Attendees of the American Numismatic Association?s 2008 National Money Show in Phoenix will have a host of things to see and learn as a long list of exhibits and programs are slated for the March 7-9 convention.
The Money Show, hosted by the Phoenix Coin Club and the Mesa Coin Club, will be held in the West Building of the Phoenix Convention Center. Features of the event include marquee and collector exhibits, educational presentations and hundreds of the nation?s top coin dealers.
?At the National Money Show you can see everything from a half-cent to a $100,000 bill, and it?s free,? said ANA President Barry Stuppler.
The convention?s exhibits are highlighted by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing?s ?Billion Dollar Display? of high denomination money. The display includes demonstrations of an antique one-ton, hand-operated printing press to show how money was made more than a century ago.
Examples of the new $5 bill set to go into circulation March 13 will also be on display, said Kevin Brown, BEP marketing manager.
Other exhibits include the multi-million dollar 1913 Liberty Head nickel and the ANA?s new exhibit, ?Victory at All Costs: Money of World War II.?
The Collector Gallery, a highlight of ANA conventions, gives members the chance to share their collections and creativity with fellow hobbyists. Collector exhibits are presented in three categories: competitive, non-competitive and marquee. Awards for competitive exhibits will be presented in six classes. Best in Show, National Coin Week and People?s Choice awards will also be given. Among this year?s collector exhibits are ?The Birds of Africa,? ?1940 Arizona Movie Scrip? and ?German City Talers, 1600-1699.?
For those who are looking to learn, the ANA School of Numismatics is offering technical and collector series courses. Some of the highlights are ?Coin Conservation, Authentication and Grading,? ?Collecting United States National Bank Notes, with an Emphasis on Arizona Notes,? ?Arizona Mining Stocks, Ingots and Pioneer Minor Coinage? and ?Coins in the Classroom.?
Visitors can attend free workshops such as ?18th Century American Colonial Numismatics,? ?So-Called Dollars? and ?Coin Collecting Basics.? Attendees are asked to register for these workshops by contacting the ANA.
Other educational activities planned are Treasure Trivia, a game where young visitors are challenged to answer numismatic questions for a prize; a Boy Scout coin collecting merit badge workshop; a Girl Scout ?Fun with Money? patch workshop; and a Boy Scout merit badge trainer?s session. The Scout workshops are free, but registration is requested.
Numismatic Theatre is held throughout the show and gives collectors the opportunity to learn from expert numismatists. This year?s presentations include ?Dyeing in Kingly Fashion? and ?Collecting and Enjoying U.S. Type Coins.?
The bourse area at the Phoenix National Money Show will be home to more than 240 booths of numismatic dealers, publishers and supply companies. Many of the 600 dealers attending will provide free, informal appraisals.
