Coin Collecting                                                                                                                             Fall 2009

Dear Parents – Many of you may be aware that the U.S. Mint started a new series of Presidential Dollar coins in two years ago. The first coin depicts George Washington, our first president, and the collection will go on for several years, with a coin minted for each U.S. President in the order they served our country. These dollar coins are larger than a quarter and are gold in color. Four presidential coins will be minted each year until all of the presidents have been shown – which will take about ten years. The eighth U.S. President, Van Buren, was released last week. Students can now trade for most of the Presidential Dollars as I have them right here at school (and most of them are “uncirculated” which means they’ve never been touched!)

The U.S. Mint began minting the State Quarter series in 1999. Five state quarters were minted each year for ten years. Most of these quarters can still be found in circulation. During our Coin Lunch Bunches kids can sort through a bag of state quarters to see if they can find any they need. Then they can trade for this coin.

The U.S. Mint has decided to extend the quarter collection into 2009 with quarters from the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories -- Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Mariana Islands.

There is a lot of history and information involved in these coin series. I began coin collecting when I was ten years old and still to this day have an interest in coins. I have been meeting with students interested in coin collecting during lunch time every second or third Thursday. We call this ever-changing group the “Coin Lunch Bunch”. There has been an overwhelming interest in coin collecting! I consider it to be a healthy, wholesome, historic hobby that could even last for a number of years.

Having a folder to hold the coins is a great way to start coin collecting. They can be purchased at coin/hobby shops or even at craft places like Michael’s. As I have been calling around, however, I have learned that most places are sold out of the quarter and dollar coin holders (they are a cardboard tri-fold.) So I am offering an easier alternative if you are interested from a company I’ve used in the past over the internet.

Coin Folder Prices

U.S. Presidential Dollar folders for $7.50 each.

State Quarter folders for $6.50 each.

Pleae email Julie to place your order. You account will be billed.

Thank-you –
Vicki Swartz Roscoe