If Christmas is the most magical time for children, late spring has to be a close second. That’s based on the seasonal wonderment of what may happen and what’s to come in June, July and August. With Christmas comes presents. The advent of summer offers the eternal possibility of adventure, fun and excitement.
Certainly, many kids will be devising ways to earn money. With this year’s wholesale need for workers at any retailer or restaurant, that should be a cakewalk. The luckiest youngsters have the chance to go to summer camps. Those offer entirely different summertime options. What’s deviously great is how the best camps weave education into activities. In a sense, a good summer camp is a derivation of school – just repackaged with fun pursuits and fewer “tests.”
Whether attending camp or not, a longtime summer pastime has been collecting. It might be butterflies or bugs or rocks. All offer learning possibilities. The most accessible are readily available stamps and coins – longtime staple collectibles for kids and adults at home, camp or anywhere....
With dwindling regular mail and people too distracted to check their change, the subject matter on new issue coins and stamps might come as a surprise.
For instance, the US Mint is currently hip-deep in quarters honoring US women of note – many previously unknown to the general public. For the past two years, a dozen such quarters have been released with eight more to come over the next two years. The latest in the American Women’s Quarters Program should be of interest to women of all ages.
The most recent coin honors Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. Walker was a surgeon during the Civil War. When so many women sat on the sidelines and “tended things on the home front,” Walker not only tended to war wounded, she was a dress-reform advocate and an ardent women’s rights activist. Even with pushback from men in the military, Walker is said to have relentlessly pursued being an active physician during the Civil War. Her wish came true in 1863 when she became the first woman U.S. Army surgeon.
Although common today, Walker determinedly wore non-traditional clothing. 150 years ago, that didn’t go over well. In fact, she was actually repeatedly arrested for wearing men's clothing. She insisted it was her right to wear what she thought appropriate. Her reply to criticism was simple: "I don't wear men's clothes. I wear my own clothes.”
Be that as it may, Walker stood out in her medical field. Her determination led her to be the only woman awarded the Medal of Honor.
The coin features a depiction of Walker holding her pocket surgical kit and wearing the Medal of Honor on her uniform. She was so proud of the award, she continued to wear the medal for the rest of her life. Walker is just one of the collectible women now to be found on quarters.
Sadly, in a few weeks, it will take three Walker quarters to buy one First Class postage stamp. That’s because, in mid-July, postal rates jump again – this time from 68-cents to 73-cents. Clearly, the “Forever” terminology on the stamps applies to their use, not the price. For the inflation record, it’s the second increase this year – this time seven-percent. (It might be a wise time to stock up before the pending increase.)
Throughout the summer, the USPS is offering a fantastic variety of collectible stamps including some saluting photographer Ansel Adams, Shaker design furniture and a just-released and hugely popular pane showcasing endangered sea turtles.
These stamps and many others now being issued are more than enough to spark a child’s imagination this summer. Similar to activities at summer camp, finding out more about what is on new stamps or coins is a covert way of educating while kids have fun.
For collectors or just fans of turtles, First Day of Issue cancels can be obtained. To get special envelopes, purchase the turtle stamps at a local post office, affix them to self-addressed envelopes and send those to: Protect Sea Turtles Stamps, USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services, 8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300, Kansas City, MO 64144-9900. All will be returned with the special cancel.
For more collecting information and advice, log on to: http://prexford.com/.