TLCC Young Numismatist Activities
The TLCC encourages participation by serious Young Numismatists (YNs) at its regular monthly meetings and coin shows. A special prize is often available for a lucky YN at the regular meetings, and there may be special auction lots for YNs.
What other YN resources and activities are available?
There are many. We suggest starting with the American Numismatic Association (ANA) YN page and the Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association (PNNA) YN page. Both organizations offer YN scholarships to ANA Summer Seminar. The PNNA regularly offers Scouting America Coin Collecting Merit Badge workshops. The U.S. Mint has a Coin Classroom page for kids. And many coin dealers have items available for YNs.
Can YNs win awards and scholarships?
Yes! The scholarships mentioned above are one example.
The TLCC participated in the PNNA-sponsored “Design A Quarter” contest in local schools (5th and 6th grades) to introduce the concept of quarter design to the students and give them the opportunity to create their own designs. The winners from each participating class were displayed at the 2002, 2003 and 2004 PNNA conventions with a public vote each year to determine the winning design and grand prize winner of a 1/4-ounce gold eagle. YN’s attending the conventions also participated in a “YN Scavenger Hunt” that had them exploring the room for free prizes. The “Treasure Hunt” has continued at more recent coin shows.
See the winning designs of this Washington State Quarter Design Contest (held 2002-2005). Although this activity is long since over, you may want to consider a similar contest pertaining to more recent U.S. coin programs and designs, medal designs, etc.
Tacoma-area student John Space was the big winner in the 2003 and 2004 quarter design competitions! To see his winning designs, use the quarter contest link above. The TLCC thanks teacher and longtime club member Ron Ahre (now deceased) for coordinating the quarter design competition entries from a number of local classrooms.
What other local activities benefit local YNs and their families?
One excellent example would be the annual PNNA display at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup each fall. In adiditon to a display in the Hobby Hall, the PNNA, with the help of local clubs such as the TLCC, gives away literature and free coins including elongated (“squished”) cents and birthyear cents.