COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS

Class 1, United States Coins:

The Historically Significant Two Cent Piece 1864-1872

This highly-rated registry set is among the top-viewed two cent coins with low population and rarely seen varieties. The featured coin is the first coin to have our nation’s motto engraved, “In God we Trust.”

The Last Decade of Walking Liberty Half Dollars

This exhibit will cover the last decade of the 1900s, which is also the last decade the Walking Liberty Half was minted – in this case, the 1940s. The set displayed is complete with all dates and mintmarks, accompanied by proof examples.

The Unappreciated Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin

The Susan B. Anthony Dollar “Gets No Respect,” and that is unfortunate. This exhibit displays and highlights the qualities of the short lived and much maligned dollar coin series as a historic campaigner for women’s rights. The coin honors Ms. Anthony as only the second non-President on a U.S. Coin.

Class 2, United States Fiscal Paper:

Azie Taylor Morton

Learn about the first African-American female appointed Treasurer of the United States.

Baby Bonds

View Reconstruction Bonds issued after the Civil War.

The Faces & Stories Behind the Treasury Signers of U.S. Paper Money

Since the creation of Federal paper money in 1861, there have been 81 Treasury officials who have signed U.S. paper money. We see their signatures all the time on the notes we collect or spend, but how much do we know about these signers? What do they look like and do they have any fascinating personal stories? This exhibit highlights twelve of these Treasury officials over a time span of 113 years. Their faces and stories do not just reveal their remarkable lives, but also provide a window into U.S. history.

What’s In Your Wallet, Uncle Sam?

For a few years in the early 19th century, the U.S. Government accepted notes from state-chartered banks in payment of dues to the United States. This exhibit shows notes from some of the institutions that were represented in a non-current deposit made at the Bank of Missouri in 1818.

Class 3, Medals, Orders, Decorations and Badges:

Celebrating a Century of Honor Boy Scout Medallions & Coins

Learn about Boy Scout medallions and coins from 1910 to the present. Boy Scout medallions and coins are sought after. The medallions were first used in 1910 with the purchase of Excelsior Shoes. Coins and medallions have been produced to celebrate events, camps, high adventure bases and scouting anniversaries. They also include the Scout emblem and the reminder to “Do a Good Turn Daily.” These Scout medallions have found their way into the pockets of youth and leaders, serving a constant reminder of the message inscribed thereon. Medallions from 1910 to 1950 are very scarce.

A Complete Collection of Wooden Medals of the 1876 U.S. Centennial

In 1876, Philadelphia celebrated the U.S. Centennial by hosting the first World’s Fair held in the United States. At the Centennial, wooden medals were produced by the Philadelphia Ornamental Wood Company. These wooden medals are very sought after and difficult to obtain. Viewers of this exhibit will be seeing the culmination of a life’s work, a complete collection of all known wooden medals, and one of every known type of boxed set.

“For Merit of Exhibit” Medals of the ANA

On display are exhibitor appreciation medals awarded to all collector exhibit participants, 1964-1995. These medals were struck with the words “For Merit of Exhibit,” and were altered in 1996 to include judges.

An Historic Mosaic – S.S. Normandie

View the history of the greatest ocean liner, as well as a variety of the Normandie medals which are commonly recognized as the most beautiful ship medals (Art Deco).

Indian Tribal Series Medallions

This exhibit will cover a set of medallions produced by the Franklin Mint in the 1970s to commemorate 40 Native American tribes. Each medallion was accompanied by a book covering the history of that respected tribe, and was signed by one of tribe’s chiefs upon release.

A Potpourri of Medals

Medals of various themes that were never to have their own exhibit are displayed here.

Class 4, Modern Coins & Medals:

50 Years of Kennedy Half Dollars

Designed and intended to be a memorial to President Kennedy, 2014 marks the 50th Anniversary of this popular coin. Originally released just months after the president’s death as a circulating commemorative coin, the Kennedy Half remains one of the most collected coins in U.S. history.

Monumental Coins

See coins displaying key and popular U.S. monuments and moments in U.S. history.  Coins, like monuments, express history.

Under the Dome

Coins come in all shapes and sizes. This exhibit focuses on curved coins. Recently, the U.S. Mint released its first curved coin; however, France issued the first curved coin in 2009. See history under the dome.

Class 5, Tokens:

The Origins of the First Wooden Money of the United States

On December 5, 1931 the Citizens Bank of Tenino, Washington failed and the Chamber of Commerce issued paper scrip to meet the emergency. On a whim, they also printed 40 pieces of wooden scrip, the existence of which was read into the Congressional Record, and set off more issuances that made thousands of dollars for the city.

