COINS by Dixie Plata, Pathfinder Historian

The original honor was written in 1945 for Adventist Youth around the world by the General Conference Missionary Volunteer (MV) Department.  It was named Coin Collecting. Youth were encouraged to learn about the history of money, including the original barter system using strange forms of “money”.

The history of coinage and paper currency in one’s own country was studied as well as some changes in the metal composition of a coin.  A collection of coins in one’s own country was to be made as well as a collection of foreign coins.  These coins were to be identified and mounted.

The original honor was produced in dark green and listed in the 1945 Junior Handbook under Recreational Pursuits. The original honor requirements were:

  1. Know where all mints and engraving plans are in the U.S. (or in your own country if you live outside the United States)
  2. Have a complete set of all coins, except gold, minted for one year from one mint and exhibit them.
  3. Demonstrate ability to identify coins from different mints
  4. Know the kinds of paper money and the denominations that are used
  5. Have at least 10 different foreign coins and know the exchange rate in reference to U. S. money

In 1951 the honor was renamed Coins and in 1997 the Honor’s Committee renamed the honor Currency.   In 2003 the honor was changed from the Recreation category, dark green, to Arts, Crafts and Hobbies category, which is light blue.

Current Honor requirements are as follows:

  1. Relate briefly the story of barter, showing three reasons why money came into being and naming at least ten strange forms of money used in place of coins or currency.
  2. Relate briefly the history of coinage and paper currency in your country, making sure to mention the dates of the establishment of any mints or engraving plants.  Also discover some change in the metal composition of a coin giving any interesting highlights concerning such a change.
  3. Explain how money is distributed in your country.
  4. Define the following terms:

        1. Alloy
        2. Altered Date
        3. Buffed Coins
        4. Cast Coins
        5. Clad Coinage
        6. Commemorative
        7. Die
        8. Field
        9. Inscription
        10. Lettered Edge

        1. Mint Mark
        2. Obverse
        3. Planchet
        4. Proof
        5. Reeded Edge
        6. Reverse
        7. Series
        8. Type
        9. Whizzed Coins
        10. Wire Edge
  1. Describe the obverse and reverse for paper money of the six lowest denominations currently in use in your country.
  2. Know how coins are graded in quality by collectors.
  3. Collect and mount a type set of coins from your country of any date currently being minted or in circulation.  Proof,  commemorative, rare, silver, or expensive coins are not needed in your collection.
      • Possess at least one coin from each mint in the type set
      • Locate and identify the mint mark (if any) on each coin
      • Locate and identify the initials (if any) of each coin’s designer(s)
  4. Do two of the following:
    • Make enlarged drawings of both sides of ten different denominations or forms of coins for your country no longer in circulation
    • Collect, identify, and mount 25 different foreign coins.  No two coins alike
    • Collect and mount a date set of series of coins for your country beginning with your birth year. (Commemorative, gold, proof, expensive, or rare coins need not be included)

Skill level 2 (seventh and eighth grade) though any youth or adult may work on the Coin honor.In the Adventist Youth Ministries Museum, to be built in Battle Creek, Michigan, this honor, along with others, will be displayed.  Some honors will be hands on activity.