Why I Reward My Students With Coins, Not Candy
What do Israel, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, and Russia all have in common? Can you think of anything? Besides the fact that they’re all countries, each produces something unique. In fact, almost every country in the world makes its own version of it. Figured it out yet?
Coins. That’s what I’m talking about—and until recently, I’d never really thought about that fact.
As a teacher, I’m constantly looking for fun ways to reward my students when they excel in class. Candy is the obvious choice, and my kids all love it, but it feels thoughtless and just fuels their boundless energy. So I started searching for rewards that would be both interesting and educational—and I found just the thing.
On Amazon, you can actually buy assortments of world coins by the pound. (I went ahead and ordered the two-pound bag.) Mine included coins from 65 different countries, with dates ranging from the 1920s to the present. I was amazed at just how diverse the world’s change really is.
I’m used to seeing pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, but on the global stage, I realized I’m in the minority. Millions of unique coins are minted every year around the world. To me, it’s a reminder that my “normal” isn’t the “normal” for most of the world.
That’s the perspective I hope to pass on to my students. It’s not just about handing them a shiny piece of metal—it’s about opening their minds. I think of coins like little crowbars. When a student earns one, it slips into the cracks of their worldview and tugs just a little. I don’t know if it will ever break them free, but I hope it pries open enough space for them to peek through and glimpse the world beyond their own.
When I take a closer look at each coin, I can’t help but wonder about its story. How did a 5-franc coin minted in France in 1942 end up in my hands in 2025? What are the odds I came across an Israeli coin with only 20,000 ever minted? How long has Aruba been striking its own currency?
These questions flood my mind, and they make me hungry for answers. That’s why I’ve been considering starting a series where I highlight some of the more unique coins I’ve found. My idea is to share each coin’s history, then write a short fictional piece imagining its journey.
If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, consider joining my email list for updates. And if not, thanks for reading this far—I hope you’ll stop by again soon.
