Tom Luxsox Coins

Lincoln Pennies

As a child I began coin collecting, and today, as an adult, I still treasure my Mercury dimes, Wheatback cents (pennies), Buffalo nickels, Standing Liberty quarters and my many other coins and bills from around the world.

You too can easily introduce your child to the joys of starting a coin collection. By Preschool age, a child can begin his collection just by saving coins from change and learning their names and values.

By First Grade, a child can understand how to keep their coins organized based on year of mintage.

Once your child has some money of his own to spend, he can learn how to make responsible decisions about which old coins to buy at a coin shop to enhance his collection.

First Steps to Start a Child's Coin Collection

Since 1999, when the Fifty State Quarters were introduced, many children have enjoyed collecting these coins and saving them in a Commemorative Quarter Map or Coin Folder. These are fun, cheap, and easy to get started with, since we all get quarters in our pocket change every day.

Nickels and Cents

When I helped my three youngest children (ages 3, 5 and 7) start their coin collections this past year, we began by purchasing inexpensive coin folders ($2.99 each) to collect Lincoln Memorial Cents and Jefferson Nickels from the 1940's to the present.

Why nickels and cents? Well, first they are easy for little children to find in their own pocket change and are cheap to get in in coin rolls from the bank. When my six-year-old son finds an old Wheatback cent (from 1959 and earlier), he reacts like he just found a pot of gold! It's like finding a treasure each time he finds an old coin to fill an empty year in his coin folders.

What Math Skills Can Your Child Learn from Coin Collecting?

Addition and Subtraction: Start by counting numbers of coins, then once your child understands coin values, you can ask them to calculate the value of "2 pennies plus 4 nickels" or "5 dimes minus 1 quarter". For children in Third Grade or older, you might ask, for example, "How many years are there between an 1990 dime and a 2001 dime?"

• Place Values: Learning to read the mintage dates on the coins, and putting their coins into chronological order in a coin folder is a great way to place values to the thousands and also teach how we measure years on a calendar.
• Multiplication: Begin by teaching your child there are 100 cents in a dollar. "That means that 100 pennies, 20 nickels, 10 dimes and 4 quarters each make up 100 cents or $1." Work on multiplying each of the coin values by 2's, 5's and 10's first and then try the harder numbers in the times tables. Coin rolls also lend themselves easily to multiplication. Ask your child, "If there are 25 quarters in a roll, what is the value of the whole roll of quarters?"
• Fine Motor: For children working on their pre-writing skills, stacking coins and rolling them in coin wrappers is great for working on the pincer grip. For example, you can help your child make 5 stacks of ten pennies each and fit them correctly into their wrapper.

More Coin Collecting Resources

Once your child gets bitten by the coin collecting bug, she will be hungry for more information. She will want to learn about the value and history of her coins, and generally learn more about how coins are made.

The U.S. Mint has a wonderful website for child coin collectors with lots of activities and history of all U.S. coinage.

To learn about the values of our old coins (as if we would ever want to sell them!) my family uses The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins, because it's easy to read and the information is very nicely organized. Coin books also teach about coin values so that before you go on a coin shopping trip, you will know what you should spend on a 1922 Buffalo nickel or some other treasure for your collection.

Coin collecting is a wonderful, inexpensive family activity that you and your child can enjoy together for years. The math learned along the way is just a wonderful side benefit.

Happy Collecting!

Etan Savir is the editor of http://www-sensible-math-education.com a web site devoted to helping parents understand the fundamental math skills their children should master in each grade and math course.

He is a 15-year math educator, math curriculum consultant, math textbook contributor, and currently the math department chairman at a K-12 college prep school in suburban Baltimore, Maryland.

American Coin Treasures 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Pennies $39.48 Hang a piece of history on your wall with these 2009 Lincoln bicentennial pennies. These 2009 Lincoln bicentennial pennies include all four designs and are displayed in a sonically sealed acrylic case.Includes all four designs of the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Pennies Denver and Philadelphia mints included(8 coins) Graded MS65 brilliant uncirculated condition Comes in a sonically sealed acrylic case5.178 inches wide x 4.187 inches high x 0.312 inches deep

Treasure Chest of 1-pound of Lincoln Wheat Ear Pennies $95.69 Open this treasure chest and find one pound of genuine Lincoln Wheat Ear pennies. Minted between 1909 and 1958, the coin honors the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth and was the first American coin to bear the image of an actual person. Wood treasure box measures 4.75 inches wide x 3.5 inches deep x 3 inches highOne pound of genuine Lincoln Wheat Ear PenniesReverse design symbolizes US agricultural heritageIncludes a Certificate of Authenticity

American Coin Treasures Treasure Chest of 1943 Lincoln Steel Pennies $117.69 Minted in anticipation of a copper shortage during World War II, these unique steel pennies of 1943 have stood the test of time. An assortment of 50 of these pennies comes packaged in a handsome wood treasure chest.Wood treasure box measures 4.75 inches wide x 3.5 inches deep x 3 inches highAssortment of 50 Lincoln steel penniesIncludes a Certificate of Authenticity

