Numismatics: A Rewarding and Fascinating Hobby for Scouts

If you dig under the couch cushions or root through your car, you could find your Scout’s next hobby, a rewarding and fascinating endeavor that can teach them history, economics and the enjoyment of collecting.

Numismatics is a rewarding and fascinating hobby that can teach Scouts about history, economics and the enjoyment of collecting.

It’s a hobby that can begin with a glance under the couch cushions or a quick search through the car. Maybe your Scout will find a coin that sparks their interest or a bill with a unique design.

Cultures began making metal and paper currency hundreds of years ago as a replacement for barter systems. People began collecting these currencies as early as the 15th century for their historical significance and not just their monetary value.

Scouts can enter the world of numismatics via the Coin Collecting merit badge or the Adventures in Coins Adventure for Wolf Cub Scouts.

If you and your Scout are in the Atlanta area later this month, you both can attend the annual National Money Show®, organized by the American Numismatic Association (ANA).

This show, slated for Feb. 27 through March 1, showcases millions of dollars’ worth of rare and intriguing valuables. Visitors can buy, sell and trade with hundreds of coin dealers, attend presentations from numismatists, and bring in their collections to discover how much they might be worth.

On that Saturday, Scouts can attend the Young Collectors Corner Program, a free three-hour introduction to numismatics. The program is open to youth ages 5-17, with instructors available to teach the Coin Collecting merit badge. Attendees can also earn a Fun With Money patch. This program helps novice collectors learn about numismatics at a basic level. Scouts can register here.

Admission is $10, but it’s free for ANA members and children under 12. And on the Saturday of the show, it’s free for everyone.

Even if you cannot attend the National Money Show, joining the ANA can connect you and your Scout to regional shows and clubs around the country.

Membership with the ANA connects you with fellow collectors and provides access to educational resources, virtual Money Museum exhibits and the monthly The Numismatist magazine. You can find clubs near you as well as coin dealers.

Educational resources are led by numismatic experts in Aristotle’s Vault, an online hub of videos teaching core necessities on coin grading, identifying counterfeits and more. Coin collecting is great for teaching art, history and economics. Each piece has a story to tell, and coins connect collectors to the past because they aren’t the only ones who have touched those coins.

A youth gold (digital) membership, available for free when Scouts complete the Coin Collecting merit badge, gives youth the opportunity to earn free collectible coins, learn about currency, participate in fun online activities and bid in monthly auctions using “funny money.” They can even earn a scholarship to a weeklong summer seminar, nicknamed “Coin Camp.” You can learn more about the Young Numismatist memberships here.

You can be rewarded for getting good grades in school with free collectible coins available for three or more A’s on a youth’s report card each marking period. Youth members can also earn coins by writing articles and making presentations.

For more tips on helping your Scout get started, check out this list from Scout Life magazine. Once your Scout has gotten started, they can share their collection with Scout Life.