Jardines Galleries · For young collectors · Activities, missions & safety

Young Collectors' Corner.

A fun introduction to coin collecting for kids. Inside you'll find missions to try in your own pocket change, activities to make collecting hands-on, simple rules for handling coins so they stay safe, and your very own coin record to fill in. You can start your first collection right now — coins from your own change count.

Welcome Start your kit Handling Activities

— Welcome, young collector —

Coins are tiny pieces of history

Every coin in your pocket has a story. Where was it made? When? Whose picture is on it? Which animal? Coin collecting takes you on a journey through history, art, and science — and the best part is that you can start today with coins you already have.

— Your first mission —

Find five different coins

Look in your pocket change. Find 5 different coins. Write down their dates and the animals on them. That's it — you're already a collector.

Start your collector's kit

Four simple things · You probably have most already

You don't need much to get started. Just four simple things, and you might already have most of them at home.

A magnifying glass

For spotting tiny details

A notebook

For your coin diary

Coin holders

Flips or envelopes · ask an adult

This library

Or a reference book

Your first safari

Hunt for these in your own pocket change

Your first collection is hiding in your own pocket change. Here are four coins to hunt for — see how many you can find this week. None of them cost anything extra; you just keep them when you spot them.

— Mission 01 —

The R5 two-metal coin

Any R5 coin from 2004 onwards. Look carefully — it has two different metals in it. A silver outer ring and a golden inner circle. Hold it up to the light.

— Mission 02 —

An SA25 R2 coin

The 2019 R2 coins celebrating 25 years of democracy. There are five different designs — try to find them all!

— Mission 03 —

A Mandela coin

Any coin from 2012 to today with Nelson Mandela's picture on it. These appear on lots of denominations — keep your eyes open.

— Mission 04 —

An animal coin

Any coin showing a South African animal — springbok, elephant, kudu, or others. Almost every SA coin has one. Sort them by which animal you find.

How to handle coins

Keep them safe · Five simple rules

— Five rules to remember —

How to hold a coin

Hold by the edges — never touch the front or back of the coin with your fingers.
Clean, dry hands — wash before you start.
Store in special holders — not loose in your pocket where they can scratch.
Cool, dry place — away from sunlight, which can fade them over time.
Be patient — collecting is a slow hobby. The best collections take years.

Never clean a coin! Cleaning a coin ruins it. Even gentle cleaning can scratch the surface and make the coin worth much less. If a coin is dirty, leave it dirty — that's how grown-up collectors do it too.

Fun coin activities

Four things you can do right now

Four activities to try at home. You can do all four with coins you already have — no shopping needed.

Make a coin rubbing

Place a coin under thin paper. Rub gently with a pencil — hold the pencil sideways, not pointing down. Slowly the coin's design will appear on the paper. Try different coins and see which makes the clearest picture.

Start a coin diary

Get a notebook. For each new coin, write down: what year is it? Where did you find it? Why do you like it? Over time your diary becomes a history of your hobby.

Play the sorting game

Take a handful of coins. Sort them by size. Then sort them again by colour. Then by year. Then by the animal on the back. Each way of sorting tells you something new about your collection.

Be a coin detective

Use your magnifying glass. Look very closely at a coin and find: the date, the animal, the words "SOUTH AFRICA", and the tiny letters for the engraver's initials. How many things can you spot?

Coin words to know

Six words real collectors use

Obverse — the front (heads side).

Reverse — the back (tails side).

Edge — the side of the coin.

Date — the year the coin was made.

Mint — the place where coins are made.

Proof — a special shiny coin made carefully for collectors.

Five safety rules

For young collectors · Always remember these

Never clean a coin

Cleaning ruins coins. If it's dirty, leave it.

Always ask an adult

Before buying any coins, check with a grown-up you trust.

Online safety

Only buy from trusted websites — and always with a grown-up helping.

Keep your collection safe

Store coins in a safe place — not in your school bag.

Have fun & share your hobby

The best part of collecting is showing your collection to friends and family. Coin collecting is a hobby people enjoy together — for years and even generations.

My first coin record

Fill this in for your favourite coin · Print, write, keep

— Worksheet · For your first coin — My first coin Pick your favourite coin · Fill in the blanks below

What coin is it?

What year?

Where did I get it?

Why do I like it?

Sources

Library content adapted for young readers

— Reference works for this page —

Library content adapted for young readers. The information here is drawn from the rest of the Jardines Galleries Library, simplified for collectors aged roughly 8 – 14.

Ready for more?

Once you've finished your first collection

— The grown-up glossary —

The full glossary

Once you know the six basic coin words, the full glossary has many more. It's where serious collectors look up new words they don't know yet.

— Questions answered —

FAQ for beginners

The most common questions new collectors ask. If you have a question about something on this page, the FAQ probably answers it.

Revision history

Build dates · Editorial updates

22 Feb 2026 Initial build · activities, missions, worksheet

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