Three Centuries of U.S. Pennies and Nickels $50.91 Journey through time with this history filled penny and nickel collection. The Three Centuries of U.S. Pennies and Nickels includes nine pennies from 1800's to 2010, and 9nine nickels from the 1800's to 2008. Brand: American Coin TreasuresDimensions: 6 inches x 4 inches x 0.06 inchesCertificate of Authenticity is includedFeaturesIndian Head PennyLincoln Wheat PennyLincoln Steel PennyLincoln Memorial PennyFour Lincoln Bicentennial Pennies Lincoln Union Shield Penny'V' NickelBuffalo Nickel Silver Jefferson Wartime NickelWestward Journey Series NickelsFaces of Jefferson Nickels

Learning Advantage CTU7521 Plastic Coins 100 Pennies $19.31 Teaching money identification and counting skills has never been more fun than with the play money pennies The realistic play coins help children identify the penny by the bust of Lincoln on the front and the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse. You can use the one hundred pennies along with the other play money we offer to master concepts of making change playing store or banker and adding and subtracting money. For those who are just beginning to learn their coins or for those who need additional practice play money pennies is the right source for your money enrichment. For Ages: 5 and Up. Contents: One Set of 100 Plastic Penny Coins.

American Coin Treasures Banker's Bag of 1943 Lincoln Steel Pennies $58.17 In anticipation of a copper shortage during World War II, these unique steel pennies were minted in 1943. The coin set comes with an assortment of 30 pieces. 30 increasingly rare coinsMinted in 1943Steel pennies are an exciting collector's itemCoins are stored in mini-money bagIncludes a certificate of authenticity

Pennies $5.01 The Money Matters emergent reader series introduces children to the basics of money. The spreads link text to images and discuss the meanings of the symbols on each coin and bill, and how people earn, save, and spend money. Includes glossary with pronunciation guide and an index. Also includes "To Find Out More" section that lists additional reading materials and websites that will encourage readers to learn more about money and beginning finance. This Welcome Book introduces readers to the penny. Learn what pennies are made of, what each symbol on the front and back means, and how many pennies make a dollar.

The Five Pennies $19.99 The Five Pennies - Poster

Mound of Pennies $39.99 Joel Sartore Mound of Pennies - Photographic Print

Pile of Pennies $39.99 Raul Touzon Pile of Pennies - Photographic Print

Pennies From Heaven $5.99 Pennies From Heaven

The Very Best Of The Four Pennies $4.99 The Very Best Of The Four Pennies

FIVE PENNIES, THE (DVD) $5.99 FIVE PENNIES, THE (DVD)

Lincoln Inauguration 150th Anniversary Collection $124.71 The New York Times Headline 'Preparations for the Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln' honors the 150th Anniversary of Lincoln's Inauguration in this black wall frame coin and stamp collection. This collection features nine Lincoln pennies. Brand: American Coin Treasures Lincoln Inauguration 150th Anniversary Coin and Stamp CollectionCertificate of Authenticity is includedIncludesLincoln Wheat Ear PennyLincoln Memorial PennyLincoln Steel PennyFour 2009 Bicentennial Lincoln Pennies 2010 Lincoln Shield Penny Three Lincoln commemorative US postage stamps

The Five Pennies, 1959 $34.99 The Five Pennies, 1959 - Giclee Print

Complete Lincoln Penny Design Collection $37.4 American Coin Treasures presents 12 different Lincoln pennies. This classic gift is sure to be a hit with the coin collector in your life. VDB Initials Removed Lincoln pennyVDB Lincoln pennyLast Wheat Ear pennyLincoln Steel pennyLincoln Zinc penny First Lincoln Memorial pennyLast copper pennyFour bicentennial pennies and the Lincoln Shield penny Certificate of Authenticity is included

Abraham Lincoln Coin and Stamp Collection $79.99 "This outstanding coin and stamp set from The New York Times commemorates Abraham Lincoln�s inauguration and his lasting legacy.   This framed showpiece displays nine authentic Lincoln pennies, including a historical Lincoln cent from 1909, the first year of issue. The other coins, all in collectible condition, are: 1943 Lincoln steel penny; 1958 last-year-of-issue wheat penny; 1959 first-year-of-issue Lincoln Memorial penny;  all four 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial pennies; and  2010 Lincoln Union Shield Penny.   Also featured: three vintage stamps from 1958 and 1959, and a reprint of The Times front page from March 4, 1861, the day Lincoln became president.   Comes in a 16� x 14� black wood frame. "

Lennie's Pennies $12.99 Track Listing: 1. Lennie's Pennies, 2. Love Letters, 3. How Deep Is the Ocean?, 4. 74 Miles Away, 5. Picchi, 6. Over Lines, 7. Dear Father, 8. Peacocks, The, 9. Un des Sens, 10. Goldfish, 11. Patience

Single Quarter on a Mound of Pennies $39.99 Joel Sartore Single Quarter on a Mound of Pennies - Photographic Print

Sack of Pennies Worth $50 $79.99 Nina Leen Sack of Pennies Worth $50 - Premium Photographic Print

Mulligan's Pennies $31.94 Eddie Mulligan had a horrendous upbringing. As a fighting soldier in Northern Ireland, he lost his best friend to an Irish sniperas bullet. As a caring and loving husband, he lost his wife to cancer. As a man, he rejected and lost his God. As an intelligent human being he eventually found and followed a trail of bright, shiny pennies. And who would ever think something as small as a penny could have the greatest lure and effect on a personas life, and would mirror in color the most painful and joyful moments in Eddieas life? Grief and guilt become like a heavy chain around his neck, pulling him down further into the depths of sadness. Slowly, he is transformed, strengthened and slowly guided away from his living hell by bright, shiny pennies, to the blissful future that awaits him.