or her search out coins for expanding the collection. Start off with commonly circulated coins and try to look for rare coins amongst them. Pick up some coins from the local bank and then once you find some coins that you really like you can barter with a fellow coin collector.
Look through the change given in supermarkets and convenience stores as they might incidentally have some coveted coins amidst them.
Keep asking friends and relatives and special acquaintances who live abroad to bring coins for the collection.
Local coin shops have bargain bins which can help you dig out some coins which will be interesting yet inexpensive.
Make sure that the coin collection is sorted, properly labelled and kept only in a specific drawer otherwise it might get misplaced or lost.
What are the benefits of pursuing coin collection as a hobby? How can children start collecting coins? In ways can children save the coins that they have collected? Discuss here. 
