Advice for a ten year old...what to collect next? -- DECISION!

Barndog · October 24, 2005 11:21AM

My son is ten and has just completed his first coin set: circulated Franklin Halves in a Whitman Album. The effort took about six to eight months and he apparently enjoyed it. What would be the next "album set" forum members would advise that he tackle next? The criteria are few in number: inexpensive coins, a "slide-type" album available, no key dates valued at more than $20 in circulated condition, and other factors you might imagine for a ten year old with limited funds. A series of coins or a type set might be nice. I'm open to suggestions. He said he'd like to try the Capped Bust Half Dimes that I prefer...until I told him how much they were (He uses his $5 per week allowance and the generosity of his grandfather to complete his sets). Thanks in advance for the replies.
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Update: Thanks for the suggestions! We decided to go with the Jefferson Nickel series. Part of the inclination toward Jefferson Nickels is that my son's middle name is Jefferson. Part of the reasoning is the cost, the ability to search rolls, and the fact that nearly an entire set should be available through circulation finds. My son's level of commitment to numismatics is not yet high, so this bit of incrementalism is hoped to get him closer to that next level.

We will start our efforts by first looking for a decent slide-type album for business strike coins only. The search for a used album is always part of the hunt! Thanks again to all who offered recommendations.

fc · October 24, 2005 11:29AM

why washington quarters of course. ;-)

oh, you said, inexpensive.

hm.

mercury dimes.

edited to add: something one can get from pocket change?

DUIGUY · October 24, 2005 11:34AM

Tokens. There are so many to choose from. Yeah ,they are not real money, but do come with history behind them.

JrGMan2004 · October 24, 2005 11:38AM

<< Tokens. There are so many to choose from. Yeah ,they are not real money, but do come with history behind them.

>>

That's not a bad idea

But, Washingtons are possible... or Roosevelt Dimes... you might even be able to do an Unc/AU Silver Roosie set for that kind of budget

TomB · October 24, 2005 12:09PM

Roosevelt dimes. You can buy nearly all of them in MS for under $20, the late-date clad proofs look terrific, it is a long series with many coins and they look good in an album.

John737 · October 24, 2005 12:25PM

Indian Head Cents. I got an 1877 for my tenth birthday, but this is the only coin that I will NEVER sell. Most are still affordable in circulated grades, but all of them are attainable in the long run.

100proof1957 · October 24, 2005 12:34PM

Short set Walkers !

Talk nice and i may donate a key date !

Proof

cullenbryant · October 24, 2005 12:41PM

how bout ikes........i've been working on ike dollars. dansco has nice slide album.
it hasn't been expensive to find nice coins for it. it may be the cheapest set to complete
and to top the set off he can get the ike silver commemoratives to go with it.

DUIGUY · October 24, 2005 12:45PM

<< Indian Head Cents. I got an 1877 for my tenth birthday, but this is the only coin that I will NEVER sell. Most are still affordable in circulated grades, but all of them are attainable in the long run. >>

IHC's have my vote.

JustinWaine · October 24, 2005 1:24PM

IKEs

xbob · October 24, 2005 1:45PM

Jefferson Nickels might work for your son.

In circulated grades, nearly all can be found searching rolls. You can't beat that for cost. Plus searching rolls is fun.

XXX · October 24, 2005 1:46PM

How about a set of Sacagawea Dollars, Both MS & Proof. Then if he enjoys that.He could start on the new presidental dollars in 2007. He might like some of the modern stuff, you never know.

beep · October 24, 2005 1:56PM

<< Roosevelt dimes. You can buy nearly all of them in MS for under $20, the late-date clad proofs look terrific, it is a long series with many coins and they look good in an album.

>>

ccex · October 24, 2005 2:20PM

Why should a ten-year-old collector who is excited about this hobby have to live with cheap circulated crap that he or his folks could have pulled from circulation? He should trade in his grandpa for an old attorney, doctor, or Rebublican war lord (or someone else who made his fortune trampling on poor simpletons) and start on a series like VF-AU Barber Quarters before the key dates are all snatched up by the likes of his new ggrandpa. With the right grandpa, he could collect proof gold or compete in Registry set for any Draped Bust or Flowing Hair type (the lack of albums notwithstanding).

To quote William Blake's "Island in the Moon" (chapter 4): and with that Mr. Inflammable Gass put his head in the oven, set his hair aflame, and ran about the room screaming wildly. But no, I was only making a fool out of you!

Thanks to gramps for teaching someone how to make the most out of a $5/week coin budget. Just tell the ten-year-old that he'll do better buying nothing most weeks so he can get (and know how to grade) a few $20 or $25 coins.

pursuitofliberty · October 24, 2005 2:40PM

My youngest son is 9 and really loves his partial set of Choice AU Walkers. It's only the late dates (41-47) now, but he may follow my steps and go back another 20 coins to 1933 when he's done with this part. Nice looking AU coins aren't always easy to find, but they are affordable and the old-style Whitman Bookshelf Album for the 41-47 coins is a perfect dispaly for his pride.

