National Coin Week is April 16 - 20

It’s that time of year again.

We’re not talking about Christmas, Easter or Yom Kippur. Linus is not going to stay up all night in a farmer’s field to watch for the Great Pumpkin. April 16 to April 20 is National Coin Week.

NCW is the week designated for all coin collecting enthusiasts to promote their hobby. Supporters of NCW include the American Numismatic Association, the US Mint and many local coin clubs across the country.

The ANA typically offers promotional materials and “how to” packets to member clubs planning to participate. They ought to know how to promote NCW. They founded it in 1924.

The US Mint has set up activities, games and educational offerings on its Web site. Among these is the Golden Dollar interactive puzzle, which promotes the new Sacagawea dollar coin.

The ANA often offers special recognition and awards for clubs and individuals who reach certain required goals regarding promoting the hobby during this week.

There are a lot of things the individual or the local club can do to promote the hobby during NCW. Among these are public displays of coins, lectures, literature handouts and invitations to visit the local club. You can get involved with the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, give away coins to other kids or just about anything you can imagine. The bottom line is participation.

There are people who give public lectures, visit schools, hold coin drops (Where rare coins are placed into general circulation to draw the attention of the public), giveaways and more. Some collectors have been known to spend $2 bills, Susan B. Anthony dollars and Indian Head cents just to get the attention of non collectors. It can be an exciting week if you get involved.

Metal detector clubs have been known to bury coins and other prizes in a field or on a beach, then invite members or the general public to bring their metal detectors and win these prizes.

There are a lot of what we call “closet collectors” out there. NCW is meant to heighten their interest in the hobby and get them involved not just in coin collecting, but in the social end of the hobby.

According to readership surveys taken by a major hobby publication, less than one in 10 collectors reading that publication have ever attended a coin show or a coin club meeting. Most collectors never travel more than 50 miles from their home to visit a coin show. NCW is meant to draw interest to the organized part of the hobby.

NCW is well planned and orchestrated by the ANA and the Mint in this country, but it is still only one week out of the year. In neighboring Canada the Canadian Numismatic Association holds a National Coin Month every year.

We aren’t ready to try to outdo the CNA, but the participation of the largest coin club in the country (actually, the largest in the world) and the federal Mint certainly helps to promote the hobby during this special week. Now its your turn to join them. Help get the word out about the hobby of kings.