Telling Stories with Coins
Coins tell a story with images, words, and symbols.
Monthly Mint Trivia: The West Point Bullion Depository officially became a branch Mint on March 31 of which year?
Symbols on Coins
We use coins to honor heroic sacrifices, celebrate events, and commemorate historic accomplishments. The designs feature people, mythical figures, animals, plants, and even the cosmos. Through both symbolic and literal imagery, coins communicate much more than the few words inscribed on them. Read on to explore the symbols and imagery used on coins.
- Ask students to write observations about the symbols and inscriptions they see on coins. Allow them to use real coins and/or high-resolution images on the U.S. Mint website so they can zoom in even closer.
- You can also show students the Parts of a Coin graphic to help guide what they are seeing on each coin. See if students can name all the parts of a coin using this online quiz.
- Allow students to browse the Mint website to find different coin designs they may not have seen before. Ask them to pick a coin and research the different symbols and design features. Why did the artists choose the elements they did? How do the elements relate to the subject matter?
- Pick a coin your students may not have seen before (like American Innovation $1 coins). Ask students to look at the coin, inspecting the different symbols, images, and words. Then have students work together to write a story based on their observations. What is this coin honoring? Why was the topic selected to be on a coin? What is the artist trying to convey about the subject matter? Have the groups share with the class and see what similarities or differences exist. You can then share with them the real story and see how close they were!
- Watch this video and/or review this webpage about symbols on coins. Then ask students to look at real coins and ask them to identify the symbols they can find.
If you have coins on hand, use these activities to interact with the designs and create new art:
- Coin Sun Prints – Use coins with the power of the sun to create a piece of art in this activity for students Kindergarten and above.
- Coin Rubbing and Matching – Use this activity to help K-2nd graders learn each coin type and how to identify them.
- Design Your Own Coin – Ask students to create their own design based on what symbols are important to them, their hobbies, or a subject they wish to see represented on a coin.
Want more ideas? Reach out to education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov for recommendations on lesson plans and activities for your students.
Coin of the Month: Juliette Gordon Low Quarter
Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts of the USA. She envisioned an organization for girls from a variety of backgrounds to develop leadership and advocacy skills to better their lives and nurture their strengths and passions. Low devoted her life to promoting and growing Girl Scouts to the international organization it is today with nearly two million members worldwide. She used her own money, time, and energy to build and promote the Girl Scouts organization around the world for over 15 years, until her death in 1927.
Low is remembered today with camps, schools, and scholarships established in her honor. Other tributes include postage stamps, a World War II battleship, numerous biographies, and even an opera about her life. In 2012, 85 years after her death, Juliette was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her service to the nation by President Barack Obama.
The 2025 Juliette Gordon Low quarter design depicts a likeness of Low next to the original Girl Scout trefoil, which she designed and patented.
Comic Art Program
Coin Stamper
Scout Resources
We Want to Hear from You!
Are you interested in incorporating coins into your classroom next year, but aren't sure where to start? Let us help you! The U.S. Mint offers K-6 lesson plans, online educational games, videos, online quizzes, a free Coin Coloring Book, and other resources. Reach out to us at education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov to request resources that fit your education needs.
Trivia Answer: The West Point Bullion Depository became a Mint in 1988.