He also occassionally buys a bag of wheaties on occassion (and then trades them back for more - our local dealer is pretty kewl that way) and has three incomplete sets ongoing (as he calls them "Okay"{AG-VG} , "Nice"{VG-VF}, and "Really Nice"{EF-Unc}).

Hope his interest keeps up!

Pistareen · October 24, 2005 3:09PM

When I was about that age, I started pursuing 18th century foreign coins with a vigor. Great history, related to early America, and able to be purchased in circulated condition for $10 or less per coin.

I worked on two sets -- one was a portrait of every English monarch from 1688 to the present and the other was a Spanish colonial coin from each of the major mints in the Spanish-American empire. 18th century British halfpence are dirt cheap, and Spanish colonial 1/2 and 1 real coins from the same era are in a similar price range.

In US stuff, how about a date set of large cents from 1816 to the end of the series? The only ones that will cost more than $10 in Good or so are 1821, 1823, and 1857. A type set of large cents from 1800 to 1857 would be a neat set too, and a AG/G Draped Bust can be had for probably $20-30 at a local show.

But that's just me. I like the old stuff.

BlindedByEgo · October 24, 2005 5:12PM

My Dad got me in with IHC's

That's my, um, two cents.

Steve27 · October 24, 2005 9:02PM

20th Century Type Set or Jefferson Nickels.

19Lyds · October 24, 2005 9:20PM

Kennedies...........get Grampa to put down the initial $500 for a box to search then they could make it a weekly thing to search the rolls and then get a new box. $5 a week could put 10 coins in the set and they are all available. At the end of the run, Grampa gets his $500 back and junior gets his "best ever" collection!

Barndog · October 24, 2005 9:52PM

Thanks to all who contributed a suggestion! I am going to print out the list of suggestions for my son and let him decide which series will be next. His "ownership" of the next numismatic pursuit is vital to success. He feels a sense of accomplishment with the Franklin Halves and I want the same type of self-esteem to come from his next choice. When he decides what he is going to pursue, I will post it here. Thanks again!

AgMe · October 24, 2005 11:01PM

Yeah, for a young kid, nice big dollar size coins would probably work (ikes).

Regular raw UNCs aren't too pricey for that budget and can be completed in a reasonable time.

~g

JPerry · October 24, 2005 11:24PM

<< Kennedies...........get Grampa to put down the initial $500 for a box to search then they could make it a weekly thing to search the rolls and then get a new box. $5 a week could put 10 coins in the set and they are all available. At the end of the run, Grampa gets his $500 back and junior gets his "best ever" collection! >>

I think this is a great idea and may do it with my son. Who knows what else he might find in those rolls that would help him supplement his coin budget, or start another series?

clackamas · October 25, 2005 1:04AM

Jeffersons can be fun because you can find 50 year old coins in circulation still.

Longacre · October 25, 2005 1:15AM

Indian cents would be nice. Or anything that he is interested in. Does he have any suggestions?

Baley · October 25, 2005 1:29AM

I'd second the idea of a 20th century type set, in Unc and Proof for moderns and a goal of original VF or higher for the barber-era coins. Capital plastics makes a nice holder that displays well. One or more of the series may draw interest and become a set of it's own. Another good choice is peace dollars, most dates can be found for under $20 and the common ones will be BU. Who doesn't like a silver dollar?

grip · October 25, 2005 2:02AM

You might consider the proof coins that are broken out and spent for
face value,or the silver is thrown in the junk silver box.
Al

coincollector1989 · October 25, 2005 2:08AM

Kennedy half dollars

messydesk · October 25, 2005 3:10AM

Congratulate him for me, then set the bar a little higher with a set that will take him a little longer to complete. I'm thinking Walking Libertys 1934-47. Roughly the same number of coins, cool design, coins that are older than grandpa (perhaps), most will come somewhat easily. He'll have to save up for a VG-F 1938-D, but that which is most worthwhile, is not easy to achieve. I was also thinking late date large cents by date, but a 10-11 year old probably doesn't have the patience to pursue only problem free VG-F coins or save up for each purchase, and the album becomes an issue. Maybe a couple years down the road for that set.

goose3 · October 25, 2005 4:40AM

CIVIL WAR TOKENS!!!!

full of history and many can be had inexpensively!

JZrarities · October 25, 2005 4:45AM

Definitely Indian Head Cents or Walkers... Both are beautiful (and affordable) in AU.

oreville · October 25, 2005 4:52AM

I like the idea of a lincoln cent set from 1941 to present and a Jefferson nickel set from 1938 to present.

