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(Las Vegas, Nevada) -- The world's most famous and valuable rare coins, the $8.5 million King of Siam coin set, will be on public display in Las Vegas for the first time since the legendary coins were featured at the 1999 opening of Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
The historic U.S. coins will be displayed, October 27 – 29, 2006, at the Las Vegas Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Show in the Grand Ballroom of the Riviera Hotel and Casino, 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The three-day show also includes the U.S. Treasury Department's "Billion Dollar Display" featuring $100,000 bills, historic printing press plates used for making $10,000 bills and demonstrations of a century-old, hand-operated money printing press.
Open to the public, the event is sponsored by the American Numismatic Association (www.money.org) in conjunction with the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show™ and Steel Classics™. Rare coin auctions will be conducted in conjunction with the show by Bowers and Merena Auction Auctions (www.BowersandMerena.com) and by Teletrade (www.Teletrade.com).
More than 100 of the country's top numismatic dealers are buying and selling with the public during the show, and many dealers will provide free, informal appraisals for the public's old coins and paper money.
The Treasury Department's Bureau of Engraving and Printing will conduct public educational forums about combating counterfeiting, "Safer, Smarter, More Secure U.S. Paper Currency," at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 27 and 28.
The King of Siam set contains a medal and 10 pristine-condition gold, silver and copper 19th century United States coins originally presented as a diplomatic gift on behalf of President Andrew Jackson to the King of Siam (now Thailand) in 1836.
"These coins are legendary among collectors, and not even known to still exist until the 1960s. It generated international headlines last November when it was purchased for a record $8.5 million by Steven L. Contursi, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California," said Christopher Cipoletti, Executive Director of the 32,000-member American Numismatic Association.
"One of the coins in the King of Siam set is a national treasure of its own, an 1804-dated U.S. silver dollar. It's one of only 15 known and described by collectors as The King of Coins," explained Contursi.
The set includes the original, custom-made yellow leather and blue velvet case that housed the coins when U.S. State Department envoy, Edmund Roberts, presented it during an overseas trade mission on behalf of President Jackson to King Ph'ra Nang Klao (Rama III) of Siam in April 1836. The King's son, Rama IV, who inherited the coins, was the subject of the famous book, "Anna and the King of Siam," and the Broadway musical, "The King and I."
The King of Siam coin set was exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution in 1983 and at Mandalay Bay when it opened in 1999.
Admission to the Las Vegas Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Show, Las Vegas Antique Arms Show™ and Steel Classics™ in the Grand Ballroom of the Riviera Hotel and Casino is $15 per day or $35 for a thee-day pass. A $5 discount coupon is available at www.LasVegasCollectibles.com. Children ages 11 and under will be admitted free.
Public hours are Friday and Saturday, October 27 and 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, October 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For additional information about the show, contact Ann Phan at (866) 362-6642 or Ann@LasVegasCollectibles.com.
NY Times
A Fabled Coin Set Goes for $8.5 Million