Heritage Distributes Free Rare Coins to 1,500 Boy Scouts

Dallas, Texas: For the second year, Boy Scouts attending the Scout Show in Dallas received a very special treat: free rare coins distributed by Heritage Rare Coin Galleries. The 1999 Scout Show, sponsored by Dallas' Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America on May 8th, attracted approximately 15,000 Scouts and family members. "Since this was a repeat appearance by Heritage," noted Heritage Co-Chairman Steve Ivy, "Scouts were waiting for our booth to open with great expectations! In fact, Scouts started to appear at 9:30, a full half-hour before opening.By the time the show ended at 3 PM, we had introduced more than 1,500 Scouts to rare coins."

"Our coin 'give-away' was so popular at the 1998 Scout Show," explained HNAI Director and Scouting dad Bob Korver, "that the organizers asked us to come back in 1999 even before that show was over. When we distributed our 1999 Chicago ANA auction surveys last January, we promised to continue our work making donations to the Boy Scouts to support and encourage work on the Coin Collecting merit badge. This year, we are also expanding our support to the Girl Scouts."

Heritage Chief Financial Officer Arlen Ewart, another 'Scouting dad,' explained how the idea of a coin "give-away" developed. "Last year, Heritage committed $4,000 to encourage coin collecting among Scouts. Rob Hofmann, Director of Financial Services of the Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America, suggested that a "hands-on" activity at the Scout Show would work best. Well, he was right, and the response was so great that Steve Ivy and Jim Halperin generously tripled our budget for 1999."

"The rare coins distributed at the Scout Show," explained Korver, "ranged from Indian cents to Peace dollars. We included Liberty & Buffalo nickels, Barber & Mercury dimes, Barber & Standing Liberty quarters, Barber & Walking Liberty halves, and Morgan & Peace dollars. The coins were well-circulated, naturally, but all were of collectable quality. We also distributed plastic flips for the coins, and a sheet explaining different coin types. The Scouts stuck their hands into buckets filled with thousands of coins, and without looking, had to select only one. The Scouts who knew a little about rare coins tried 'bottom fishing' for the silver dollars, but the Scouts waiting in line behind them didn't tolerate too much sifting and sorting. Some of the Scouts already have the collecting bug: one of the lucky drawers exchanged his Morgan dollar for a Barber half because he 'already had a Morgan.' Now that was a true collector!"

"As happened last year," continued Korver, "we had parents express confusion with the concept that Heritage was giving away valuable coins with no strings attached. They couldn't understand that we weren't trying to sell something. One Scout was a little annoyed because we wouldn't sell him more coins!"

Concluded Ivy, "We have only one motivation in this effort: to introduce as many young men (and young women) as possible to rare coins, in the hope that such attention will ultimately increase the number of young people introduced to the hobby. Heritage is also involved in several other activities involving young numismatists. This year we sent one young numismatist to the FUN convention in Orlando. We are also continuing our summer Intern program for more experienced young numismatists. Without a new generation of collectors learning to love coins, our hobby will shrink - and that should simply be unacceptable to every coin dealer, to every coin club, to every numismatist in America. We again challenge them to donate such coins for their local Scouts! These young numismatist programs are only one of the ways the Heritage staff exhibits concern for the community. Just this week, the Heritage family donated more than $10,000 to the Texas Special Olympics, and our employee charity group has raised more than $30,000 for local causes."

Rob Hofmann, Director of Financial Services for the Circle Ten Council, added a few words about Heritage's sponsorship. "Circle Ten greatly appreciates support like this from our local business leaders. The lines of Scouts waiting patiently for their free rare coins was ample evidence of the wide range of activities that appeal to Scouts. Circle Ten produced 558 Eagle Scouts last year, and any encouragement to complete merit badges supports this goal. We look forward to Heritage's continuing support."

The Circle Ten Council enjoys the fifth largest membership of the 325 BSA Councils, serving 71,641 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, & Explorers, supported by more than 18,000 adult volunteers. Among the Circle Ten Scouts are more than 10,000 with special needs, and 28,000 from the inner city.

Heritage is headquartered at 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas Texas, 75219-3941. Heritage's Internet website can be found at: www.heritagecoin.com. Collectors can sign up for free e-listings at the website.