Give your son the thrill of the POSSIBILITY he might find the coin in circulation.

Start with the circulated coins and then let him upgrade as he finds nicer coins. The benefit is that your son will find the thrill of accomplishing this project nearly without anyone's help as he can go to the bank and get rolls from the bank or old jars if he wants to.

This way he really gets involved in the thrill of the attainable hunt.

Be sure to "seed" a couple of lincoln cents from the 1940's to keep his hopes up.

Good luck!

FullStrike · October 25, 2005 6:58AM

How about this winner

Copper-Plated Zinc ( 1982 - ) Lincolns in ACG MS70

or a real challenge PCGS MS_ _

Forgive me I'm senile today

Just make it Lincolns in 2X2 Cardboard from your local Dealer

netrubicon · October 25, 2005 7:46AM

Large Cents. Easy to find and not too expensive. If he decides to start a set I have a 21 waiting for him. Just pm/me.

carl · October 25, 2005 7:50AM

I must be getting old or something. When I was a kid and money was tight most kids saved or tried to save Lincoln or Indian Cents. Of course when I was a kid Indian cents were still in circulation. Spend a few dollars and get your son a Whitman Classic Lincoln Cent album from 1909 to present. Unfortunately the idiots that make those books put slots in them for 22plain, 55DD, 72DD and stuff like that. When I was a kid and suspected I'd never get one I just put a washer in that spot. I used to save up any money I got and went to a bank, bought a $50 dollar bag of pennies and spent many snowy knights in the house looking for ones to fill my album. Sure wish I had a book like Coppercoins book on Lincolns when I was a kid. I'd be rich now with what I must have let slip through my fingers when young. I did find things like the 22plain and 09S VDB though back then. I'm still collecting the things and now have 10 sets. I recently gave away the 11th set because I finally said this is to much. Anyway, for a 10 year old just think of all the pennies he could find by the time he is my age.

sinin1 · October 25, 2005 8:03AM

20th century type set

series are nice but with a type set, quality can be improved and switched to key dates as improved

where do you buy your coins?

1jester · October 25, 2005 9:32AM

<< Jefferson Nickels might work for your son.

In circulated grades, nearly all can be found searching rolls. You can't beat that for cost. Plus searching rolls is fun. >>

I"ve gotta go with Xbob's suggestion; it makes the most sense to me; it's fun, and basically all coins (except for the war-time issues, which are still cheap) can be found in circulation, and going though rolls is lots of fun. I can't think of any other series that fulfills these criteria.

Is your son computer-literate? Is he interested in signing up and contributing to the forum? That might give him a big kick; there are other YNs around. Send me his address and I'll give him some freebies.

EagleEye · October 25, 2005 9:43AM

Civil War tokens are mostly $10 to $25 in lightly circulated condition and have great historical significance. There is no "book" to fill with these, but you can just get ones that are interesting. If you want to see some, I'd be happy to send some on approval.

carl · October 26, 2005 1:02AM

Come to think of it I'll have to agree that Jefferson Nickels would be a great collection to start. Possibly the greatest majority could be found as already noted by just going to a bank and asking for several rolls. If they sell bags of them, you could keep your son busy for many, many knights looking through all them and end up with most of the complete collection. Even buying some of the more rare ones is reasonably cheap. Don't forget to explain to him to look for error coins as well, such as offsets, double dies, reverses notin line with the front, etc.

paigowjohnny · October 26, 2005 1:09AM

I like the short set Walker or 20th century type set ideas.

No

coinnut86 · October 26, 2005 1:48AM

<< I like the idea of a lincoln cent set from 1941 to present and a Jefferson nickel set from 1938 to present. >>

I completely agree! Thats how I got started except I started with the 1909 set. Inexpensive (except for the keys obviously), easy to get rolls from the banks. After a short while when he is done with those two, he can start on Roosie's and washington's.

Millertime · October 26, 2005 1:53AM

<< Come to think of it I'll have to agree that Jefferson Nickels would be a great collection to start. Possibly the greatest majority could be found as already noted by just going to a bank and asking for several rolls. If they sell bags of them, you could keep your son busy for many, many knights looking through all them and end up with most of the complete collection. Even buying some of the more rare ones is reasonably cheap. Don't forget to explain to him to look for error coins as well, such as offsets, double dies, reverses notin line with the front, etc. >>

Another great place to get the nickels is at the local Nickelcade. Last time I went there with my family I pulled a couple of dozen nickels from the 40's, 50's & 60's out of the cup. My wife and son were getting quite annoyed with me because I had to look at the nickels before they put them in the games.

Millertime

Barndog · November 21, 2005 1:59AM

Update in the first post...went with Jefferson Nickels. THANK YOU to all who provided advice.

Advice for a ten year old...what to collect next? -- DECISION!

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