Brownie / Junior Scout Requirements: Fun with Money Patch

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Requirements


*Brownies must complete 4 of the following 8 activities, including numbers 1 and 5.
*Juniors must complete 6 of the following 8 activities, including numbers 1 and 5.

1. What do you think our money should look like? Design a new $1 coin. The design must look clear when it is the size of a coin, so do not make it cluttered. You must include the following inscriptions: 

Obverse (Front or “Heads” Side”

  • The Year
  • LIBERTY
  • IN GOD WE TRUST

Reverse (Back or “Tails” Side)

  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  • IN GOD WE TRUST

2. The coins we use every day-called “circulating” coins-are made by United States Mints in Philadelphia and Denver. Find out where your coins were made by looking for the mintmark.

Colonial-Money-of-Australia-and-Oceania3. Look at some coins and paper money from other countries.

    • How are they different from U.S. money?
    • How are they the same as U.S. money?
    • Make some rubbings or draw a picture of a few coins from other countries.
    • Share them with your troop and/or family.

4. How easy or difficult is it for someone who is blind or visually impaired to use U.S. money? If you were blind, how would you buy things at the store? Put on a blindfold and try these activities:

    • Get a handful of coins-pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. Can you tell them apart?
    • Can you tell the difference between $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills? How, or why not?
    • Should Braille be added to U.S. paper money? Why or why not?

5. Tour the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Money Museum to explore the world of money and what “numismatics” means. Also, use the ANA Library to learn about different areas of numismatics that might interest you.

  • If you are unable to visit the ANA Money Museum or Library in person, visit the ANA website at money.org and write a report to share with your troop and/or family.

6. Who is pictured on the current $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills? Write a brief biography of each person and share what you’ve learned with your family and/or troop.

one dollar george washington

7. Collect all the state quarters from any one year. How many different state quarters were issued each year? Display your set of coins and share some interesting facts about each state with your family and/or troop.

coin show bourse floor8. Learn more by doing one or more of the following activities:

    • Go to a coin show.
    • Attend a coin club meeting.
    • Talk with a coin collector.
    • Visit a coin dealer.
    • Visit a U.S. Mint facility.

Hints & Resources

 1. Let Scouts be creative with this activity. Encourage their imagination! Have them draw or sketch one (or more) ideas on large circles cut from poster board, paper or foam board.

2. Mintmarks are small letters generally found on the front (or “heads” side) of a coin, next to the date. Circulating coins have either a “D” for Denver, or no mintmark or a “P” for Philadelphia.

3. You can find many pictures of currency from other countries on the Internet. The American Numismatic Association Library also has a wealth of information and resources. 

  • To make coin rubbings, you’ll need paper and crayons/colored pencils. Place a piece of paper over a coin and lightly color over it. Or have Scouts draw pictures of coins.

4. Girls will have a lot of fun with this activity!

  • Put several different coins in a medium-size bowl or a paper bag. Blindfold the girls and see if they can find and identify the coins using only their sense of touch. Draw attention to size, weight and type of edge.
  • Can they tell the difference between different denominations of paper money? The answer probably will be “no.”
  • Discuss reasons why Braille should be added to our paper money. Great thinking activity! (Did you know that the Alabama quarter, picturing Helen Keller, has a Braille inscription?)

*Starting in 1999, the U.S. Mint issued five quarters each year to honor each of the 50 states in the order they ratified the Constitution or joined the Union. You can find many of these state quarters in your pocket change. Make the project a treasure hunt.

Books are resources in the areas of interest. For U.S. Coins – The Guidebook of US Coins (Red Book), U.S. Coin Digest or the North American Coin and Price Guide. For World coins, the Standard Catalog of World Coins series, or country specific publications. All have pricing information and illustrations to assist in proper identification.
 
Newspapers or magazines – Weekly Newspapers – Coin World or Numismatic News, monthly’s Bank Note Reporter, World Coin News, Canadian Coin News or magazines, Numismatist, Coin Age,  Coins, Coin Prices. They are different, they are available at libraries or news stands. Reading is fundamental.
 
American Numismatic Association Website
The American Numismatic Association’s website, money.org, is a valuable tool for Scouts pursuing the Coin Collecting Merit Badge. It offers educational resources on coin history, identification, and collecting, along with interactive tools and videos to simplify learning. Scouts can also find information on numismatic events and local coin shows, providing valuable community engagement opportunities. With comprehensive and user-friendly resources, money.org supports Scouts in achieving their merit badge goals. Visit the pages linked below to learn more!

American Numismatic Association (ANA) Money Museum and Library
818 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719)632-2646 or toll-free (800)367-9723
Website: www.money.org
Email: education@money.org

*Use this resource from the ANA for information about coin clubs in your area, meeting times and directions.
Girl Scouts must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Follow SAFETY WISE requirements.

Mint tours must be arranged in advance. See the U.S. Mint website: www.usmint.gov.
Denver Mint, 320 W. Colfax Ave. (at Delaware), 
Phone 303-405-4759
Philadelphia Mint, 151 N. Independence Mall East, 
Phone 215-408-0112

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