Home› U.S. Coin Forum
Options

Is it safe to give out Halves and Dollar coins at Halloween

CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 34,186 ✭✭✭✭✭

Back in the day houses that ran out of Halloween candy sometimes gave out nickels, dimes or quarters to the late-comers, who were typically older kids. Nowadays anything smaller than a quarter would probably get your house TP's, and a quarter certainly would not impress the older kids.

Halves or dollars would probably impress the kids, but is there a risk that the unusual coins mike make some of the older kids think "Gee, there must be a coin collector living there! I think I will rob the place when they are not home!"

Thoughts?

Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.

Comments

  • Options
    TomBTomB Posts: 23,205 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Multiple quarters!

    This way they are more satisfied than receiving a single quarter yet they won't think you are a coin geek worth robbing.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • Options
    johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 34,180 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Maybe theres an idea of both say a little mix of candy and a coinor two?

  • Options
    Dave99BDave99B Posts: 8,952 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 29, 2026 3:37PM

    I don't see a problem as long as we are talking about current coinage. I remember an old man who gave out rolls of pennies every Halloween. We never robbed him!

    Dave

    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
  • Options
    cptbillycptbilly Posts: 148 ✭✭✭✭

    Many years ago, I handed out bags of 10 baseball cards instead of candy. . .good way to get rid of a bunch of commons.

  • Options
    MFeldMFeld Posts: 17,168 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If you’re worried about outing yourself as a coin collector, instead of coins, just pass out $5 and $10 dollar bills. Problem solved.
    😉

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • Options
    cameonut2011cameonut2011 Posts: 10,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Hand out some of the Trump Dollar coins.

  • Options
    ShaunBC5ShaunBC5 Posts: 1,975 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I doubt the kids will associate you having Kennedy halves and Sac dollars with having a valuable coin collection. They’re more likely to just think of you as eccentric.
    I say go for it.

  • Options
    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 43,105 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @CaptHenway said:
    Back in the day houses that ran out of Halloween candy sometimes gave out nickels, dimes or quarters to the late-comers, who were typically older kids. Nowadays anything smaller than a quarter would probably get your house TP's, and a quarter certainly would not impress the older kids.

    Halves or dollars would probably impress the kids, but is there a risk that the unusual coins mike make some of the older kids think "Gee, there must be a coin collector living there! I think I will rob the place when they are not home!"

    Thoughts?

    I wouldn't overthink it. Unless you are handing out silver dollars, why would anyone assume that circulation coinage means coin collector?

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • Options
    ColonialcoinColonialcoin Posts: 927 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @cameonut2011 said:
    Hand out some of the Trump Dollar coins.

    Prepare to get your house egged….”tremendously”. 😂

  • Options
    cameonut2011cameonut2011 Posts: 10,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Colonialcoin said:

    @cameonut2011 said:
    Hand out some of the Trump Dollar coins.

    Prepare to get your house egged….”tremendously”. 😂

    Did you mean "bigly?" :D
    I guess it depends on where you live.

  • Options
    cameonut2011cameonut2011 Posts: 10,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Maybe hand out some of the 9/11 dollars. Who can hate on those?

  • Options
    seatedlib3991seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,633 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The only experiences I have ever had with giving out money (not me) were when my daughter was young in the 80's & 90's.
    We had a college professor who gave out $2 dollar bills. Another fellow gave out small baggies of Wheat Cents.
    I just buy enough candy to make sure my wife and daughter can eat their share and I can keep the porch light on until around 8pm; then I'm done. James

  • Options

    Typically, I hand out World coins, Indian cents and buffalo nickels at Halloween.

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file