Lesson Plan

Symbols on Coins: U.S. Coins Evolved from Ancient Times

Main Subject Area: Social Studies

Additional Subjects: Art

Duration of Lesson:  90 minutes

Keywords:

• Ancient Coins
• Coin History
• Coins
• Greece
• History
• Rome
• Symbols
• U.S. Coins

Brief Description:

Students will learn about the evolution of coins, and will create their own coin, using the various features that have been carried over into modern times.

National Standard(s):

• Time, Continuity, and Change
• People, Places, and Environment

Additional Subject Area Standard(s):

Objectives:

Students will learn about the evolution of coins and the different features we see today on coins such as symbols, mint marks and portraits.

Students will create their own coin, which will include a portrait and symbols on the obverse and reverse, the edging, the mintmark and date.

Materials (online):

Access to a computer that has connection to the Internet.

The U.S. Mint's H.I.P. Pocket Change(TM) Web site - http://www.usmint.gov/kids

Materials (offline):

Art supplies: Modeling clay, clay tools or pencils, clay flattening devices (rolling pins, empty juice bottles, hard plastic glasses), drawing paper

Handouts with images of ancient coins and currently circulating U.S. coins

Possible Books to use:

“A Look Inside the U.S. Mint” Cobblestone. September, 1985.

Grant, Michael. Roman History From Coins. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 1995.

Harper, David C., editor. North American Coins and Prices 9th edition. New York: Krause Publications, 2001.

Klawans, Zander. Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins. Racine, Wisconsin: Western Publishing, Co., 1995.

Krause, Barry. Collecting Coins for Pleasure and Profit. White Hall, Va.: Betterway Publications, 1991.

Lindheim, Leon. Facts and Fictions about Coins – an uncommon guidebook to the wonderful world of numismatics Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing Co., 1967.

Official 2001 Blackbook Price Guide to United States Coins. Random House, Inc., 2000.

Reinfeld, Fred. How to Build A Coin Collection. New York: Sterling Publishing, Co., 1971.

Schwarz, Ted. Coins as Living History. New York: Arco Publishing Inc., 1976.

Sutherland, Carol H.V. Art In Coinage. New York: Philosophical Library, Inc., 1956.

Yeoman, R.S. A Guidebook of United States Coins, 53rd edition, 2001. Racine, Wisconsin, 2000.

Coins Used in Lesson:

All current circulating U.S. coins

Grade Level(s):   3-5     6-8  

Procedures (online):

Research and find information on the history and evolution of coins using the suggested reading materials and the U.S. Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change(TM) Web site.

Procedures (offline):

1. Introduce the activity by displaying a penny (or a large paper replica of a penny) for the whole class to see. Ask your students what it is, and what we use it for. Explain to your students that if they look closer at coins, they will see that each one is a piece of artwork that tells us about a country’s culture.

2. Distribute handouts with images of ancient and currently circulating U.S. coins, and discuss some of the history and evolution of coins by using the points of information listed below.

3. Discuss some of the similarities between the ancient coins and the circulating coins.

4. Tell your students that they will be creating their own coin to represent an aspect of our culture that they feel is important. Discuss possible coin topics as a class.

5. Have your student create sketches of the front (obverse) and back (reverse) of the proposed coin. The coin sketches should include a portrait and date on the front, a legend and symbol on the back, along with a denominational amount.

6. Give each student a 2” square chunk of modeling clay and a blank piece of paper. Each student will create a planchet (“coin” shaped model) by flattening the clay and then pressing down with an upside down glass.

7. Students can write a description of their coin including rational for the symbol they used.

Assessment / Evaluation:

Teachers can assess the coins and descriptions with rational created by the students.

Differentiated Learning Options:

When comparing ancient coins to modern coins with your class, you could also have your students examine modern foreign coins to see if they too use symbols to represent their culture or their history.