In a personal mission to try and keep things lighter in life, I want to share a fun pastime to enjoy with your family. Coins.
What started from a fairly age-appropriate love for a gumball machine and requesting spare change over the years has turned into a really fun quest for state quarters! We’ve filled two books and have had family and neighbors help with finding some tricky states. (Hawaii and Massachusetts were particularly elusive!)
It’s a topic that seems to bring cheer whenever it’s brought up, as many people have enjoyed this special pastime at some point in their lives. I myself remember when everyone voted on the Vermont state quarter that was then printed in 2001. My kids have loved having the keepsake booklets, and enjoy taking them out from time to time. It’s always a great conversation starter about our country, the states and currency. It’s also a good reminder to wash your hands after handling money that travels all over the world.
The world of coins is VAST. Coin collecting remains a unique hobby that seems to have a deeply, dedicated following. But for now, whether they were printed in Denver or Philadelphia, we will stick to quarters.
Coin collecting books can be found at many bookshops, or ordered online. The specific ones we have enjoyed can be found here. Or, try finding the national parks with this book here. If you fancy a new challenge, there’s also a book for the American Women collection that started in 2022 here.
– Shannon Hart is a Vermont native, mother of 2 and Graphic Designer at the Addison Independent