Are you passing on the torch?

manymortages

The youth are the future of our hobby. What are you doing to ensure that it continues on?

lunytune2

Including my 4 year old on coin purchases . Admiring my (our) collection together. And trying to teach him.

STONE

I am still young and am accepting numismatic collection donations

notwilight

The collecting mentality is inherited, not groomed. So you likely passed the torch at conception. Now you just have to nurture it. --jerry

TennesseeDave

I gave my 8 yr. old nephew a 2007-W SAE for his birthday a couple weeks ago.Trying to spark his interest.He immediately wanted to know if he could spend it!!!!!!!!

llafoe

Absolutely... both of my children (8 and 10) inherited my collecting gene. They both have birthyear proof sets in the Registry. Whether they'll continue to collect coins, or some other "collectible", I don't know... but I do know that they will collect something.

Buffalode

Yes, with my grandson who will be 4 in February. I sent him some coins to take care of and also a couple rolls of Kennedys to play with. He still usually calls everything other than a cent a "silver money" but he is only 3. Plenty of time to learn if he stays interested and I want it to be fun for him and not like he is being pushed to do something. Will have to wait a while with my granddaughter. She is only 3 months old and would probably just eat any coins I sent her.

WaterSport

Two neighborhood kids got 1982 Variety cent sets to fill their Whitman’s with that I got them last Christmas.

WS

ricko

The future of this hobby lies in choice, not pursuasion. Many, many people collect, everything from bellybutton lint to precious stones like diamonds. Coins are one of the many objects that capture the imagination of those who collect. Passing on the torch is a difficult issue... sort of like the parent who wants their child to 'become' a doctor or lawyer etc. It is up to the individual, and we who are coin collectors are neither obligated or expected to 'pass on the fever'. It is fine to expose others to your interests, and they may indeed find it a worthwhile hobby. Coin collecting will survive with virtually no effort on our part... they are objects of interest. Cheers, RickO

edix2001

Passed it on to my inner child.

Steve27

While I give numismatic gifts to my friend's kids every time I see them, not one of the three appear to be all that interested.

VAMSKY

I missed a generation while putting in 25 years in the military, but my grandsons are getting both barrels. The oldest is three and gets a proof ASE on his birthday (06, 07, and 08 so far), plus we've started a LWC book. His interest is fleeting right now but I intend to correct that as he gets older. The youngest (just turned one) has a 2008 ASE and I've set aside some wheat cents for him as well.

RYK

My children have shown only passing interest in coins. I do not expect either of them to ever be serious collectors.

When the children of friends or my children's friends show interest in coins, I do everything possible to encourage them: take them to coin shows, give them coins, and give them coin books.

Buffalode

Just to add a suggestion for anyone with young kids- the Mint has a section of games and things for kids. I set up a family website recently to help our family keep in touch and added a link to this along with some other sites for the kids. If anyone is interested , here is a link.

US Mint for kids

ambro51

Having skipped a generation, much as the case between my grandmother and myself....I was very pleased last evening when my 13 year old grand daughter was delighted with one of my gifts to her, the 4 coin 2009 lincoln cent proof set. she had been interested in coins before I realized she was...but Ive been afraid that once the hormones "kicked in' she'd lose that.

Now it seems that shes still very much interested after all!

Billet7

Many here have contributed to my boy's numismatic experience. It takes a village (forum) to raise a numismatist!!!

notlogical

<< <i>I am still young and am accepting numismatic collection donations >>

fiveNdime

my fathers torch is still lit!


my son enjoys the number 10, so he has started with dimes

my nephew (who lives in denver and i took him to the mint for the first time) was upset when my son was born, because he wont get my collection.

DRUNNER

Coins in the classroom. Every novel I do with my 10th and 11th English classes involves a series of slabbed sample coins, and then we have Indians, Buffs, V-Nicks, Warnicks, and even rolls (original) of 1961-1964 Lincolns for the novel "Alas, Babylon". It has spread to the history department at our HS and now 3 teachers give coin prizes for quizzes and test scores. The only bummer? I find a few of the buffs end up in the vending machines!!!!!

Nothing like a holding a pair of Lib 20s when you are discussing Huck Finn and the bounty hunters coming out on the river . . . . .

Drunner

mojorizn

Here's a post from my blog: deja vu . My son has graduated to Jeffersons and Roosie's since this post.

Mojo

BillJones

I taught six classes of kids in a Tanpa middle school for the National Teach Day last month. My parterner and I think our presentations on coins was the popular class.