OneSockUp Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 My father recently gave my five year old son an 1883 silver dollar and my son thinks it's the coolest thing ever. My wife and I have scrounged up some of our random coins and he just loves looking at them and talking about them. His sixth birthday is coming up and I would love to get him a set of pretty, interesting, shiny coins. Obviously he's pretty young so we don't want to get anything of real value. Is there a resource where I could purchase a VERY beginner set of coins for him? I think the most diverse in terms of dates, countries of origin and materials would be the best. but I have no clue where to look. I'm thinking of spending $25-40. Any help would be appreciated. And since I don't have any coins of note to share a picture of, I've attached a picture of Hank himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinbuf Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Welcome to the boards, the US mint has at times put together some youth sets but those usually were only a few (or one) US coins. I don't know if they still have anything like that but you could check out the website as a start. Another good way is to find a local coin dealer, most have a junk box or bin that might contain a broader selection of world and US coins. Those coins are usually not very expensive maybe a buck or two each and could be a great way to stimulate his curiosity and provide a spark for collecting. Another option would be to get an inexpensive album and some starter coins, like say the current shield Lincoln cents, that is something you can sit with him and go through pocket change to find new coins for the album. Here is an inexpensive folder style holder for the shield cents. Shield Cent folder OneSockUp and Matt G 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKK Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 If you want to take the horizon beyond US coins, you can buy assorted bags of foreign coins for pennies per piece. Some of them will be shiny and all will be learning opportunities. OneSockUp 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbbpll Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 We could all mail him stuff if you IM people your address. I know I have lots of modern Euros, Canadian, Thai, Australian etc laying around. Matt G 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson2 Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 (edited) 53 minutes ago, kbbpll said: We could all mail him stuff if you IM people your address. I know I have lots of modern Euros, Canadian, Thai, Australian etc laying around. Yup... I'd pitch in.. I've got a couple of Whitman folders with pennies (and some nickels, I think). Nothing super valuable, but old and pretty cool.. Oh - and I could probably be convinced to throw in a Kennedy half for fun... Edited June 20, 2020 by Thompson2 Matt G 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenHolcomb Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 You know, a couple of years ago the Mint out out a Rocket Ship Kids Set. It sold out pretty quickly but I'm sure you could find one on ebay. They were neat and I wish I'd gotten one. Also, Britain, I guess, puts out some pretty sweet Coins with different animals on them. Does he like Airplanes? Cause I have a set of WWII Warplanes from the Perth Mint I need to get shed of. They aren't in the best shape because I had to handle them trying to figure out their content, but they are still super shiny and generally a nice set. Even have a COA to go with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneSockUp Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 You guys are awesome! I'd be happy to PayPal any of you a reasonable amount for the coins and shipping. I'll send out some IMs right now! Thank you all so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 As mentioned above, foreign coins and a world map (or maybe a more limited map), or some older obsolete US coins and Canadian, Mexican, central American coins and a North America map would work better. Have him match coins to countries. He'll need help with letters and country names, but will quickly gain perspective. He'll tell you when he's ready to expand. Limit time to about 20 minutes. That's the limit on a 6-year old's attention - unless it's a cookie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneSockUp Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 21 minutes ago, RWB said: Limit time to about 20 minutes. That's the limit on a 6-year old's attention - unless it's a cookie. All good advice. Especially the bit about the cookie. Thank you all so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kbbpll Posted July 7, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 7, 2020 You're welcome! JKK, Matt G and Just Bob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rummy13 Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 I like the thought of getting a kid started in coins and will send some to help. My dad got his grand kids started by buying them proof sets from when they were born. The us mint puts out kid kits. one from2019 is still available for $9.95 on their web site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VKurtB Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 (edited) I'll pull out a very sweet-looking 2020 Kennedy half, in fact two, a P and a D, if you can private message me an address. But for a set that a kid can work on and have some success, it's hard to beat Jefferson Nickels. The Lincoln Cent set has more tough coins. Edited July 8, 2020 by VKurtB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson2 Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 1 hour ago, VKurtB said: I'll pull out a very sweet-looking 2020 Kennedy half, in fact two, a P and a D, if you can private message me an address. But for a set that a kid can work on and have some success, it's hard to beat Jefferson Nickels. The Lincoln Cent set has more tough coins. He's got a decent start on Jeffersons... 62-84-ish (I forget exactly what was in that folder)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VKurtB Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Thompson2 said: He's got a decent start on Jeffersons... 62-84-ish (I forget exactly what was in that folder)... Sounds like he's gonna need some of my earlier extras. Edited July 8, 2020 by VKurtB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson2 Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 10 minutes ago, VKurtB said: Sounds like he's gonna need some of my earlier extras. For sure... It was an older Whitman #2 folder, so nothing really old... or new... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKK Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Young Hank also sent me a very nice thank-you card like the one previously pictured. One suspects Hank's parents are deeply involved in his growth and hobbies, as is right and proper, and are most pleased with his development. kbbpll 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VKurtB Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 20 minutes ago, JKK said: Young Hank also sent me a very nice thank-you card like the one previously pictured. One suspects Hank's parents are deeply involved in his growth and hobbies, as is right and proper, and are most pleased with his development. Yup, abundantly clear from the "PM" I got. Gotta encourage the "yutes", especially one from my soon-to-be-adopted new home state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson2 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 Please tell Hank he is very welcome! My collector's edition "Hank's Thank You Card" arrived yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneSockUp Posted July 21, 2020 Author Share Posted July 21, 2020 7 minutes ago, Thompson2 said: Please tell Hank he is very welcome! My collector's edition "Hank's Thank You Card" arrived yesterday. I'm glad you got it. Thank you again so very much! We've having all sorts of fun with these coins -- they're helping him to read words, find numbers, and see all sorts of other details. You and the rest of the folks on this forum have created a numismatist. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 (edited) An allosaurus, an apatosaurus and a tasty old reliable stegosaurus make good starters for a 6-year old. You can add interest (and spelling practice) with a nice flying pterodactyloid of one species or another. (These critters vanished before coinage came into use.) Edited July 24, 2020 by RWB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
