Every coin tells a story. Some coins show us presidents or other famous historical figures. Some tell us about specific landmarks, historical discoveries, animals, plants or other interesting facts about the place the coin represents. Coin collecting is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn. The images on foreign coins can teach us about countries around the world. Similarly, the U.S. Mint has developed some great coin collections which can help children discover their own country. However, there are plenty of learning opportunities with the loose change we find in our purses and couch cushions. Just regular pennies, nickels and dimes provide a great chance to learn about the coins we see and use everyday.
How to help a child start a coin collection
1. All you really need is some loose change and you're ready to go. However, a magnifying glass would come in handy for looking for certain markings on each coin.
2. You may also need something to store your coins in. An envelope or jar will serve that purpose quite well. There are special folders or albums that you can buy which have special slots in them for each coin.
3. The best way to for children to start a coin collection is to narrow the focus. Collect only pennies, or nickels, or only coins made in or after a certain year.
4. Do some research about the images on the coins; there is a history/geography lesson on each coin which provides a wonderful opportunity for our children to learn about the country or world they live in!
For preschoolers, try an easy coin collection like collecting birth year coins. With only a few coins to collect, younger children will gain a sense of satisfaction from collecting the whole "set" quickly. For older children (living in the US), suggest collecting the 50 state quarters or the Westward Journey Nickels - there is some great history lessons in these coins!
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