User:Jacob Gilder/sandbox

1. Understand how coins are made, and where the active U.S. Mint facilities are located. How are coins made: Coins are made by punching out a round piece of metal from a sheet and stamping on designs.

Where are the active U.S. Mint facilities: The active U.S. Mint facilities are located in Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point.

2. Explain these collecting terms:

    a. Obverse:  The head of a coin
    b. Reverse:  The ‘tails’ of a coin
    c. Reeding: The grooved lines on the outer edge of a coin
    d. Clad: The term used to describe when a coin has a core of one metal and an outer shell of another
    e. Type set: A collection of coins of one denomination
    f. Date set: A collection of coins from one year

3. Explain the grading terms Uncirculated, Extremely Fine, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good, and Poor: Uncirculated: No trace of wear but may have contact marks or lack of luster Extremely Fine: Design is worn lightly but there may be no trace of luster Very Fine: Moderate wear but all major details are clear Fine: Moderate to considerate even wear Very Good: Well-worn with main features but may have a flat look Good: Heavily worn with flat details Poor: Very heavily worn possibly with date barely readable

Explain the term proof and why it is not a grade: A proof coin is a coin that has been struck using a special high quality minting process. It is not grade because the term proof is a particular issue of a coin and not the grade.

Tell what encapsulated coins are: Encapsulated coins are coins that have been put into plastic holders or ‘slabs’

4. Know three different ways to store a collection, and describe the benefits, drawbacks, and expenses of each method: Sorry couldn’t find this but will update when I do

5. Do the following: a. Demonstrate to your counselor that you know how to use two U.S. or world coin reference catalogs. b. Read a numismatic magazine or newspaper: and tell your counselor about what you learned: Go to www.numismaticnews.net and write what you learned

6. Describe the 1999-2008 50 State Quarters Program. During the program a new statehood quarter was released every 10 weeks

7. Collect from circulation a set of currently circulating U.S. coins. Include one coin of each denomination (cent, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar, dollar). Go to a bank and ask for the coins (you will have to pay for them though)

For each coin, locate the mint marks, if any, and the designer's initials, if any. Location of Mint Mark:

    Dollar: under the eagle
    Half-Dollar: below the word trust
    Quarter: below ‘in god we trust’
    Dime: below the wreath
    Nickel: none
    Penny: below the date.

Location of Designers initials:

    Dollar: to the right of ‘dollar’
    Half-Dollar: bottom of JFK’s neck
    Quarter: bottom right of Washington
    Dime: base of Roosevelt’s neck
    Nickel: below Jefferson’s head
    Penny: bottom left of Lincoln

8. Do the following:

    a. Identify the people depicted on the following denominations of current U.S. paper money: $1, $2, $5,  $10, $20, $50, $100. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses     Grant, Benjamin Franklin
    b. Explain “legal tender.” Coins or banknotes that must be accepted if offered in payment of debt
    c. Describe the role the Federal Reserve System plays in the distribution of currency. The Federal Reserve System provides cash services to many but not all banks, savings, loans, and credit unions

9. Do ONE of the following:

    a. Collect and identify 50 foreign coins from at least 10 different countries.
    b. Collect and identify 20 bank notes from at least five different countries.
    c. Collect and identify 15 different tokens or medals.
    d. For each year since the year of your birth, collect a date set of a single type of coin. 

10. Do ONE of the following:

    a. Tour a U.S. Mint facility, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing facility, or a Federal Reserve bank, or a numismatic museum or exhibit, and describe what you learned to your counselor.
    b. With your parent's permission, attend a coin show or coin club meeting, or view the Web site of the U.S. Mint or a coin dealer, and report what you learned.
    c. Give a talk about coin collecting to a group such as your troop, a Cub Scout pack, or class at school.
    d. Do drawings of five Colonial-era U.S. coins.