The Pedley Ryan Dollars of 1933

These interesting and mostly crude silver rounds were struck in 1933 by the private Denver investment firm of Pedley & Ryan Company in an attempt to promote the use of silver as a means of exchange. Silver at that time was being mined heavily in Colorado, but was only buyable on the commodities exchange in 25,000 ounce units. A number of different varieties were issued, mostly in January, 1933. The effort failed and was suspended in the Summer of 1933. The varieties range from Common, to Extremely Rare with only a few known.

Recent POGS of the AAFES

Explore a narrative and display of recent AAFES POGS.

Class 6, Casino Chips & Gaming Tokens:

Gaming Tokens of the World’s Great Casinos

Examine 25 Sterling silver gaming tokens.

Class 7, Engraved Coins:

In Loving Remembrance of John

Learn about modern day research techniques to discover the long lost history of a person memorialized on a Columbian Exposition Half Dollar love token.

Introduction to Love Tokens

The purpose of the exhibit is to introduce collectors and the public to the wonderful and diverse world of love tokens.

Penny Potpourri – A Collection of Penny Creations

View items made out of or using pennies, both U.S. and foreign.

Class 8, Elongated Coins:

Dottie Dow’s Elongated Handshake Coins & Tokens

Dottie Dow, the undisputed First Lady of Elongated Coins, had a custom of giving a handshake and leaving an elongated coin in the hand of the person with whom she shook hands. Dottie made these handshake coins as real elongateds on cents, as well as cast made replicas (simulated) that have a replica of an actual elongated coin on the reverse and a special “message” from Dottie on the obverse. This exhibit shows both types of Dottie’s “Elongated Handshake Tokens.”

The Elongated Coin Man Ray Dillard

View the story of elongated coins by Ray Dillard.

Elongating In Franconia Notch

New Hampshire’s Franconia Notch area is a popular tourist destination and features five locations with elongating machines.  This exhibit shows the nineteen souvenir coins pressed on those machines.

Many Ways to Collect Elongateds

This exhibit describes some of the many ways to collect elongateds, including topically by breadth or depth, types of artwork, by issuer, by host coin, and errors.

Class 9, Coins Issued Prior to 1500 A.D.:

Ancient South Indian Lead Coins are Unique in World Numismatics

Lead, a very soft bluish-grey, highly malleable metal was one of the first metals known to man. The earliest lead beads reported from Turkey dated to 6400 BC. Ancient Indians possessed the knowledge of mining, metals and alloy; the literary evidence of which is written in ‘Kautilya’s Arthasastra’, a treatise on mining and metals in about 400 BC. Although the ancient Egyptians used lead to darken their eyelids and the Romans used it for water pipes, lead was used for coins in the south Indian regions for the first time beginning in the second century before Christ to around the fourth century after Christ. The central areas of south India had widespread usage and some of the dynasties used coins that were only made in lead. This exhibit hopes to bring out the uniqueness and the beauty of these lead coins by showcasing a few from each of the dynasties that have issued them.

From Croesus to Caesar: Coinage From the First Millennium B.C.

Coins are a comparatively late invention in human history. The innovation came in what is now western Turkey in the late 7th century B.C. and was adopted by the Greeks, who spread the concept across the Mediterranean world. Coins in a wide diversity of types and denominations were produced during the first six centuries of coinage by city-states, kingdoms, and empires. This exhibit displays a selection of representative coins to trace the history of coinage from its birth until the time it was transformed by the rising Roman Empire.

Selected Coins of Hadrian: The Traveling Emperor

This exhibit highlights coins of the Emperor Hadrian from the beginning to the end of his reign.

Class 10, Regional U.S. Numismatics:

City of Chattanooga Paper Money

The standard reference for Tennessee obsolete currency, by written Paul Garland, lists only three types of city of Chattanooga notes; two types of 15 cent pieces that could be fantasy notes and a unique $2 City of Chattanooga reconstruction warrant. This exhibit displays 10 types of city of Chattanooga notes – an 1854 interest bearing note payable when funds are available in the treasury, seven of the eight known types of reconstruction warrants printed or issued, and the two types of 15 cent fantasy notes.

Indiana’s Wooden Flats

Indiana’s Wooden Flats were used to promote city, county, or statewide celebrations. Many selections shown are from Indiana’s first official issue in 1935 to 1970. Unexpected stories are associated with the centennial and sesquicentennial celebrations in Indiana and these wooden flats.

