Extraordinary exhibits set for ANA Pittsburgh Convention
Visitors to the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money® convention in Pittsburgh, August 18 – 22, will have a rare opportunity to see some of the hobby’s most acclaimed, multimillion dollar numismatic rarities in one place at one time, as well as a firstof-its-kind exhibit of Carnegie hero medals.
“I don’t think there have been this many legendary coins and historic numismatic objects a tany show anywhere since the ANA’s 100th anniversary convention back in 1991,” said Christopher Cipoletti, ANA Executive Director.
The displays in the ANA’s official Exhibit Area in Pittsburgh will include:
- “Two of the five known 1913 Liberty Head nickels, the Bebee and Walton specimens;
- “The first comprehensive exhibit ever mounted of rare Carnegie Hero Fund Commission medals;
- “The unique Neil/Carter/Contursi silver-plug 1794 dollar believed by some researchers to be the first silver dollar struck by the United States Mint;
- “The recently recovered du Pont specimen 1866 No Motto Seated Liberty silver dollar and its two companion pieces completing the unique set, the 1866 No Motto Seated half dollar and quarter dollar;
- “The finest of the two known 1861-P “Paquet” double eagles; and
- ” An exhibit of numismatic-related autographs including former U.S. Presidents and famous coin designers.
“In addition to these outstanding displays, the Exhibit Area also will feature more than three dozen competitive exhibits set up by collectors. In the main convention hall, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing will have its billion dollar display with Series 1934 Gold Certificate $100,000 notes, the United States Mint will display its latest commemoratives, the King of Siam proof set will be at a dealer’s table, and the finest known set of Liberty Seated dollars will be displayed in the bourse area, too,” said Cipoletti.
The Bebee 1913 Liberty Head nickel is named after the late Aubrey and Adeline Bebee of Omaha, Nebraska who donated the coin to the ANA Money Museum in 1989. The Walton specimen is named after George O. Walton of Roanoke, Virginia who was killed in a 1962 car crash. His heirs kept the coin in a closet for 41 years after being mistakenly told it was not genuine. The coin was authenticated at last year’s ANA convention in Baltimore, and now is on loan to the ANA Money Museum.
Founded in Pittsburgh in 1904, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission (www.carnegiehero.org) is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. In honor of this event the Commission and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History have teamed to mount the first comprehensive exhibit of rare Carnegie Hero Medals issued by U.S. and foreign affiliates of the commission.
Pittsburgh steelmaker, Andrew Carnegie, believed that ordinary citizens who performed extraordinary acts of heroism should be recognized for their deeds. He was inspired to act following a massive explosion in a coal mine at Harwick, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, that claimed 181 lives on January 25, 1904. Carnegie set aside $5 million under the care of a commission to recognize “civilization’s heroes” and to provide financial assistance for those disabled and the dependents of those killed helping others.
Carnegie also specified that “a medal shall be given to the hero, or widow, or next of kin, which shall recite the heroic deed it commemorates, that descendants may know and be proud of their descent.” Dozens of these gold, silver and bronze medals will be exhibited publicly for the first time together at the ANA convention.
The Neil/Carter/Contursi 1794 dollar will make its first-ever appearance in Pittsburgh during the ANA convention. Once part of the legendary Amon Carter Sr. Collection and now owned by Steve Contursi and Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California, it is the only known 1794 Flowing Hair dollar with a silver plug. It will be displayed in a specially-built exhibit case that is symbolic of the early Mint Cabinet.
Researcher Martin Logies, who has written a new book about 1794 dollars, will be attending the convention, and a Numismatic Theatre panel discussion about the coin will be held at Noon, Saturday, August 21.
The du Pont coins were stolen in a 1967 Florida robbery. The No Motto dollar was featured in daily newspapers and nightly television newscasts after its recovery was announced in early March. The coin now is on loan with the ANA Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, along with the 1866 No Motto Seated Liberty half dollar and quarter dollar that were recovered years earlier. This will be the first time the unique three-coin set is publicly exhibited outside the museum.
A special display by Monaco Financial, LLC of Newport Beach, California featuring valuable Civil War artifacts will showcase the first public exhibition in nearly 20 years of the 1861 Philadelphia Mint “Paquet” Double Eagle, one of only two known specimens. The impressive design of this historic, multi-million dollar coin is named after Mint engraver, Anthony C. Paquet. Its former owners include Ambassador and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb. The coin has not been publicly seen since the 1987 Norweb Collection auction where it set a record at the time for the most valuable U.S. coin, $660,000.
An illustrated exhibit titled, “Signatures of the Past: U.S. Presidents, Numismatic Personalities and Pittsburgh Athletes,” will showcase highlights from the extensive autograph collection of a veteran Pennsylvania numismatist who wants to remain anonymous.
The display includes signatures of historical figures who have appeared on U.S. money, wellknown numismatic artists and engravers, and autographs of local sports legends. Among the many familiar names in the exhibit are coin designers Victor D. Brenner, James Earle Fraser, Frank Gasparro, and Baseball Hall of Fame member Roberto Clemente.
The fabled King of Siam proof set vanished for a century until it was acquired by a London, England dealer in the 1950s. The set of U.S. coins, including an 1804 silver dollar, originally was presented as a diplomatic gift on behalf of President Andrew Jackson to the King of Siam (Thailand) in 1836. The King’s family later was the subject of the popular Broadway musical, “The King and I.” The set includes the leather and velvet presentation case that originally housed the coins.
The multi-million dollar Legend Collection of Liberty Seated Dollars, the finest known set of its kind, will be privately displayed in the bourse area. It contains one of the nine known 1870-S Seated Liberty dollars.
Heritage Numismatic Auctions (www.HeritageCoin.com) of Dallas, Texas, the world’s largest rare coin auctioneer, will conduct a multi-million dollar public sale of coins and currency in conjunction with the ANA show.
The World’s Fair of Money is co-hosted by the Pittsburgh Numismatic Society, Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists and the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society. It will be held in Halls B and C of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. Public hours are Wednesday to Saturday, August 18 – 21, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, August 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event is open to the public and admission is free.
Originally Release Date: July 9, 2004
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9872
Email: pr@money.org