Coin Collecting Merit Badge

Overview

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.

Resources: How Coins Are Made—Inside U.S. Coin Factory (video), US Mint Locations in the US (website)
(2) Explain the following terms: obverse, reverse, reeding, clad, type set, and date set.

Resources: Coin Term Glossary (website), Coin Collecting for Beginners; Coin Terminology and Coin Anatomy (video)
(3) Describe three different ways to store a collection, and the benefits, drawbacks, and cost of each method.

Resources: Coin Storage Tips | How and Where to Keep Your Collection Safe (video)
(4) Do the following and explain to your counselor the design features, designer name, designer initials, and where to find them for each item:

Resources: Coin Collecting 101 for Beginners: What You Need to Know to Start Coin Collecting (video)
- (a) Collect a one-cent coin from the year group: 1959-2008 (that is, dated between 1959 and 2008) and a one-cent coin from the year group 2010-present. Explain how and why the one-cent coins issued in 2009 were different from either of the other two year groups.
- (b) Collect two five-cent coins, one from each of these year groups: 1959-2003 and 2006-present. Explain how and why the five-cent coins issued in 2004-2005 were different from either of the other two year groups.
- (c) Collect a ten-cent coin from 1965-present.
- (d) Collect a twenty-five-cent coin from 1965-1998, two examples from the 50-State Quarter® /territories Program 1999-2009, two designs from the America the Beautiful® program 2010-2021 and two designs from the American Woman Quarter® program (2022-2024). Explain the purpose of each of those programs.
  
  Resources: Collecting State Quarters (video), America the Beautiful Quarters® Program (video), American Women Quarters® Program (video)
- (e) Collect a half dollar coin from 1965-present.
- (f) Collect a dollar coin from the following design groups: Susan B. Anthony 1979-1981, 1999, Sacagawea 2000-2008, U.S. Presidents 2007-2016, 2020.
  
  Resources: Susan B. Anthony Coins (website), Sacagawea Coins (website), Presidential Dollar Coins (website)
(5) Describe and discuss with your counselor the special reverse designs of the quarters, half dollar and dollar coin struck in 1975-1976 to honor the U.S. Bicentennial.

Resources: Bicentennial Coins & Medals (website)
(6) Identify for your counselor the people depicted on current currency: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes. Explain where United States currency is printed.

Resources: How Money is Made (video), Do You Know Who Is on Every US Banknote? (video)
(7) Do ONE of the following:
- (a) Collect and identify for your counselor 20 different world coins from at least seven different countries. Identify the country, major design elements, and denomination of each.
- (b) Collect and identify for your counselor 20 different world paper money from at least 7 different countries. Identify the country, major design elements, and denomination of each.
- (c) Collect and identify for your counselor 20 different tokens and/or medals. Identify the issuer and use of each.
  
  Resources: Exonumia (Tokens and Medals) (website)
- (d) Complete one of the following and report to your counselor what you experienced:
  - (1) Attend a coin show.
    
    Resources: National and Regional Coin Shows for Collectors (website)
  - (2) Attend a coin club meeting.
    
    Resources: Local Coin Club Directory (website)
  - (3) Tour a U.S. Mint facility or museum.
    
    Resources: US Mint Locations in the US (website)
  - (4) Tour a virtual exhibit (with your parent or guardian’s permission) approved by your counselor.
    
    Resources: Virtual Tours (website), History of Money Exhibit (website), Medal in America Exhibit (website)

Resources

Note: This is an unofficial archive of Scouts BSA Merit Badges that was automatically extracted from the Scouting America website and may contain errors.