Posts Tagged ‘Hobby’
Can change collecting improve mindfulness?
Have you ever considered how change collecting could benefit your mindfulness?
We all know the joy of building up a coin collection, but it’s also worth considering how checking your change could improve mindfulness…
This was brought to our attention when a Change Checker wrote in to tell us about how he started coin collecting after it was recommended to help with mindfulness.
As today is Mindfulness Day, we thought it would be a good idea to share these ideas with you and get your take on the benefits of change collecting.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness encourages people to reconnect with their bodies and the sensations they experience to become more aware of the present moment.
This has been said to help us enjoy the world around us more and understand ourselves better.
Mindfulness is strongly connected with emotional awareness. An awareness of this kind could also help us notice signs of stress or anxiety earlier and deal with them better.
How does change collecting relate to mindfulness?
Mental Health Charity, Mind (2018) suggests setting aside regular time to practice mindfulness in some way.
There are many different mindfulness techniques, such as practising yoga, meditation or deep breathing, but you could also consider finding a hobby or activity which you find relaxing and gives you a sense of achievement to help create a mindful state of being.
Change checking involves patience.
I’m sure we’ve all been there, diligently checking through the change in your piggy bank to see what you can find. The repetitive practise of checking through coins could help you to focus on the present, and I don’t know about you, but I certainly find it relaxing.
In fact, even watching others check through change seems to promote feelings of positivity.
Just take a look at the amount of YouTube coin hunt videos to see how many people resonate with this.
Learning is key
Research shows that learning throughout life is associated with greater satisfaction and optimism and can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence.
This can come from starting a new hobby (such as coin collecting) or setting new targets e.g. completing a specific collection.
But it could also involve learning about the different coins in circulation. Put your knowledge to the test in our 50p quiz or learn about the designers behind your favourite 50p coins to expand your knowledge.
Strengthening relationships
Remember, learning often involves interacting with other people. It’s been suggested that this can increase one’s wellbeing by helping us build and strengthen social relationships.
The Change Checker social channels and our Facebook community page provide a space for novice, intermediate and the advance coin collectors to talk about their shared interest and swap with one another.
Set your goals
If you’re new to coin collecting, think about setting yourself some achievable goals.
Perhaps you could start collecting a series such as Beatrix Potter, Paddington or the Olympic 50ps.
For the more advanced collectors, perhaps think about different ways to collect, such as joining the Definitive 50p Collecting Challenge, or starting a date run collection.
However you choose to further your hobby, the important thing to keep in mind is that you are taking part in something you love, which brings you happiness, and can hopefully improve your mindfulness.
Have you felt the benefits of coin collecting? Let us know in the comments below.
If you’re interested in coin collecting, our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:
– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers
Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app
The Top 7 coins for your kids to collect this summer
With the summer holidays in full swing, what better time could there be to introduce coin collecting as a hobby for your kids?
Not only is it free, fun and flexes their mental muscles, it’s also a great hobby for the whole family to get involved in.
From British history to influential figures and even favourite book characters, the different coins your family can find in your change feature a whole host of fascinating themes to discover.
But which ones should you be looking out for this summer?
We’ve put together a list of the top 7 coins for your kids to collect over the holidays, so let us know if you manage to find them all!
1) Sherlock Holmes 50p
A great coin to kick start your family coin hunt is the Sherlock Holmes 50p.
This coin was released in 2019 to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes and prolific writer of detective stories.
The iconic profile of Sherlock Holmes can be seen in the middle of the coin, surrounded by the titles of Doyle’s stories – but you might need a magnifying glass to read them!
Over the summer is the perfect time for your kids to inspect their change and become detectives to track down this new coin!
2) Great Fire of London £2
The detailed image on this coin really brings to life the history behind one of the most well-known disasters to hit London, The Great Fire.
Issued in 2016 to mark the 350th anniversary of the disastrous event, this coin is a great way for children to learn about our country’s history.
Interestingly, it was originally thought that 5,135,000 Great Fire of London £2 coins were issued for circulation, but recently these figures have been corrected and it turns out that only 1,625,000 actually entered circulation.
So it will be a fun challenge to see if your family can find one of these coins in your change over the summer.
3) 2016 Peter Rabbit 50p
Everyone loves Peter Rabbit! In fact, Peter Rabbit is so popular that he’s the only character to feature on the Beatrix Potter 50p coins FOUR TIMES!
This coin is from the 2016 series – the first coins issued to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter’s birth.
When these adorable 50ps were released they caused a collecting frenzy, with collectors and fans of the Beatrix Potter tales scouring their change to find them.
The fact that we’ve now seen three full series and an extra Peter Rabbit 50p coin this year just goes to show how popular these coins are and how they’ve inspired a new generation of collectors.
4) Gunpowder Plot £2
Another coin marking a key historical moment is the Gunpowder Plot £2, issued in 2005 to commemorate 400 years since Guy Fawkes plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
If your family manage to find this one in your change, make sure you look out for some of the unusual spelling mistakes in the edge inscription.
The timeless quote “Remember, remember the fifth of November” has been found with various combinations of Pemember, Pemembep, Novemebep and so on.
The common factor here is the ‘R’ which appears as a ‘P’ due to the down-stroke of the R coinciding with the milling around the edge, and as the coin has worn over time, the letter has become less defined.
5) Team GB 50p
This 50p was struck in 2016 to wish Team GB good luck in the Rio Olympics.
Back in 2012, the London Olympics were celebrated with a series of 29 Olympic 50ps which created a flurry of collecting across the nation!
Olympic 50ps are some of the most sought-after coins you can find in your change, so make sure you take a look to see if you can find all 29 different sports.