Medals Issued in Gold by the Chicago Coin Club

The Chicago Coin Club has issued only six medals in gold during its 95 year history. All six medals will be shown and described, including purpose and mintage.

MPC Fest Memorabilia, MFC & Highlights

The exhibitor promotes the study of numismatics, and the hobby in general, hoping spread interest in collecting.

Wooden Money from the Great State of Illinois

There is a rich history of wooden money being issued by Illinois cities to celebrate their centennials, festivals and fairs. Viewers of this exhibit will become familiarized with the history of wooden money that has been issued in Illinois for the past 81 years, some of which are rare but all of which are very affordable.

Class 11, Numismatics of the Americas:

Morse Code on Coins

The exhibit shows coins that have Morse code on them. Learn how Morse code was developed, how significant it was during WWII, and how its legacy impacts us today.

Nineteenth Century Latin American Scripophily

View stocks and bonds issued in Latin American cities.

The Coins of Panama

Enjoy a type collection of Panamanian coins, beginning with the earliest issues (struck in 1904), and continuing in chronological order into the early 21st  century. The coins are accompanied by information showing how they reflect Panama’s history, culture, and wildlife.

Selected Canadian Victory Loan Bonds

Displayed are four Canadian Victory Loan Bonds and awards given to companies for selling them.

Silver Cobs of the Major Spanish American Mints

Here is an historical overview of the silver reale cobs that were first minted in 1536 A.D. at Mexico City, last minted in 1773 A.D. at Potosi. Included are cobs ranging from 1/4 to 8 reales from the mints at Guatemala, Lima, Mexico City and Potosi. Specimens are included from the reigns of all monarchs that issued cob reales from Charles and Juana (1516-1565) through Charles III (1759-1788).

Class 12, Numismatics of Europe:

A.D. Dated Copper Coins of the Fifteenth Century

Five of the seven known are displayed, plus a contemporary counterfeit.

European Coin Weights & Scales

Examine a collection of coin weights used from 16th to the 19th centuries, which facilitated trade between countries.

Four Award Medals by Antoine Bovy

One of the highest accolades an artist can receive is the continued use of his work long after his death.  The four medals in this exhibit, created by Antoine Bovy (1795-1897), were used for decades after their initial introduction.

The Kings and Queens of England through Maundy Money

This exhibit demonstrates the rich history and tradition of the Maundy ceremony. The event has taken place from the 1600s to modern times. The ceremony is held on Holy Thursday.

Class 13, Numismatics of Africa & the Middle East:

Henrietta Szold & Her Legacy: Hadassah and Youth Aliyah

Henrietta Szold devoted herself to public service in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  At a time before women could vote, she organized and managed charities in Baltimore, and translated and edited major theological works for the Jewish Publication Society and Jewish Theological Seminary.  She brought modern medicine to the Middle East, saving the lives of thousands of Jews, Arabs, and others living in and around Israel.

An Unforeseen Problem with the Ethiopia Coins of 1944

During World War II, the United States Mint in Philadelphia produced coins for Ethiopia dated 1944. A problem occurred with the bronze 25 cents coins, which were similar in size and design to the 50 cents coins. They were illegally plated and passed off as 50 cents coins. A quick solution was to scallop the 25 cents coins, resulting in three total varieties.

Class 14, Numismatics of Asia & the Pacific:

World War II Trench Art – Southwest Pacific Area

This exhibit introduces numismatic trench art. On display are coins and notes of the period and location, made into souvenirs.

Class 15, Gold Coins:

The First Thirty Years of Vatican Gold

View the Vatican’s coinage, as displayed in the first 30 years of gold coins.

Class 18, General, Specialized, & Topical:

Coin Silver

Learn the historic use of coins as they were used to make silver flatware in the early 19th century, including the difference between “coin silver” and “sterling silver.”

Elgin, IL Coin Club Wood Encased Cents

Displayed are tokens issued by the Elgin, IL Coin Club during spring and fall coin shows since since 2009.

Stories from the Ground: Tales of the Lost, the Circulated & the Cherry Picked

By keeping an eye out for interesting and old coins, collectors and non-collectors alike can find historically fascinating stories.  This exhibitor brings together many coins and paper money that have been either cherry picked or found, and tells the history behind each piece. The goal is to promote vigilance so that others may create their own stories.

Various Medals from Outside North America

Examine narratives about, and exhibits of, a medal collection from outside North America.

The Wonderful World of Wooden Money

Collecting wooden money can be an inexpensive way to build a collection. Thousands of people called lignadenarists, enjoy this hobby. Some wooden money is rare, while other varieties are readily available. Viewers of this exhibit will become familiarized with the different forms available, including extremely rare and unique wooden money.

