ANA Museum Showcase Comes to Boston
Display Includes Coin and Paper Money Rarities
The American Numismatic Association’s Museum Showcase, featuring amazing and historically significant numismatic objects, comes to the 2010 ANA World’s Fair of Money, Aug. 10-14 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. The showcase includes rarities from the ANA Edward C. Rochette Money Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, Banco de México and private collections.
The showcase, located on the bourse floor, features informative, museum-quality exhibits. Informal discussions led by noted numismatic scholars also will be scheduled throughout the show.
“The Museum Showcase is unique to ANA shows, and provides an exciting and informative experience to visitors by displaying spectacular numismatic objects in an entertaining and educational way,” said ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd. “We are in a fortunate position to present these treasures because of our wonderful collection, our connection and the generosity of our members.”
The following is a list of Museum Showcase exhibits featured this year: The ANA Bebee Collection of United States Paper Money
A spectacular and comprehensive view of United States paper money. The 904 notes in the complete collection include a remarkable series of high-grade large-size national bank notes from virtually every state and territory. A wide range of the premier specimens will be on display in Boston.
Some of the spectacular notes on display include a sheet of exceedingly rare Series 1902 $5 Third Charter Period National Bank notes from Fairbanks, Alaska (Friedberg number 588); and a multiple-denomination sheet of three 1865 $1 First Charter Period National Bank notes (Friedberg 380) and one 1865 $2 First Charter Period National Bank note (Friedberg 387), from Jersey City, New Jersey.
The ANA contracted with its official paper money grader, Paper Money Guaranty, to encapsulate, grade and appraise the Bebee Collection in Spring 2010. The collection was donated to the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum by Aubrey and Adeline Bebee in 1987. 1874 Bickford $10 Patterns: From the Collection of Bob R. Simpson
This exhibit features a complete set of 1874 Bickford patterns struck at the Philadelphia Mint as part of a proposed plan for an international coinage. The exhibit includes seven Bickford patterns comprising Simpson’s signature set, as well as two duplicates to allow for side-byside viewing of obverse and reverse. In 1874, after returning from a trip to Europe, New York businessman Dana Bickford recommended the Mint produce coins that could be easily used by international travelers. Bickford patterns were struck in gold, copper, nickel and aluminum in a denomination of $10. A proposal for the international coinage was never approved by Congress. The ANA thanks Bob R. Simpson and Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics for making this exhibit possible.
The Smithsonian Institution’s “Good as Gold: America’s Double Eagles” The exhibit tells the story of the $20 gold coin, the largest gold coin to circulate in the United States. Rarities on display include 20 coins from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection, including the first (1849 pattern) and last (1933) double eagles ever produced as well as a 1907 Saint-Gaudens ultra high relief pattern that President Theodore Roosevelt gave his daughter Ethel as a Christmas gift in 1907.
“Good as Gold” provides a visual and chronological account of America’s changing commerce and culture. The exhibition includes coins issued from mints across the United States, spanning the course of 50 years. “Good as Gold” also examines the redesign of the double eagle, an initiative taken on by President Roosevelt in efforts to make American currency more visually evocative.
Mexico, 1810 and 1910: Coins of the War of Independence and the Revolution An exhibit that celebrates the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Mexican War for Independence and the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. This marks the first time since the early 1970s that any part of Banco de México’s extensive historical collection has been displayed in the United States.
The Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821) was a vicious war that resulted in the defeat of Spanish forces and the recognition of Mexican independence by Spain. This long war produced a series of interesting and historically important numismatic items that illustrate the course of the struggle for independence.
The Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) was a result of political factionalism, and the resulting battle for power changed Mexico forever. The coinage of the Revolution is vast, with various factions issuing coins as necessitated by local demands. Many materials were used to meet this demand including gold, silver, clay, copper and even cardboard. Coin Rarities, Paul Revere Silver & Rare Broadside of the Declaration of Independence
From the collection of Brian Hendelson, the first-ever display of a1861 Philadelphia Mint Paquet reverse gold double eagle and 1921 Proof Roman Finish Saint-Gaudens double eagle. Each coin is one of two known specimens, and each is the finer-known specimen. The Paquet $20 was once owned by Egypt’s King Farouk and Ambassador and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb, while the 1921 proof was not known to exist until 2006.
Other historic items include one of the few known surviving broadsides of the Declaration of Independence printed in Boston circa July 17, 1776 by printers Gill, Powars and Willis; seven silver spoons crafted by Paul Revere; and a silver teapot and knee buckles made by fellow Colonial-era Boston silversmith, Jacob Hurd. The Colonial Coin Collectors Club: A Selection of Rarities An exhibit showcasing an impressive collection of pre-federal issues, including coins, tokens and medals. Many of the items displayed focus on the numismatic history of Boston. Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4) was founded in 1993 to provide a forum for collectors of numismatic material related to the early American era.
Preview of the ANA Edward C. Rochette Money Museum Exhibit, “History of Money” A preview of an exhibit that will be installed at the Money Museum in Colorado Springs. The exhibit will chronicle 3,000 years in the evolution of money, from when animals were the preferred means of exchange to present day. Money was created as a system of value so that people could compare items they wanted to exchange. This system of value was used for more than just buying or selling things – it became a marker of status, a characteristic that money still has today. Cowry shells and kissi money will be featured, as well as polymer notes and other modern innovations.
The Boston World’s Fair of Money offers many other exhibits in its Collector Exhibits area, featuring competitive and non-competitive exhibits created by ANA members on a wide range of subjects. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing will feature its “Billion-Dollar Display” of high-denomination U.S. paper money at Booth 1626.
The World’s Fair of Money is the nation’s premiere money show. Show hours are 1:00-5:30 p.m. August 10, and 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. August 11-14. Dealer set-up is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 10. Admission is $6 for adults, and free for ANA members and children 12 and under. For more information on all of the show highlights, call 719-482-9857 or visit www.worldsfairofmoney.com.
Originally Release Date: June 29, 2010
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9814
Email: pr@money.org