Coin Kids Committee

RCNA members from across Canada have gone into schools to speak to students about our great hobby. They have done an admirable job of getting kids interested in the hobby by telling them about the history and art found on coins.
Thanks to a group of our dedicated members who realized that these people were speaking to kids, the speakers were put in touch with each other. They compared notes on what each of them was doing to promote coin collecting in their respective cities. They all spoke to students in school classrooms and assisted in getting student coin clubs set up and running. With all of them doing the same type of speaking, it was natural for the C.N.A. to organize a national program. This program is called Coin Kids.

Committee members in other areas have been busy in their communities. Fred Freeman has been successful in starting various coin clubs in his hometown of Woodstock, Ontario. Freeman has also written and currently administers Canadian Coins 101 – a numismatic course designed for young persons less than 18 years old.Other members who have contributed to building the program include: Geoff Bell, who first appointed a Coin Kids Committee during his tenure as C.N.A. President, and John Regitko, who solicited donations for the Coin Kids kits and mailed one to each junior member. The then President of The C.N.A., Charles Moore, an ex officio member of the Committee, also helped. As well, Chris Boyer, current RCNA National Youth Coordinator, was successful in starting various coin clubs in Guelph and Kitchener, Ontario, and currently boasts a school group of close to 185 junior members. Several other RCNA members have both contributed in the past and continue to do so and help make this youth program a success.

When a RCNA membership application is received from a junior collector, they also receive a quantity of books, catalogues, back-issues of The CN Journal and numismatic collectibles donated by: the Royal Canadian Mint, Charlton Press, Canadian Coin News and a number of dedicated collectors and dealers. The shipping costs for this material and the costs for providing the member with the Canadian Numismatic Journal during the year exceed the junior’s membership fee. The difference is absorbed by the RCNA to promote the hobby of coin collecting to juniors with the long-term goal of creating future numismatists.
Young collectors are offered membership in the RCNA at the very attractive rate. Juniors are encouraged to apply as soon as possible because the offer of the free Coin Kids Kit may be withdrawn at any time if the supply of donated material becomes exhausted.

Coin Kids also holds a Youth auction in conjunction with the RCNA Annual Convention, which is held in various Canadian cities since 1954. The auction provides young numismatists less than 18 years old with the opportunity to learn both about coins and coin auctions through hands-on experience. RCNA members and dealers donate materials for the youth auction. The youth participants bid for items using play currency and keep those items won. For 2012, Coin Kids is expanding this successful program and will hold a Coin Kids auction at both the Ontario Numismatic Association Convention and the RCNA convention.

For further information on the RCNA's Coin Kids project, please contact:

Chris Boyer, RCNA National Youth Coordinator at: coinman@sympatico.ca
or, Fred Freeman, Coin Kids Canadian Coins 101 Course Initiator and Administrator at: coinkids@execulink.com
Juniors interested in joining the RCNA should visit Member Services for further information on all of the benefits of membership. Juniors who apply will qualify to receive a Coin Kids kit.

To obtain a sample copy of The CN Journal, the official publication of the RCNA, without cost or obligation contact:
The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association
5694 Highway #7 East, Suite 432
Markham ON Canada L3P 1B4
Telephone: (647) 401-4014
Fax: (905) 472-9645
E-mail: info@rcna.ca

If any collectors or dealers wish to donate items for inclusion in the Coin Kids Kits to be sent to all junior applicants, please e-mail us at info@rcna.ca with information on what you would like to donate so we can confirm that these items are not already on hand in sufficient quantity. Donors are acknowledged on the summary sheet in the Kits as well as in The CN Journal.

Fred Freeman has recently completed an exciting new home-study course for beginning collectors less than18 years of age. Canadian Coins 101 is your best choice to help you in learning how to enjoy your collecting activities. Learn more about this course and how you can obtain a copy.