Coin Collecting

Coin Collecting BSA Supply No. 33390

Coin collecting is one of the oldest of all hobbies. Hoards of ancient coins found in excavations indicate that coins were one of the first collectibles. From earliest times, people valued coins not only as a means of trading and storing wealth, but also as miniature works of art.

Requirements

1. Understand how coins are made, and where the active U.S. Mint facilities are located.
2. Explain these collecting terms:
   1. Obverse
   2. Reverse
   3. Reeding
   4. Clad
   5. Type set
   6. Date set
3. Explain the terms poor, good, very good, fine, very fine, extremely fine, and uncirculated. Show five different grade examples of the same coin type. Explain the term "proof" and why it is not a grade. Tell what "encapsulated" coins are.
4. Know three different ways to store a collection, and describe the benefits, drawbacks, and expense of each method. Pick one to use when completing requirements.
5. Do the following:
   1. Identify the people depicted on the following denominations of current U.S. paper money: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.
   2. Explain "legal tender."
   3. Describe the role the Federal Reserve System plays in the �distribution of currency.
6. Do the following:
   1. Demonstrate to your counselor that you know how to use two U.S. or world coin reference catalogs.
   2. Read a numismatic magazine or newspaper and tell your counselor about what you learned.
7. Describe the 1999-2008 50 State Quarters Program. Collect and show your counselor five different state quarters you have acquired from circulation.
8. Collect from circulation a set of currently circulating U.S. coins. Include one coin of each denomination (cent, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar, Susan B. Anthony or Sacagawea dollar). For each coin, locate the mint marks, if any, and the designer's initials, if any.
9. Do ONE of the following:
   1. Collect and identify 50 foreign coins from at least 10 �different countries.
   2. Collect and identify 20 bank notes from at least five different countries.
   3. Collect and identify 15 different tokens or medals.
   4. Collect a date set of a single type since the year of your birth.
10. Do ONE of the following:
    1. Tour a U.S. Mint facility, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, or a Federal Reserve bank, and describe what you learned to your counselor.
    2. With your parent's permission, attend a coin show or coin club meeting, or view the Web site of the U.S. Mint or a coin dealer, and report what you learned.
    3. Give a talk about coin collecting to your troop or class at school.
    4. Do drawings of five Colonial-era U.S. coins.

Resources

Scouting Literature

Collections and Stamp Collecting merit badge pamphlets

Books

• Breen, Walter H. Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins. Doubleday, 1988.
• Bressett, Ken, and Abe Kasoff, eds. and comps. The Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins, 6th ed. St. Martin's Press, 1996.
• Bruce II, Colin R., and Thomas Michael. 2007 Standard Catalog of World Coins: 2001-Date. Krause Publications, 2006.
• Cuhaj, George S., ed. Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues, 11th ed. Krause Publications, 2006.
• --------. Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: Modern Issues 1961-Present, 12th ed. Krause Publications, 2006.
• Edler, Joel T., and David C. Harper, eds. U.S. Coin Digest: A Guide to Average Retail Prices From the Market Experts. Krause Publications, 2006.
• Harper, David C., ed. 2007 North American Coins and Prices: A Guide to U.S., Canadian, and Mexican Coins, 16th ed. Krause Publications, 2006.
• Krause, Chester L., Robert F. Lemke, and Joel T. Edler, eds. Standard Catalog of U.S. Paper Money, 25th ed. Krause Publications, 2006.
• Krause, Chester L., and Clifford Mishler. 2007 Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1901-2001, 34th ed. Krause Publications, 2006.
• --------. Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1601-1700, 3rd ed. Krause Publications, 2003.
• --------. Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1701-1800, 3rd ed. Krause Publications, 2002.
• --------. Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801-1900, 4th ed. Krause Publications, 2004.
• Ruddy, James F. Photograde: A Photographic Grading Encyclopedia for United States Coins, 18th ed. St. Martin's Press, 1996.
• Slabaugh, Arlie R. Confederate States Paper Money. Krause Publications, 2001.
• Yeoman, R. S. A Guide Book of United States Coins, 60th ed. Whitman Publishing, 2006.

Periodicals

Bank Note Reporter (monthly)
Krause Publications Inc.
700 E. State St.
Iola, WI 54990
Web site: http://www.banknotereporter.com

COINage (monthly)
Miller Magazines Inc.
4880 Market St.
Ventura, CA 93003
Web site: http://www.coinagemag.com

Coin Prices (bimonthly)
Krause Publications Inc.
700 E. State St.
Iola, WI 54990
Web site: http://www.coinpricesmagazine.net

Coins Magazine (monthly)
Krause Publications Inc.
700 E. State St.
Iola, WI 54990
Web site: http://www.coinsmagazine.net

Coin World (weekly)
Amos Press Inc.
P.O. Box 150
Sidney, OH 45365
Web site: http://www.coinworld.com

Numismatic News (weekly)
Krause Publications Inc.
700 E. State St.
Iola, WI 54990
Web site: http://www.numismaticnews.net

The Numismatist (monthly)
American Numismatic Association
818 N. Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Web site: http://www.money.org /publicationsdept.html

World Coin News (monthly)
Krause Publications Inc.
700 E. State St.
Iola, WI 54990
Web site: http://www.worldcoinnews.net

Organizations and Web Sites

American Numismatic Association
818 N. Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Web site: http://www.money.org

American Numismatic Society
96 Fulton St.
New York, NY 10038
Web site: http://www.numismatics.org

Federal Reserve Districts
Web site: http:// www.federalreserve.gov/otherfrb.htm

National Numismatic Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20560
Web site: http://americanhistory.si.edu /collections/numismatics

Society of Paper Money Collectors
P.O. Box 117060
Carrollton, TX 75011
Web site: http://www.spmc.org

Society of U.S. Pattern Collectors
Web site: http://www.uspatterns.com

U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
14th and C Streets, SW
Washington, DC 20228
Web site: http://www.moneyfactory.com

U.S. Mint
Customer Care Center
801 Ninth St., NW
Washington, DC 20220
Web site: http://www.usmint.gov