e-Letters: Oct. 18, 2023

Every Halloween, instead of handing out candy, I hand out a bundle of five coins, each from a different country, secured in a cardboard 2x2. The trick-or-treaters seem to like them better than candy and continue to show up until they reach the age where they no longer go out trick-or-treating.

Evan Lay, Address withheld

I am not sure if it counts as giving back to the hobby as much as I hope to snag one youngster into the hobby. I have been giving out coins in 2x2 mylar flips with a description of the coin. I am going on 11 years now. I now have older kids coming up to me and telling me that they have all the coins that I have given out. I do this every year at Halloween. They also still love the candy treats. There are wagon trailers of hay for a hay ride then it is trunk-or-treat time. The kids range in age from 2 through 13, I guess, and they are all dressed up. I quietly pick out the best costume, in my opinion, and give a silver Eagle to the parents. They are very thankful. I am giving 1943-P zinc cents grading BU this year. I am hoping to have actually managed to snag more than one.

James Faulkerson, Hillsboro, Mo.

Belonging to local clubs wherever we have lived. Held office in some local and state clubs. Past ANA Rep. Have given programs and show-and-tells. Written several articles.

Jim Barry, Address withheld

Put foreign coins on the sidewalk where people can find them.

Name and address withheld

From my perspective, giving back is joining local coin clubs, volunteering at their sponsored shows and engaging with young numismatists, be they in the club, a Scout merit badge endeavor, or going to a classroom to give a talk.

Lorne Lavertu, Herndon, VA

I have served since about 1994 as an ANA Volunteer in a number of positions, and continue to this day. I have been a Club Rep, District Rep, Regional Coordinator, and National Coordinator (2015-2021) for the District & Club Rep program. I have given many presentations at coin club meetings, coin shows, and online over the years. I have an ANA Membership Table at large coin shows in my current area (Alabama and Georgia) and have been doing this since about 2003. I have spoken at and assisted at YN Programs since 2002 at GNA and BRNA coin shows. I have served as an officer in a number of coin clubs. I started in 2001 the Madison County Coin Club (Huntsville, AL) when there was no active coin club in that area. The club is doing very well today. I have provided free coin appraisals to the public at a number of events over the years. I have written many articles for the past 30 years that have been published in Numismatic News, Coin World, The Numismatist, and a number of state and local coin club publications. I have exhibited at ANA, state, and regional coin shows since 1991 and have won a number of exhibit awards. I have won three ANA National Coin Week exhibit awards.

I feel that giving back to the hobby helps not only current collectors but also future collectors.

Richard Jozefiak, ANA District Rep for AL & GA

Even though it doesn’t seem like much, I try to invite the young ones, as well as even my peers, to start a collection (even if it costs me) by giving away some pretty good coins and items to pique their interest. So far, I have had around five different people start collecting, and another five have had questions. I always try to show off some of my coins to try to keep them involved, as well as give them my older numismatic magazines, etc.

Mike Branch, Address withheld