I remember my coin collection from yesteryear: A handful of silver dollars, some JFK 50-cent pieces, and an assortment of coins from faraway lands that I dreamed of someday visiting.

My smattering of coins was a disorganized mess. Some were stuck in plastic bags, others wrapped in cotton, and all were tucked in a cigar box deep in my bedroom closet.

Compare that to today's typical young coin collectors. They have plenty of fun options, from the 50 state quarters to the new presidential dollars to other special series of coins. Chances are the coins are stored in colorful booklets that include a bit of history about the images and other design features.

Coin collecting truly has become a cool hobby for youngsters since the 1999 launch of the state quarters program. read more