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It won't cost a cent to see once-in-a-lifetime billion dollar
display during World's Fair of Money®, July 30 - August 3,
2003
(Baltimore, MD)--Four rare, 1913
Liberty Head nickels with a combined value of $10 million will be publicly
displayed together for the first time since 1920 during the World's Fair
of Money®, in the Baltimore Convention Center, 1 West Pratt Street,
July 30 through August 3, 2003.
In conjunction with the show, a reward of at least $1 million
recently was announced for a missing fifth specimen of the famous coin.
But it won't cost a cent to see multi-million dollar nickels;
genuine $100,000 denomination bills; $3 million display of original
Scrooge McDuck money-related art work and a billion dollars worth of
other colorful coins and paper money exhibits. The World's Fair of
Money is free and open to the public.
The event is conducted by the nonprofit, 30,000-member American
Numismatic Association (www.money.org),
the world's largest collector organization devoted to coins, paper money,
tokens and medals. Many of the 1,200 dealers attending the three-day event
will provide free appraisals for visitors who bring their old coins and
paper money to the show.
"The story of the 1913 Liberty Head nickel is one full of suspicion
and intrigue, with an interesting cast of characters, including a U.S.
Mint employee, a banker and a king," says Lawrence Lee, curator of the
American Numismatic Association Money Museum. "In 1913, the Mint began
producing the famed and popular Buffalo nickel. However, five 5-cent
coins with the old Liberty Head design were struck with the 1913 date.
Who did it, why it was done and how it was done are unknown.
"What we do know," Lee adds, "is one of the coins has been missing
for at least 40 years, and the other four will be publicly displayed
together for the first time in 83 years. And it will happen in
Baltimore."
Two of the 1913 Liberty Head nickels are in private hands. The one
owned by California sports agent Dwight Manley was kept in a vault for
decades by Baltimore banker Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. The other famous
coin, now owned by Legend Numismatics of Lincroft, New Jersey, was
prominently featured in a 1973 episode of the popular television series,
Hawaii Five-O.
The other two 1913 Liberty Head nickels on display at the ANA show
in Baltimore are from museums. One, previously owned by Egypt's King
Farouk, now is part of The Smithsonian Institution's collection. The
fourth, from the ANA Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was owned
by a Milwaukee collector who generously passed it around to strangers he
met in taverns.
A reward of at least $1 million is being offered for the missing
1913 Liberty Head nickel, which has been lost since at least 1962. The
nationwide bounty hunt is being conducted by Bowers and Merena Galleries
of Mandeville, Louisiana, the official auctioneer for the World's Fair
of Money in Baltimore.
"Like all five of the mysterious nickels, the missing one portrays
'Miss Liberty' on the front with the date, 1913, and a large Roman
numeral, 'V,' on the back to indicate a value of five cents," explains
Paul Montgomery, president of Bowers and Merena Galleries. "Millions of
nickels with that common design were produced from 1883 through 1912, and
today most are worth less than a dollar. But the missing Liberty nickel
with the date 1913 is worth at least a million dollars."
In addition to the once-in-a-lifetime exhibit of the famous nickels,
visitors to the World's Fair of Money can see a Treasury Department
Bureau of Engraving and Printing display that includes a preview example
of the new "Color of Money" $20 note that won't be seen in circulation
until this fall, and two dozen $100,000 bank notes. Printed in 1934 and
intended for use only between banks, the $100,000 bills are the highest
denomination currency ever printed in the U.S.
There also will be a $3 million collection of 12
original artworks by Carl Barks depicting Disney's Scrooge McDuck in
money-related scenes,
exhibited by Diamond International Galleries of Timonium, Maryland. While
quantities last, young collectors can obtain a free, limited edition
Uncle Scrooge comic book certified by Comics Guaranty Corporation (CGC).
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"Money is history you can hold in your hands," says Steve Bobbitt,
ANA public relations director. "We expect more than 10,000 collectors
and dealers from around the country to attend the show, buying and
selling items ranging in value from a few cents each to $1 million; from
ancient money to just-minted New Zealand commemorative coins from the
British Royal Mint honoring the popular 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy.
There will be educational seminars, exhibits, and activities for young
collectors including a treasure hunt. You can see everything from a
half-cent to a $100,000 bill, and it's free."
Families can participate in the ANA Treasure Hunt during the entire
three-day show. Prizes include "pirate treasure," such as a 19th century
Spanish pieces-of-eight silver coin. All Treasure Hunt participants will
receive a free assortment of collectable coins.
United States Mint Director, Henrietta Holsman Fore, and representatives
of mints from around the globe will attend the show to meet with the
public.
During the show, the British Royal Mint, New Line Cinema, Reserve
Bank of New Zealand and New Zealand Post will unveil the first legal
tender gold, silver and base metal coins commemorating "The Lord of the
Rings" trilogy.
The World's Fair of Money is co-hosted by the Baltimore Coin Club,
Maryland State Numismatic Association and the Maryland Token and Medal
Society.
It will be held in Hall A of the Baltimore Convention Center, 1 West
Pratt Street. Public hours are Wednesday through Saturday, July 30 -
August 2, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, August 3, from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m.
For additional information, visit the American Numismatic
Association
web site, www.money.org, or call 719-632-2646.
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