錢幣收藏：一個有著數百年歷史的愛好，卻深受年輕一代的歡迎

在一個新科技經常取代舊興趣的時代，數百年歷史的錢幣收藏愛好在年輕一代中變得流行起來。

Coin collecting, a centuries-old hobby, is surprisingly popular among younger generations despite the increasing digitalization of society. Here's a closer look at the enduring fascination with coins and how technology is shaping the hobby today.

儘管社會日益數位化，但錢幣收藏這一有著數百年歷史的愛好卻在年輕一代中出人意料地受歡迎。以下是對硬幣經久不衰的迷戀以及技術如何塑造當今這一愛好的近距離觀察。

Coin collecting has been around for centuries, dating back to the Roman Empire. It involves collecting coins, tokens, and paper money, and studying their monetary value and historical significance. Over the years, many organizations have been established to promote numismatics, including the American Numismatic Society and the Royal Numismatic Society.

硬幣收藏已經存在了幾個世紀，可以追溯到羅馬帝國。它涉及收集硬幣、代幣和紙幣，並研究它們的貨幣價值和歷史意義。多年來，已經成立了許多組織來推廣錢幣學，包括美國錢幣學會和皇家錢幣學會。

According to a 2022 survey by GovMint, at least three in five Americans identify as collectors, and 17% of those collect coins. People are drawn to the hobby for various reasons, such as connecting with others through a shared interest, preserving historical figures and moments, and celebrating the artwork on coins. Curated collections, like the Smithsonian's National Numismatic Collection, also provide public education about the monetary value and broader cultural significance of currency.

根據 GovMint 2022 年的一項調查，至少五分之三的美國人認為自己是收藏家，其中 17% 收集硬幣。人們出於各種原因而被這項愛好所吸引，例如透過共同的興趣與他人建立聯繫，保存歷史人物和時刻，以及在硬幣上慶祝藝術品。精心策劃的收藏品，例如史密森尼國家錢幣收藏品，也提供有關貨幣價值和更廣泛的文化意義的公眾教育。

Interestingly, younger generations are keeping the tradition of coin collecting alive. Despite the decline in cash use, coin collecting is growing among Gen Z. A survey by the U.K.'s Royal Mint found that Gen Z is most likely to start collecting, with about two in five already having a collection and viewing it as an investment towards their future.

有趣的是，年輕一代仍然保留著錢幣收藏的傳統。儘管現金使用量下降，但Z 世代的錢幣收藏仍在增長。視為對自己的投資。

Millennials and Gen Z are driven by nostalgia and the desire to hold on to tangible objects in a world that becomes more digitally focused every day. Some of them find joy in hunting down Olympic Commemorative Coins, released between 1983 and 2002, or the 50 State Quarters Program coins that ran from 1999 to 2008.

千禧世代和 Z 世代受到懷舊情緒和在日益數位化的世界中保留有形物品的渴望所驅動。他們中的一些人以尋找 1983 年至 2002 年間發行的奧林匹克紀念幣或 1999 年至 2008 年間發行的 50 枚州 25 美分硬幣為樂。

Moreover, coin clubs are providing young people with opportunities to socialize and buttress themselves against loneliness and isolation, an issue that has been highlighted by the United States Surgeon General.

此外，硬幣俱樂部還為年輕人提供了社交機會，並幫助他們抵禦孤獨和孤立，這是美國衛生局局長強調的問題。

"Doing something that is good for your mental well-being is very important," said Rowan Chetner, a coin collector, about the Tufts Coin Club Collective, which started as an official university club in 2023 and is characterized by a "really fun and safe environment."

錢幣收藏家羅恩·切特納(Rowan Chetner) 在談到塔夫茨硬幣俱樂部集體時表示：「做一些有益於心理健康的事情非常重要。」該組織於2023 年作為官方大學俱樂部成立，其特點是“非常有趣且安全的環境。”

Coin collecting clubs across the U.S. are even fostering a love for numismatics in younger children. The Boy Scouts of America offer a Coin Collecting Merit Badge, the Girls Scouts of the USA offer a Fun with Money Council Patch, and the American Numismatic Association's Young Numismatists program has over 1,200 members between ages 5 and 18.

