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Is it safe to give out Halves and Dollar coins at Halloween
CaptHenway
Posts: 34,199 ✭✭✭✭✭
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.
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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.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Maybe theres an idea of both say a little mix of candy and a coinor two?
Well, I guess it depends on your neighborhood.
Just don't give the kiddies silver halves or real silver dollars. That could be a big hint, a coin collector lives there. 😂 😉
“Thanks mister, but do you have any coins in those OGH or NGC fatty holders in there??”
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Chris
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
Get some Two Dollar Bills...kids love those and most have never seen them. A $2 bill is still cool for kids.
Many years ago, I handed out bags of 10 baseball cards instead of candy. . .good way to get rid of a bunch of commons.
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.
Hand out some of the Trump Dollar coins.
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.
https://www.usmint.gov/coins/rolls-bags-boxes/
The coins may be cheaper than the CANDY.
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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Confucius say: "Don't run out of candy!"
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
I wouldn't overthink it. Unless you are handing out silver dollars, why would anyone assume that circulation coinage means coin collector?
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Prepare to get your house egged….”tremendously”. 😂
Did you mean "bigly?"
I guess it depends on where you live.
Maybe hand out some of the 9/11 half dollars. Who can hate on those?
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
Can you just Venmo them the half dollar or dollar?
Typically, I hand out World coins, Indian cents and buffalo nickels at Halloween.
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www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com
Popcorn! Make popcorn balls smaller than a baseball, goes further! Of course, you're going to need a candy thermomotor if you're that savvy. Indian popcorn!
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
I'm pretty sure in this day and age no parents are letting their kids eat homemade halloween goodies. Especially here in Colorado.
I must be older or lived in a less affluent neighborhood. In the early 1950's I'd get just 2 cents when the candy ran out, never any nickels or dimes. When the weather was bad and not everyone had a television set, we'd be invited inside to watch TV. That was a real treat for some of the kids.
Yeah, I remember getting “pennies” in the bag, but the corner store still had penny candy back then.
Years ago when 1oz copper rounds were relatively cheap, I'd occasionally give an oversized "penny" to a younger child.
But only when they were accompanied by an adult and not in a big group. And of course I'd also give 'em candy.
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I bet the Halloween brownies are really good there in Colorado.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Its all good 👍
I've got a couple dozen Roosies in the old fake holders saying MS70. While all BU, doubtful they would garner a 70.
JIm
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
That may break the "Trick or Treat" contract.
While a shiny is nice it isn't a "Treat" so the children will be obligated to "Trick" you.
You could of course "Trick" the kids first thus fulfilling the contract, but that would involve some happening.
Llamas and alpacas are camels. They aren't like camels, or related. They are camels. When was anyone going to tell me this?! How long had Bill Nye been holding out on us?
One thing I've tried over the years is giving out some collectible cards. Pokemon used to be a good bet but the prices have gone crazy lately.
Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Fine until a kid bites one and cracks a tooth.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
I was thinking something more like this: 😂
Common sense will lead you to not allow your kids to beg for candy from a stranger's house! Who knows what life-style is taking place in those houses! Needles, drugs are easily added to any paper wrapped candy products. Research it!
We make maps from our church's directory and trick or treat with members, friends. people we know and family only. Can't imagine anyone taking the time to examine every piece of candy your kids received for needle holes from syringes and the like but more power to you, right? We also have our annual, "trunk and treats event" held in our churches parking lot which is heavily attended. So....be safe!
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
I used to give away older Wheat cents in labeled 2x2s, back in the day. Always made sure to include some candy, too, though, so I wouldn't get the dreaded "ugh, what's this?" reaction. Some kids were fascinated. Others just shrugged.
I don't see why you couldn't give some halves away. Might be fun. I remember seeing my first half dollar as a little kid. It seemed so big, compared with the other coins I had seen up to that point! (This was several years before I became a collector at age 10.)
I don't think you'd be creating a huge security risk, but you're probably right to keep that in the back of your mind. I reckon it would be OK, though, and maybe one or two bright young 'uns would get a kick out of it and properly appreciate them.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.