Coin collecting is a rewarding and educational hobby for scouts of all ages. Not only does the act of collecting coins help to build character and develop an expertise in the field of numismatics (the study of money and currency), but it can also open the door to a rewarding hobby and career. The Boy Scouts of America have created a merit badge specifically tailored to coin collecting, and it is available to scouts who are interested in learning more about coins and currency, and the role they play in our society.
Coin Collecting Merit Badge Requirements
- Explain what numismatics is and why it is important.
- Identify the basic characteristics of a United States coin, including its denomination, year of minting, date of release, mint mark, and composition.
- Explain the process of how coins are made.
- Identify and explain the uses of at least five different types of coin collecting supplies.
- Identify at least five different coins that have a known market value.
- Explain the various grading systems used to grade coins.
- Identify at least five different ways to store and display coins.
- Describe key events and individuals in the history of coins.
- Learn about at least two different methods for determining the value of a coin.
- Demonstrate how to safely and correctly handle coins.
- Demonstrate how to safely and correctly store coins.
- Show how to accurately grade coins.
- Create a simple collection of coins.
- Discuss ways for the collector to protect their coins from damage and counterfeiting.
- Discuss the role coins play in our society.
Coin Collecting Merit Badge Worksheet
You can download the official Boy Scouts of America Coin Collecting Merit Badge worksheet here. This worksheet will help you to keep track of your progress in completing the requirements listed above for the Coin Collecting Merit Badge.
Good luck in completing the Coin Collecting Merit Badge! The Boy Scouts of America are proud to recognize your hard work and dedication to numismatics with this special merit badge.