Many consider the Team GB 50p to be the 30th Olympic 50p and, excitingly, the recent Royal Proclamation has revealed that next year a brand new Team GB 50p will be issued for the Tokyo Olympics as well!
6) Paddington™ at the Station 50p
Do you remember Michael Bond’s classic story about the friendly bear from Peru who came to London?
In 2018 two Paddington 50p coins were released to celebrate the 60th anniversary since this British bear’s first book appearance.
This coin was the first to be released, showing the bear sat on his suitcase at Paddington Station, based on the CGI adaptation from the 2014 film.
Whether you remember the books, or your kids are fans of the films, I’m sure your whole family will love finding this coin in your change.
And what’s more, two new Paddington coins are set to be released this year as well!
7) A-Z of Great Britain 10p
Perhaps some of the most exciting coins to be issued in recent years are the A-Z of Great Britain 10p coins.
These are the first UK commemorative 10p coins ever issued and each one features a different Great British icon from A-Z .
With 26 different designs to find, it can be a tricky challenge to track them all down, but why not set the challenge to try and find the first letter of your name on a 10p coin?
You can find out all about the different designs here.
10 Top Tips for Collecting:
- Ask family and friends to help look out for coins
- Try collecting as a group and working as a team
- Pay with cash when you’re out and about so that you receive change
- Let people know what coins you’re looking for. Adults can post on the Change Checker Community Facebook group
- Check everywhere! In the house, down the back of the sofa, piggy banks, in the car…
- Ask for specific change from shops
- Ask your local shop to look out for specific coins for you
With so many wonderful coins in circulation, it won’t take long for you to start building your collection using these Top Tips.
We’d love to hear how you get on with your coin hunting over the holidays, so make sure you leave us a comment below with the coins you’ve been lucky enough to find!
Best of luck Change Checkers!
If you’re interested in coin collecting, our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:
– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers
Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app
What do Change Checkers love about coin collecting?
Happy Valentine’s Day Change Checkers!
Today we’re celebrating our shared love of coin collecting and below you’ll find some amazing reasons why Change Checkers love this timeless hobby…
“I love all the different designs & finding them to add to your collection, I have a collection for both my children & I love seeing their faces as they look through their folders at all the different designs! Raiding my family & friends change as well is always fun.” – Lisa Owen
“ Love checking through my change for new coins for my collection. I even have my friends saving me the ‘weird coins’ and love to see them get excited for me!!” – Tyra Bisset
“It’s the anticipation of buying something when you’re out and about, seeing a shiny or well used coin and finding out it’s one you don’t have in your collection. I got my last 2 Beatrix Potter 50p’s just by having a cheeky cuppa and getting them in my change.” – Nina Goodman
“We love the different designs that are on the coins and the excitement of finding them in a hunt! ?” – Coins with Lauren and Miya
“I like that I get most of the good/new coins from my husband Sam Chisholm-Brown while he is away with work. It helps me to remember that he’s still thinking about me. This week he sent a photo of the Mary Rose, so I have that to look forward to on Friday when he gets home. P.s. He hasn’t found me a 10p yet *unicorn poop!” Jemma Chisholm-Brown
“Seeing the historical events on the coins ?. And finding new coins that you haven’t got… completing a set. There are loads.” – Lizzie Martin
“Finding a new coin you don’t have is like Christmas. I love collecting them and some of them have meaning or have been made for a reason and I like to add them to my collection.” – Ellie Bibby
“Love seeing all the different designs and the joy it gives when turning over the coin to see which design I have, old and new alike.” – Michelle Bullimore
“I love collecting coins because I love looking at all the different designs on them. When I find one I don’t have I get so excited like it’s my birthday or Christmas. All my family and friends like to join in with my hunt to so that makes me love it even more especially when they find ones I don’t have. ?” – Hannah Sutton
“The surprise element of not knowing what you’ll get in your change or coin bags.” – James Goodman
“I like the collecting element and searching through your change (and badgering friends to keep weird designed coins) in the hope you get ones you need and also they look pretty.” – Alex Campbell
“I love the hunt, and that moment of excitement when it’s another one ticked of the list.” – Robert Lipman
“It’s an investment for my kids ? they love all the different design too!” – Leanne Wallwork
“I love collecting coins for 3 reasons: the excitement of looking, the fact that they can be found in so many places, and finally, that you could actually make a small fortune.” – John Moss
“Just seeing the excitement on my daughter’s face when she finds one she hasn’t already got is priceless.” – Deborah Wood
“I love collecting coins because of the great designs on them. Also I see it as preserving a part of british history. Kids in the future will probably never see half of the 50ps and definitely never see the old round pounds.” – Bradley Knott
“Collecting coins has meant family coming together enjoying a harmless hobby, grandchildren learn a bit of history as well.” – Judith Nichols
“Used to collect stickers and cards as a kid. That excitement and anticipation of opening the pack to see what was inside is now kinda what I feel when there’s a coin that, at first glance, is obviously not the usual design.” – Adam Grimmer
“I’ve collected coins for over 25 years. I love the different designs and I have friends and family who keep an eye out for me. I also collect each country from every year as well. It’s a very exciting hobby. I love going to antiques fairs with my son who has started collecting also.” – Kathryn Michelle Robins
“The fact that the whole family can join in. My son and wife get as excited as I do when they find that elusive coin.” – Tony Maden
Thank you to everyone for sharing the reasons why you love coin collecting. As always, we love hearing from Change Checkers, so leave us a comment below to share the love and get in touch with us this Valentine’s day.
Love,
Rachel and the Change Checker team
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If you’re interested in coin collecting, our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:
– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers
Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app