美國各地的錢幣收藏俱樂部甚至正在培養年幼的孩子對硬幣的熱愛。美國童子軍提供硬幣收集優異徽章，美國女童子軍提供金錢樂趣委員會補丁，美國錢幣協會的青年錢幣學家計劃擁有超過 1,200 名年齡在 5 至 18 歲之間的會員。

Technology is also having an impact on the coin collecting hobby. Many young collectors are finding their fascination with coins is turning a profit. Some collect coins and sell them through Instagram or eBay to help pay for college or other expenses.

科技也對硬幣收集嗜好產生了影響。許多年輕的收藏家發現他們對錢幣的迷戀正在轉化為利潤。有些人收集硬幣並透過 Instagram 或 eBay 出售，以幫助支付大學或其他費用。

Additionally, mints across the globe are drawing interest by creating new coins that glow in the dark, have unique colors, or can be scanned with a mobile phone to reveal more information. Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, even make collecting entirely virtual, with unique digital coins that can be bought and traded just like real currency.

此外，全球各地的造幣廠都透過創造在黑暗中發光、具有獨特顏色或可以用手機掃描以顯示更多資訊的新硬幣來吸引人們的興趣。不可替代的代幣（NFT）甚至使收藏完全虛擬，具有可以像真實貨幣一樣購買和交易的獨特數位硬幣。

Finally, the value of coins can vary greatly depending on factors like rarity, condition, and demand. Some older coins can be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. For example, the series of silver Nova Constellatio patterns, designed as proofs in 1783, is valued from $900,000 to nearly $2 million each. Among the "Jefferson cents" - copper coins produced from 1793 to 1796 - the most valuable ones are worth up to $576,000. The most expensive coin ever sold is a 1933 Double Eagle, which brought $18.9 million at a 2021 auction.

最後，硬幣的價值可能會因稀有度、狀況和需求等因素而有很大差異。一些較舊的硬幣可能價值數十萬甚至數百萬美元。例如，1783 年設計的 Nova Constellatio 銀色圖案系列，每個圖案的價值從 90 萬美元到近 200 萬美元不等。在「傑佛遜美分」（1793 年至 1796 年生產的銅幣）中，最有價值的價值高達 576,000 美元。有史以來售出的最昂貴的硬幣是 1933 年的雙鷹幣，在 2021 年的拍賣會上以 1,890 萬美元的價格成交。

However, age alone does not determine the value of a coin. Less than a century old, the 1944 Steel Wheat is arguably the most valuable penny in 2024, estimated at $408,000. The 2000-P Sacagawea Dollar - called the "Wounded Eagle" for the misprint that looks like a scratch through the bird's body - is one of the most valuable coins still in circulation, selling for up to $7,200.

然而，僅年齡並不能決定硬幣的價值。 1944 年的鋼麥硬幣問世還不到一個世紀，可以說是 2024 年最值錢的硬幣，估價為 408,000 美元。 2000 便士的薩卡加維亞一元硬幣被稱為“受傷的鷹”，因為印刷錯誤，看起來像是鳥身體上的划痕。高達7,200 美元。

In 2023, the global coin collecting industry was valued at an astounding $18.1 billion, and if growth continues on this trajectory, it is expected to reach nearly $44 billion over the next decade. With this potential for continued growth, both in popularity and financial payoff, it appears young numismatists have selected a lucrative hobby for years to come.

到 2023 年，全球錢幣收藏產業的價值將達到驚人的 181 億美元，如果繼續沿著這一軌跡增長，預計在未來十年將達到近 440 億美元。憑藉這種在受歡迎程度和經濟回報方面持續增長的潛力，年輕的錢幣學家似乎在未來幾年選擇了一項有利可圖的愛好。