ANA readies Denver show

Full schedule awaits convention attendees 
Coin World 
Monday, August 14, 2006


The American Numismatic Association will hold its 2006 World’s Fair of Money Aug. 16 to 19 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. 

Admission is free and open to the public. 

The convention offers a full schedule of special activities, a dealer bourse and numerous exhibits.

In addition to the 10 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagles to be on view (see Page 1), the exhibits will display pieces such as an example of America’s first gold coin, the unique Punch on Breast 1787 Brasher doubloon; a 1794 Flowing Hair silver dollar; and two of five known 1913 Liberty Head 5-cent coins. 

The inaugural appearance of the Smithsonian Institution’s "Frontier Gold" exhibit from the National Numismatic Collection will also take place at the ANA show.

The exhibit includes the finest known surviving 1927-D Saint-Gaudens gold $20 double eagle, returning to Denver for the first time in 79 years, according to the ANA.   The coin was struck at the Denver Mint, which celebrates its 100 th anniversary in 2006. According to U.S. Mint officials, special Denver Mint centennial activities are planned for the convention.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s "$1 Billion" exhibit will also be featured, displaying a full sheet of U.S. $100,000 notes, the largest denomination of paper money ever printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  The BEP will also display a 19 th century spider press.

The convention will include a bourse with hundreds of tables with dealers in U.S. and world coins, paper money, exonumia and other items.

Many numismatic organizations will staff informational booths at the convention.

Multiple specialty clubs and organizations will conduct meetings throughout the duration of the show.

Mints from 20 nations around the world will be part of the Mint Promenade.  The British Royal Mint will launch its Bermuda Triangle coin at the show.

Bowers and Merena Auctions of Irvine, Calif., is the official auction company of the show.  Lot viewing will begin Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. and continue Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Auction sessions will take place Aug. 16 at 6 p.m., Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Highlights of the auctions include half a dozen 1860 and 1861 Clark, Gruber & Co. pioneer gold coins, high-grade Lincoln cents and Morgan dollars from the Anne Kate Collection, Indian Head 5-cent coins from the Richard Hennessy Collection, and Standing Liberty quarter dollars from the James W. Lull Collection.

A series of Numismatic Theater educational programs are scheduled to take place during the show.  A Consumer Protection miniseminar is set for Aug. 17 at 11 a.m.  The Sundman Lecture Series is scheduled for Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.   The inau- gural ANA/Women in Numismatics Symposium is set for Aug. 18 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.  The introductory Coin Collecting Basics seminar is scheduled for Aug. 18 and 19 at 11 a.m.

The ANA show will offer a number of events for Young Numismatists including a YN Awards Breakfast and Auction, Boy and Girl Scout collecting badge workshops and Treasure Trivia games.

ANA awards including Numismatist of the Year and the Farran Zerbe Award will be presented at the life member reception and at the association’s award reception and banquet.

Special events planned for the show include tours of the Denver Mint and the Colorado History Museum, and a trip to the ski resort community of Vail.  Tickets to attend a Colorado Rockies baseball game and to attend the Friendship Luncheon at the Fort Restaurant in Morrison will be available to ANA members.

Member Appreciation Day at the ANA Money Museum and Library in Colorado Springs is set for Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.   The event will include a ceremony to formally rename the museum in honor of Edward C. Rochette. 

The show is hosted by the Denver Coin Club and sponsored by 10 Colorado and Wyoming clubs and organizations.

For more information about the 2006 convention, contact the ANA’s Meeting Service Department, 818 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.  Call the ANA at (719) 482-9857, e-mail it at convention@money.org or visit its Web site at www.money.org.  A schedule of show activities is found at the ANA site.