Check-in starts 1/2 hour prior to the start time of your class. You should bring a blue card filled out properly for this class. If you are not familiar with how to fill out a blue card, you should familiarize yourself with Scoutmaster Bucky's "How To Fill Out A Blue Card" document.  Click here for Scoutmaster Bucky's "How To Fill Out A Blue Card". Remember it is a Scout's responsibility to take care of their own blue card from beginning to end.


Your Scout Uniform is required to be worn for attending this Merit Badge session.   If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Brian Reiners; Scoutmaster Bucky via email or on the phone at 612-483-0665.

Reviewing the merit badge pamphlet PRIOR to attending and doing preparation work will insure that Scouts get the most out of these class opportunities. The merit badge pamphlet is a wealth of information that can make earning a merit badge a lot easier. It contains many of the answers and solutions needed or can at least provide directions as to where one can find the answers.  It is NOT acceptable to come unprepared to a Scoutmaster Bucky event.

You can (and should) use the Scoutmaster Bucky Coin Collecting Merit Badge Workbook to help get a head start and organize your preparation work. You can download the Scoutmaster Bucky Coin Collecting Merit Badge Workbook by clicking here.

It should be noted that this merit badge class is not meant for those who just want to come and see what they can get done. It is possible to complete this merit badge by being properly prepared and having done the preparation work prior to the class. Preparation is a MUST.


Things to remember to bring for this Merit Badge Class:

1. Merit Badge Blue Card properly filled out and signed off by your Scoutmaster
2. Your Registration Receipt
3. Scout Uniform
4. Your 3 collections of coins as outlined in the requirements below
5. Scoutmaster Bucky Merit Badge Workbook for this merit badge printed out and preparation work filled in
6. Any additional supporting documentation or project work pertinent to this merit badge 
7. A positive Scouting focus and attitude

1. Understand how coins are made and where the active U.S. Mint facilities are located

   This requirement will be covered in the class however Scouts should make sure they have read the merit badge pamphlet prior to the class so that they can actively participate in the class presentation and discussions for completing this requirement.  Active participation in the class will be one of the measures the counselor uses to determine whether the Scout has met the requirement which is to understand the elements of this requirement.

2. Explain these collecting terms:

   1. Obverse.

   2. Reverse

   3. Reeding

   4. Clad

   5. Type Set

   6. Date set

   Scouts should review this requirement and its terms and be prepared to explain.  It is strongly recommended that Scouts bring any notes or supporting documents they may have to help show the counselor that they have prepared for explanation of these items. These terms will be discussed in the class.

3. Explain the grading terms Uncirculated, Extremely Fine, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good, and Poor. Show five different grade examples of the same coin type. Explain the term proof and why it is not a grade. Tell what encapsulated coins are

   This requirement will be worked on in class, however Scouts should review this requirement and its components and be prepared to explain what they have learned both prior to the class and in the class.  Reading the merit badge pamphlet ahead of time will prove to be very helpful preparation for this requirement.

4. Know three different ways to store a collection, and describe the benefits, drawbacks, and expenses of each method. Pick one to use when completing requirements

   Scouts will need to research this ahead of time as they will need to apply their findings to some of the following requirements.

5. Do the following:

   1. Demonstrate to your counselor that you know how to use two U.S. or world coin reference catalogs

   2. Read a numismatic magazine or newspaper and tell your counselor about what you learned

   This requirement will be completed as a part of the class. Scouts are encouraged to bring any reference catalogs or magazine/newspapers they may have related to coin collecting for use during the class.

6. Describe the 1999-2008 50 State Quarters Program. Collect and show your counselor five different state quarters you have acquired from circulation

   Scouts will find this requirement enjoyable and easy to do.  While not required, after you have collected the five different State Quarters to fulfill the requirement, see how many MORE State Quarters you can gather up from everyday circulating coins. Scouts will need to bring at least 5 State Quarters in order to be considered for completion of this requirement at the class.

7. Collect from circulation a set of current U.S. coins. Include one coin of each denomination (cent, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar, dollar). For each coin, locate the mint marks, if any, and the designer’s initials, if any
   
   Scouts must at a minimum collect from circulation a set of current U.S. coins and bring them with to the class.  The Scoutmaster Bucky Coin Collecting Merit Badge Workbook can serve as a great organizer / checklist for gathering these coins. The rest of this requirement will be covered in the class.

8. Do the following:

   1. Identify the people depicted on the following denominations of current U.S. paper money: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100

   2. Explain “legal tender"

   3. Describe the role the Federal Reserve System plays in the distribution of currency.

   Scouts are encouraged to try and answer these requirements prior to coming to the class.  Use of the Scoutmaster Bucky Coin Collecting Merit Badge Workbook can make organizing your answers a lot easier.  This requirement will be covered completing in the class otherwise.

9. Do ONE of the following:

   1. Collect and identify 50 foreign coins from at least 10 different countries

   2. Collect and identify 20 bank notes from at least five different countries

   3. Collect and identify 15 different tokens or medals

   4. For each year since the year of your birth, collect a date set of a single type of coin

   This is the third of three "collect coins" requirements that Scouts must do prior to the class.  Choose one of the options above, gather your coins, and bring them to class to share and complete this requirement. Scouts should be prepared to share their collection with the counselor and the rest of the Scouts in the class.

10. Do ONE of  the following:

    1. Tour a U.S. Mint facility, a Bureau of Engraving and Printing facility, a Federal Reserve bank, or a numismatic museum or exhibit, and describe what you learned to your counselor

    2. 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

    3. Give a talk about coin collecting to a group such as your troop, a Cub Scout pack, or your class at school

    4. Do drawings of five Colonial-era U.S. coins

    Scouts wishing to do one of these requirements ahead of time are encouraged to do so.  This requirement MAY or MAY NOT be done in the class.  IF there is time at the end of the class, Scouts will have an opportunity to do Requirement 10D, however no guarantee is made that there will be enough time to complete this requirement in the class.  Scouts having done preparation work for one of these options WILL have an opportunity to present their work and more than likely be able to complete this requirement as well as the merit badge (ultimately sign off on ANY requirement is at the sole discretion of the merit badge counselor).

this page last reviewed and updated - March 2011