Sharing the Hobby with Halloween Coins

There’s an old tradition of giving Halloween coins instead of candy. And I’m thinking it’s time we revive the tradition…

New England in autumn is truly spectacular. The mountains and lakes become ablaze with color as summer’s green leaves give way to vibrant hues of yellow, orange and red.

Each year, countless tourists flock to witness nature’s beauty before the leaves fade and fall. And even natives – like me – can’t help but be impressed no matter how many times we’ve seen the seasonal change.

Of course, for many, the turning of leaves marks something equally exciting… the official start of the Halloween season.

Halloween is one of today’s most celebrated holidays, and not just by kids. Adults young and old are also getting into the spirit. And why not? It’s a chance to dress up in fun costumes, go to parties and enjoy scary movies. Not to mention some tasty treats.

But this year, as the countdown to creepiness commences, I’m thinking of celebrating a little bit differently.

Have you heard about Halloween coins?

Recently I stumbled across an article that mentioned how many coin dealers and collectors would give coins, coin collecting pamphlets and other numismatic gifts in lieu of candy at Halloween. As well as how children in medieval Scotland and Ireland could receive coins instead of candy in exchange for a song, dance, or other amusement.

And frankly, I think Halloween coins is a tradition worth reviving and fostering. It’s a fantastic way to introduce young collectors to the hobby.

Of course, these days many children might consider a single cent in their bucket to be more trick than treat. The buying power of pennies just isn’t what it used to be. So to make the coins stand out, they need to be something unusual.

Something young Jimmy or Jane most likely hasn’t seen before… something that sparks their curiosity and imagination…

Something like an eye-catching coin from a faraway land.

True, most of us don’t have piles of foreign currency lying around just waiting to be given away. But if the idea appeals to you, I know where to find some…

Littleton Coin Company has you covered…

If you’re looking to give world coins as Halloween treats. Littleton Coin Company has some great options. One of my favorites is this set of 183 coins from 183 different countries.

It’s perfect if you expect a fair number of trick-or-treaters. And it even comes with its own treasure chest!

Don’t expect that many visitors? Not to worry. Littleton also offers a smaller set with 25 coins. Like the larger set, each coin is from a different country.

But it doesn’t come with a treasure chest. You’ll have to settle for a velvet pouch instead.

Littleton even offers a charming set of 55 world coins depicting animals. Will they get a leopard from Eritrea? A rhinoceros from India? Maybe a monkey from Somaliland?

Just think of the fun the kids will have!

Chocolate coins are always popular

For those wanting to combine old and new traditions, chocolates shaped like coins are a perfect choice. And Littleton’s has just the thing – milk chocolate coins that look like Morgan silver dollars!

These tasty treats are made with 100% Belgian chocolate. They come individually wrapped in silver foil. And every one bears the original obverse and reverse designs of the iconic Old West silver dollar.

Which means they’re sure to please the young and old alike!

Dracula & Frankenstein Bookmark Challenge Coins

Halloween and scary stories go hand in hand. So what better way to spend the season than sitting down with a couple of all-time horror classics?

First published in 1897, Bram Stoker’s Dracula almost single-handedly spawned the vampire genre. While Mary Shelley’s iconic 1818 novel Frankenstein is widely considered one of the world’s first science fiction novels.

Both books have been adapted hundreds, perhaps thousands of times. Both have heavily influenced film, television and pop culture. And yet the original classics still hold up today.

This spooky set includes softcover copies of both books. As well as matching bookmark-shaped challenge coins with glow-in-the-dark portraits of Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster. It’s a perfect surprise for lovers of coins, books and monsters alike.

Littleton’s Halloween Grab Bag

Another great option is Littleton’s Halloween Grab Bag. Each one has 10 different coins, including a 1937-D Buffalo nickel… a Lincoln “Wheatie” from the 1930s… a big old Eisenhower dollar… five world coins… even a genuine ancient coin!

The set also includes a Halloween-themed Kennedy half dollar that’s been wonderfully colorized by Littleton’s artists. And that’s not all.

They also get two temporary tattoos and three stickers. Plus a 4X magnifying glass to help them see every detail of their new coins.

That’s a total of 16 treats in all. And each set comes in a fun Halloween-themed canvas bag!

How about a spooky treat for yourself?

Of course, we can’t let kids have all the fun. Halloween is a holiday for adults, too! So how about a numismatic Halloween treat for yourself?

Look no further than the 2023 Cook Islands 1 oz. Silver $5 Frankenstein Proof. It’s the Halloween coin of all Halloween coins.

Minted in 99.99% pure silver, this legal tender coin bears the usual King Charles III obverse. But the reverse is as unique as the literary work that inspired it. It features a haunting image of Frankenstein’s monster…

…and the image is formed from the words of the scene in which the monster draws its first breath!

It’s a fantastic coin – and one I feel makes a perfect Halloween gift. But there is a catch. Less than 2,000 of these silver Proofs were struck.

So if you want one, you should buy it now.

Littleton only has a limited supply. And once they’re gone, even they may have trouble finding enough to offer it again.

So which Halloween coins did I choose?

Unfortunately, I don’t get trick-or-treaters at my house. Not because I don’t enjoy the holiday. I just live way out in the scenic wilds of New England. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have my personal favorites from the Halloween coins we covered above.

If I did live somewhere trick-or-treaters could find us, I’d go with that superb set of 183 Coins From 183 Countries. I can just imagine the looks on their faces as I hand out Halloween coins from the chest of pirate plunder. Why pirate plunder?

Because I’d be dressed as a pirate, of course.

As for my own family, my children are grown and spread out across the map. But I might have to surprise my grandchildren with some Halloween coins in the mail.

They’d no doubt love Littleton’s Halloween Grab Bags with their mix of U.S., world and ancient coins. And because their grandpa is a writer, they’ll probably get the Dracula and Frankenstein books and challenge coin bookmarks as well.

Along with some chocolate Morgan dollars, of course.

I may be all for reviving the old tradition of giving out Halloween coins. But Halloween candy is a tradition, too. And who says we have to pick one over the other?

Until next time…
Happy Collecting!

Sources

McMorrow-Hernandez, J. “Trick-Or-Wheat? Ditching the Sweets and Giving Out “Wheatie” Cents and Other Coins On Halloween” PCGS, 31 October 2022. https://www.pcgs.com/news/trick-or-wheat.

History.com Editors. “How Trick-or-Treating Became a Halloween Tradition.” History, Updated 27 September 2024. https://www.history.com/news/halloween-trick-or-treating-origins.

Lohnes, K. “Dracula.” Encyclopedia Britannica, September 14, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dracula-novel.

Shulman, D. “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.” Encyclopedia Britannica, September 19, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Frankenstein-or-The-Modern-Prometheus.