In my “Joys of Collecting” column in Coin World, July 12th, I wrote about the graying of the hobby, and I recently treated the subject in my column in The Numismatist as well. My thesis was that in the 1950s when I started collecting, soon becoming a small dealer, teenagers and people in their twenties constituted a very large and dynamic part of the collecting community. It was fun to have a Whitman folder and look through rolls of Lincoln “pennies” in the quest for a rare 1909-S V.D.B. I never did find one, but I did get all except that, the 1914-D, and 1931-S.

Today, the Internet, iPhone, iPad, video games, and the like have absorbed a lot of the emotional energy and enthusiasm that the younger set used to spend on numismatics. While youngsters are still part of what we do, most active collectors are on the long side of 50 years old, as evidenced by American Numismatic Association membership data (average age about 55) or by simply going to a coin convention and looking around.

My column elicited a lot of mail, some of which told of youngsters who are, indeed, active today. Donald Z, who runs a coin business in California, found my column “inaccurate” and “not well though out,” and went on to share his experience (excerpted):

“Currently at my own business web site, eBay store and from calls that I answer daily for the same ads that I place in Coin World, I am frequently confronted by these same “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young collectors” with their phone calls, e-mails, blogs, text messages and other modern electronic communications with a multitude of questions on coins.

“Today’s up-and-coming teenagers use and learn from the Internet in just the same way Mr. Bowers used the coin shows that he attended as a teen to learn about rare coins. The teens use the Internet not only to scout at eBay, web sites and the auction houses for information, they also use the free resources of the Internet to learn about grading, pricing and the buying and selling of rare coins.

“To the contrary of Mr. Bowers’ statements, today’s teens are out in force and are learning about the hobby in their own way. Yes, I agree with Mr. Bowers that these teens are no longer ‘scouting around the shows.; I truly wish we could all go back to the 1957 American Numismatic Association convention again. But that is simply not possible. Mr. Bowers may see this hobby as old and graying, but I must respectfully disagree. I see it as a vibrant, young and growing hobby.

“So I hope Mr. Bowers can see there really is a dynamic community of teenagers who are the equivalent today of his day. Give these young teens time and they will pick this hobby up and take it to places it never dreamed possible.”

Alan H., who hails from Maryland, wrote this (excerpted):

“Concerning your ‘graying of the hobby commentary,’ this summer I had the privilege of working with some kids in a summer program. For fun I bought old used wheat penny books from stores, dealers and the like. I chased a few bags of ‘unsearched’ wheat cents as well as rolls. I never expected to fill the first book, but did have hopes of each kid filling the second book.

“Well, the bags gave us one book filled in with the second set and quite a good start on the first book as far as the 1930s go. I even stooped to buying a few low grade single pennies to sneak into the bags as it was evident that finding more 1956-1958 coins was putting the kids at a point where they did start to lose interest.

“It worked. All of them were excited by my additions and some help from some eBay sellers closed the gap in that each kid finally finished the second book. Next year I promised to do Jefferson nickels. I have also heard that other kids want to join in next summer, so I am setting aside the pennies for the newcomers to search next year while the old group work on nickels. Interest was great in my mind.

“Parents were helpful with their donations and happy to hear their kids talk about the steel pennies and the need to convert for the war effort. I also discussed the fact that even though 30 million coins were minted, we found none. And they quickly realized what a rarity means even in low grade wheat pennies. Each kid got a reward for their effort in that I gave out folders for state quarters to the best set and most complete rows in book one and so on. Hopefully, they will work on them over the school year. I have to admit that cost is a factor for young collectors.

“Many dealers at the Whitman Coins and Collectibles shows in Baltimore either give away coins or do deep discounts when I watch the kids I take buy the next addition to their collection. I want to thank those dealers in this letter if it gets published—they know who they are.…

“I can happily say that we covered the grading system with the kids and they are well aware that their coins were anywhere from About Good to Mint State Red. I also, convinced them to make the set look balanced with brown coins and put the reds in a 2×2 for a later time.…”

It is great that ideas are afoot and that people like Donald and Alan are interfacing with the younger set.

In a recent discussion with Chris Karstedt, president of Stack’s, I mentioned that my son Wynn is the official Coin Collecting Merit Badge counselor for the Worcester, Massachusetts area, but in the past couple of years not a single scout has applied! Although we will not be the first to do this, we are thinking of having Stack’s sponsor a merit badge class for boy scouts and possibly girl scouts as well.

All good wishes,

Q. David (Dave) Bowers