Five-spot is slang that was used for the five-dollar bill in the 1930s. Click here to check out the new look!Close

Numismatics (nu-miz-'ma-tiks): studying or collecting money.

Many kids are holding onto at least one gold dollar coin and samples of each of the new state quarters. Why?

Coins can increase in value, they're fun to look at, and they tell stories.

Have you ever thought about starting your own coin collection?

"There's a lot you can learn from just the lowly penny," Gail Baker, education director of the American Numismatics Association, says.

Find coins from around the world.

Learn From a Penny?

Yes!

For example, we know that Abraham Lincoln was a president who united the country and promoted the passage of the 13th amendment freeing the slaves.

But someone who doesn't live in the U.S. who sees Lincoln's image on a copper-colored penny might wonder "Who's that man?" and be inspired to learn more abot Lincoln.

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Save a special coin

You can learn a lot about money and history by starting a coin collection. And your collection can reflect who you are.

First, you need a magnifying glass. Then decide what kind of coins you'll collect. Baker suggests:

• Save a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter from every year, starting with the year you were born.
• Find coins from around the world.
• Keep coins that have mint-made mistakes on them.
• Collect coins with something in common.

And From Both Mints!

Try to find one from each mint.

Coins from the Denver Mint in Colorado and the Philadelphia Mint in Pennsylvania are different.

CloseAround the World

Locate their countries on a map or online. Learn what the coins' images mean to that country.

CloseMint-Made Mistakes

Errors that are made by the mint make coins more valuable.

CloseThings in Common

Look for coins that have things in common, like pictures of Native Americans.

You can pick subjects such as animals or wildlife too.

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You can teach yourself how to spot a good coin...