Coin Collecting is a Cool Hobby for Youngsters

Young collectors of today have a unique perspective in collecting coins compared to what many of us experienced while growing up. Think of the Internet. How easy is it to take for granted the huge resources the Internet has provided in researching coins, buying and selling them and simply keeping in touch with events and "real time" collector stories from around the world?

Collecting coins is no longer localized to such a large degree as it was for us older collectors growing up. While there are few things more enjoyable and knowledge gaining than visiting the local coin shop or making it to a coin show that is within traveling distance, those opportunities are scheduled and infrequent. With a few mouse clicks in a web browser, a young collector can learn about nearly any coin at any time.

Then there are the newer coins of today …

The hobby has gone through a “neo-renaissance” in the past 10 years, said U.S. Mint director Edmund Moy.

Before the quarter series, the typical coin collector was a white male, 55 and older, said mint spokesman Michael White. “Now coin collecting has a much broader appeal,” he said.

These are quotes from a Steve Rosen column and reflect U.S. coinage and Mint comments. However, innovate thinking in Mints and resulting unique collector coins are available to young collectors from around the world.

As a young collector, imagine the opportunity at buying the Perth Mint’s orbital coin, the world’s first pyramid shaped coin from the Pobjoy Mint, or one of the simply spectacular minted coins from a world mint that was highlighted in the most recent World Coin News sponsored Coin of the Year (COTY) event.

Today, young collectors can not only see high resolution images of coins the day they become available, they can also learn about and buy them from across the world. Those opportunities were simply rare for most youthful collectors of yesteryear. Imagine how the youth of today will change the coinage of tomorrow through these youthful experiences most of us never had.

The embedded Kansas City Star column by Steve Rosen is another nice reminder about how some things are different for young collectors of today.