Need thoughts or advise for my 12 year old grandson

AC7DX

My Grandson is starting into this hobby with a little help from grandpa. I have given him a few Morgans and WL's, and ASE's to help wet his appitite but his finances are not much I told him that for every $1 he saved towards a coin, I'd throw in $3. He's young and likes what they call "bling-bling" and he wants to get some State Quarters. My question is ....as he is young enough to hold on to the coins and continue in the hobby much longer than I, should he buy "clad" or proof in these quarters. Hopes are that he will graduate towards the other older coins as time goes by and if I don't go broke.
Thanks for all the great info we both get from this board.
Ron

FC57Coins

Hi Ron - welcome to the boards.

I'd say starting out with circulation strike State Quarters is a wonderful way to get your grandson into the hobby. You might at some point also consider Jefferson nickels and Clad Roosevelt dimes - also an inexpensive way to enjoy the hobby.

Frank

Wekar

'shiny' deep cameo mirror proofs are probably more the bling bling look - especially if you hook him up with silver proofs. the problem is the cost of proofs vs ms coins - if you do go proof, maybe you could do a date set first - only 6 coins to find so far, and you'll get to spend time with him picking out which design each year is his favorite.

GaCoinGuy

I'd definately go with the proofs, especially on the SHQ's. And maybe the commems as well. Those could open up an interest of history as well as he learns the story behind the commem.

EJB

Keep him busy, statehood quarter books filled with Circ's is a good way. If he gets fired up, he will find out about proofs etc. on his own. Watch people fish, The adults are sitting around daydreaming and the kids are all over the place casting, they have a lot of energy.

rhedden

Here are some under $10 recommendations- circulated "D" and "S" mint Buffalo nickels from the 1920's and 1930's; BU better date Jefferson nickels (silver ones, '38-D and S, etc.), circ. Indian Head cents from the 1880's-90's in VG-VF, modern cameo proofs, mintmarked BU Washington quarters from the 1940's and 50's, mintmarked barber dimes and quarters in G-VG. Most of these are under $10 and are scarce enough to be worth collecting. I would avoid buying BU state quarters, although trying to find them in bank rolls at at face value might be fun and cost effective.

Bochiman

To follow, and add to, some of the suggestions.....

Get a book to fill the circulating state quarters. Get one that has the slides in it as the cheapo whitmans that make you push int he coins and leave them exposed suck.
(I've got some of each)

Then, help him get AND UPGRADE the state quarters. Go to the bank and get $50-$100 in rolls of quarters and have him go through and separate the SHQs from the others, then start working on those.
Return the quarters you don't use and you didn't spend very much at all. Helps him on the cheap budget he has.

If you use the BST or something, someone may have a good deal on the 1999-2000 mixed quarters bag from the USMint. They just sold out a couple of weeks ago but I bought one last year and used it to fill my first 2 years of SHQ in UNC for my son. The original cost for a $25 bag from the mint was $35.50 I believe. So, I wouldn't pay much more than that unless you really wanted them.

Have fun with whatever you end up doing.

Ron

Hedger

I started by collecting coins in circulation such as Jefferson nickels and wheat cents. Until recently, I stopped buying high end coins because my enjoyment of the hobby was not as when I started. The high prices and competition of aquiring those coins put a damper on the joy. So, I sold all my high end coins and went back to my roots and could not be happier. The only bright coins I have are in Silver Proof Sets and I buy one a year from the U.S. Mint. The bling, bling will wear off and you may find more enjoyment collecting wheaties like I have. Try building a set of wheat cents in extra fine. It is fun.