Class 19, Convention Theme: “Countries & Currency”:

Copper Coins of Conflict

Examine coins of siege, of revolution, of rebellion and of war.

Israel & Currency: Her Innovative Approach to the Issue of Idolatrous Money

Since ancient times, Jews have been concerned that portraits of people and animals on coins could be considered graven images in violation of the Second Commandment.  After a ruling by Israel’s Chief Rabbi that some types of portraits were permissible, the Bank of Israel has designed coins with sunken profile portraits, photographic-like flat images, line drawings, negative space, and stylized profiles to avoid creating a graven image or giving the appearance of supporting idolatry.

Modern United States Circulating Commemorative Coin Program

United States circulating coins are an inexpensive and educational entry into the hobby of coin collecting. Novice collectors and seasoned numismatists alike enjoy the thrill of finding and saving commemorative coins in pocket change.

World War II Foreign Coins from the United States Mint Composed of Shell Casing Metal

During World War II the United States Mint produced coins for many foreign countries, utilizing recycled shell casings to supply the metal for some of these coins. Thirty-eight coins from eight countries have been identified as composed of brass from shell casings. This presents a new and interesting collecting option.

Class 21 Emeritus:

Canadian Coins of 1947-1948

View a display of all the major varieties of 1947 and 1948 Canadian coinage, with supporting historical materials.  Several rarities prove that collecting Canadian George VI coinage isn’t always easy.

Florida’s High Stakes Poker Games Using a Chip Worth Five Millionths of a Cent

This exhibit tells the story of how one poker room in the state of Florida used a chip valued at five millionths of a cent to skirt the laws, allowing them to continue playing high stakes poker while fighting to get the laws changed.

John F. Kennedy

Enjoy a special educational exhibit in honor of the 91st National Coin Week. The theme – Coin and Country: Celebrating Civic Service.

Howland Wood Memorial Award for Best-of-Show Eligible Only:

Georgia’s Civil War Treasury History 1861 – 1865

Explore the history of currency produced by Georgia during the Civil War.

Rare Banknotes from a Railroad & River Hub

Chattanooga was settled in 1840 and became an important river port on the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi River system.  With the completion of the Western and Atlantic Railroad that linked Savannah, Macon, Athens, Augusta, and Atlanta to Chattanooga in 1851, Chattanooga became a southern transportation hub.  The Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad extended the hub to Nashville in 1854.  The Memphis and Charleston Railroad opened up a direct route west from Chattanooga to Memphis in 1855.  The Bank of Chattanooga was chartered in 1854 with a capital of $500,000, reduced to $212,000 in 1856 to serve the city and the transportation need.  All of the available pre-Civil War and Civil War issued and proof notes from the Bank of Chattanooga listed in Paul Garland’s book as well as the recently discovered types are exhibited.

NON-COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS

150th Anniversary of Our Nation’s Motto

The exhibit shows the history of how our nation’s motto came to be. Learn about the “In God we Trust” story and the three men who were instrumental in its adoption.

Confederate States Trans-Mississippi Money

Illustrated are examples of reissued Confederate paper money, presenting the financial challenges faced by the CSA in the Far West theatre.

Cuban Proof Coins First Republic Gold & Non Gold, Including Matte Proofs

Examine U.S. Philadelphia Mint proof coins struck for Cuba.

Gift Cards are Money Too!

View a comprehensive display which showcases gift cards and their importance as a viable medium of exchange that must be studied and recognized by mainstream numismatics.

A Look at Operation Bernhard – World War II

Introducing the most successful counterfeiting operation in history; an initial idea of creating fake bank of England white notes as propaganda evolves into creating superb counterfeits that the Nazis used as cash and distributed all over the world. The Nazis used 144 Jewish inmates and isolated them in special barracks at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp near Berlin, Germany to produce the notes.

Rare 1870-CC Liberty Seated Reverse Die, From Die Pair WB-1, & Half Dollar

The purpose of this exhibit, featuring the 1870-CC Liberty Seated reverse die and 1870-CC half dollar, is both informative and educational. By seeing period photos, the actual die and coin and interesting text, viewers will learn about the Carson City Mint and the die’s history. They will be able to explore a rare, lightly-cancelled die and an illustration of the five half dollar die marriages of 1870, as well as see an actual half dollar that is die struck.

Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society – 100 Years of ANA Membership

View memorabilia and medals of the WPNS, a proud ANA member club for 100 years.