World's Fair of Money Comes to Chicago: Smithsonian Gold National Treasures and Treasury Department $100,000 Bills on Display

• 

The Smithsonian's unique, Gold Rush-era 1849 "Double Eagle" will be exhibited for the first time in Illinois at the Chicago World's Fair of Money in Rosemont, August 16 - 20, 2011.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many people to see these extraordinary, valuable treasures in person.

Rosemont, IL (PRWEB) August 08, 2011

Seldom-seen national treasures from the Smithsonian Institution will be displayed for the first time in the Chicago area at the American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money(SM) in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Hall F, in Rosemont, August 16 - 20, 2011. The five-day educational, family event showcasing over $1 billion of the world’s most famous rare coins and colorful paper money will be open to the public.

Eye-opening, multi-million dollar exhibits include a unique, Gold Rush-era 1849-dated "Double Eagle" ($20 denomination) and other historic gold coins from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The U.S. Treasury Department Bureau of Engraving and Printing's "Billion Dollar Display" will feature $100,000 bills and other rare, high-denomination antique currency. An extensive exhibit of century-old Illinois bank notes from private collections, never publicly displayed together before now, traces the financial history of the state.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many people to see these extraordinary, valuable treasures in person," said Larry Shepherd, Executive Director of the nonprofit, 30,000-member American Numismatic Association (http://www.money.org). The Congressionally chartered association is dedicated to educating and encouraging people to study and collect money and related items.

"Money is history you can hold in your hands," said association President Clifford Mishler of Iola, Wisconsin. "You can see everything from a half-cent to a $100,000 bill at this event, even a $2.5 million 1913 Liberty nickel a Milwaukee man used to carry in his pocket to show to strangers. There will be educational seminars, exhibits and children's activities with free prizes."

In addition to buying and selling items ranging from $1 to $1 million, many of the 1,000 professional coin and currency dealers attending the show will provide free, informal appraisals for the public's old coins and paper money.

The Smithsonian's exhibit, "Good as Gold: America's Double Eagles," tells the story of the USA's $20 denomination gold coin. It includes the unique, first-such-coin struck in 1849 during the early days of the Gold Rush, and an example of the famous 1933 Double Eagle like the ones involved in a recent federal court case. It's the only time this exhibit from the National Numismatic Collection in Washington, D.C. is scheduled for display in Illinois.

The fascinating $1 billion Bureau of Engraving and Printing educational display includes two dozen $100,000 currency notes, the highest denomination paper money ever made by the U.S. government, and demonstrations of a Civil War-era, one-ton, hand-turned money printing press.

Representatives of 15 government mints from around the world will showcase their country's money, and Stack's Bowers Galleries will conduct a public auction of rare coins.

The World's Fair of Money will be in Hall F of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Rd., Rosemont, Illinois. Public hours are Tuesday through Saturday, August 16 - 20, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. General admission is $6. Children 12 and under are admitted free.

For additional information, visit online at http://www.WorldsFairOfMoney.com, or call (719) 499-3591.

###

PDF Print