Difficult Run MB Day

Inst: Mr. Reed

Sep 12, 2026

Coin Collecting Merit Badge Prework

• Read the Scouting America merit badge pamphlet and download it at: Scouting America Coin Collecting MB Pamphlet.
• Complete requirements 4 and 7 before Merit Badge Day. Bring your collections to Merit Badge Day. If completing req 7d be prepared to discuss.

Req 4. Do the following and explain to your counselor the design features, designer name, designer initials, and where to find them for each item:
Resource: Coin Collecting 101 for Beginners: What You Need to Know to Start Coin Collecting (video)

(a) Collect a one-cent coin from the year group: 1959-2008 (that is, dated between 1959 and 2008) and a one-cent coin from the year group 2010-present. Explain how and why the one-cent coins issued in 2009 were different from either of the other two year groups.

(b) Collect two five-cent coins, one from each of these year groups: 1959-2003 and 2006-present. Explain how and why the five-cent coins issued in 2004-2005 were different from either of the other two year groups.

(c) Collect a ten-cent coin from 1965-present.

(d) Collect a twenty-five-cent coin from 1965-1998, two examples from the 50-State Quarter®/territories Program 1999-2009, two designs from the America the Beautiful® program 2010-2021 and two designs from the American Women Quarter® program (2022-2024). Explain the purpose of each of those programs.
Resources: Collecting State Quarters (video)
America the Beautiful Quarters® Program (video)
American Women Quarters® Program (video)

(e) Collect a half dollar coin from 1965-present.

(f) Collect a dollar coin from each of the following design groups: Susan B. Anthony (1979-1981, 1999); Sacagawea (2000-2008); and U.S. Presidents (2007-2016, 2020).
Resources: Susan B. Anthony Coins (website)
Sacagawea Coins (website)
Presidential Dollar Coins (website)

Req 7. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Collect and identify for your counselor 20 different world coins from at least seven different countries. Identify the country, major design elements, and denomination of each.

(b) Collect and identify for your counselor 20 different world paper money from at least seven different countries. Identify the country, major design elements, and denomination of each.

(c) Collect and identify for your counselor 20 different tokens and/or medals. Identify the issuer and use of each.
Resource: Exonumia (Tokens and Medals) (website)

(d) Complete one of the following and report to your counselor what you experienced:

(1) Attend a coin show
Resource: National and Regional Coin Shows for Collectors (website)

(2) Attend a coin club meeting
Resource: Local Coin Club Directory (website)

(3) Tour a U.S. Mint facility or museum
Resource: US Mint Locations in the US (website)

(4) Tour a virtual exhibit (with your parent or guardian's permission) approved by your counselor
Resources: Virtual Tours (website)
History of Money Exhibit (website)
Medal in America Exhibit (website)

We will do requirements 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, in the session but you should review these requirements prior to Merit Badge Day.  

The session is intended to be a morning or afternoon only session.

Warning: The usscouts.org worksheets are no longer maintained and do not reflect the current merit badge requirements.