Prize medal of the International Exposition, Athens, 1903, gilt bronze, by Hond, Paris.

The folks at the Princeton Numismatic Library Collection have been busy.

Many institutions are taking their coins off display, or worse yet, deaccessioning them, but Princeton continues to make new numismatic acquisitions. Here’s their latest press release.

To showcase its recent acquisition of a collection of more than 120 medals of modern Greece, the Princeton University Numismatic Collection has installed an exhibition of a selection of historically important pieces in the Boyd Room of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections in Firestone Library. The exhibition has been curated by Mary Thierry, Princeton Class of 2012, who has been working in the Numismatic Collection for the past three years and has taken the University’s graduate seminar in numismatics. The medals will be on display for an indefinite period during hours when the department is open to the public.

The collection was put together by a private collector in Athens and purchased by Princeton with funds from the Stanley J. Seeger Hellenic Fund and the Townsend-Vermeule Fund. It is believed to be the largest collection of modern Greek commemorative medals in an American public collection. Among the highlights of the collection and the current exhibition are a set of medals from1836 by the Austrian engraver Konrad Lange, who also engraved early coin dies for the newly established Greek Republic, and participation medals of the early Olympics, including the national Greek games that preceded the establishment of the International Olympic Games in 1896.

The public is invited to attend a celebration of the opening of the exhibition, and the graduation of its guest curator, on Thursday, May 31, at 4 p.m. in the Boyd Room. The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed holidays. Further information can be obtained from Alan Stahl, Curator of Numismatics, at astahl@princeton.edu or (609) 258-9127.

Continental Currency, 1776, tin pattern, obverse, Princeton University Numismatic Collection.

Continental Currency, 1776, tin pattern, reverse, Princeton University Numismatic Collection.

Press release: On Sunday, May 6, the Friends of Princeton University Library will sponsor a public lecture by the noted scholar of early American coinage, Louis Jordan, entitled “Transformations in Numismatic Iconography during the American Revolution.” The talk will take place at 4 p.m. in 101 McCormick Hall on the Princeton campus. The lecture will be preceded at 2:30 by a curatorial tour of the exhibition “Capping Liberty: The Invention of a Numismatic Iconography for the New American Republic” by Alan M. Stahl, Princeton’s Curator of Numismatics, in the Leonard L. Milberg Gallery of Firestone Library, Princeton University.

Louis Jordan is one of the pre-eminent experts on the coinage of the early AmericanRepublic. In addition to his many public lectures and publications on the topic, he maintains an extensive scholarly website: “The Coins of Colonial and Early America” (http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/index.html/). Dr. Jordan is Librarian and Director of Special Collections, University of Notre Dame Libraries, the institution from which he received his Ph.D. in Medieval Studies in 1980. He is co-editor of and a frequent contributor to The Colonial Newsletter: A Research Journal in Early American Numismatics, and author of John Hull: The Mint and the Economics of Massachusetts Coinage (2002) and Lord Baltimore Coinage and Daily Exchange in Early Maryland, currently in preparation.

Louis Jordan

In his talk at Princeton, Jordan will trace the various attempts by the Continental Congress to devise a symbol for the new Republic, including the devices of a linked chain and a sundial invented by Benjamin Franklin, which were adopted on the 1776 Continental Currency patterns and on the 1787 Fugio coppers. Another common motif, the circle of stars representing the colonies and then states, appeared on the Nova Constellatio coppers and became the basis of the firstUnited States flag.

The lecture is being held in conjunction with the exhibition “Capping Liberty,” which is running through July 8, 2012, in the Leonard L. Milberg Gallery of Firestone Library,PrincetonUniversity. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., closed holidays. The exhibition and its associated events are free and open to the public. A website devoted to the exhibition, including high-resolution images of both sides of all coins on display and images from associated books, manuscripts, and graphic arts, is online at http://rbsc.princeton.edu/capping-liberty and will remain on the site after the close of the exhibition. Further information can be obtained from Alan Stahl, Curator of Numismatics, at astahl@princeton.edu or (609) 258-9127.

The showcase includes rarities from the ANA’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum and exclusive private collections. Located on the bourse floor at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, the showcase will feature informative, museum-quality exhibits with audio tours. Several rarities will make their Showcase debut in Denver, including the 1792 Half Disme.

“The Museum Showcase is an unparalleled feature of ANA shows and provides visitors with an educational and entertaining view of spectacular numismatic objects,” ANA President Tom Hallenbeck said. “We are able to present these treasures because of our wonderful collection and the generosity of our members.”

Most exhibits will be accompanied by Money Talks, the ANA’s cell phone-guided audio tours, which are written and narrated by some of the country’s most knowledgeable authors and experts. Go to www.NationalMoneyShow.com/museum-showcase to listen to podcasts of these tours as they are released.

Following is a list of Museum Showcase exhibits to be displayed in Denver. The ANA is also completing arrangements for exhibits on Indian Peace Medals, Colorado territorial gold and Colorado gold nuggets.

The 1792 Half Disme
An estimated 1,500 half disme silver coins were struck in the basement of a saw-maker’s shop in Philadelphia in 1792 because the U.S. Mint was not yet operational. The coins – slightly smaller than a modern dime and weighing half as much – were first authorized by President Washington under the Mint Act of 1792. Thomas Jefferson, who was then serving as secretary of state, personally received the coins on Washington’s behalf.

Modern researchers estimate that about 275 of the 1,500 originally struck survive today. The coin on display in the showcase was donated to the Money Museum in January by Steven L. Contursi, president of Rare Coin Wholesalers of Irvine, Calif.

Lesher Referendum Dollars
Seldom-seen, oddly shaped Lesher Dollars are interesting, rare pieces of money in Colorado’s history. These octagonal silver “coins” were privately issued by Joseph Lesher in Victor, Colo., in 1900 and 1901 to boost local commerce and support silver mining. Various merchants punched their names into the coins, which was a form of advertisement and a message that Lesher dollars could be used to trade for goods and services at said business.

It’s not clear how many Lesher dollars were actually struck — Lesher himself said in a 1914 interview that between 3,000-3,500 were minted, but noted Lesher Dollar researcher Adna Wilde believed only about 1,870 were made, of which only 550 were documented at the time.

Money Talks audio tour: Token dealer and Lesher Dollar collector Chris Marchase tells the story of Joseph Lesher’s unusual dollars. Call 719-325-7608 and press 5#.

The Idler/Bebee Class III Specimen 1804 Dollar
Known as “The King of U.S. Coins,” the 1804 dollar is extremely rare, with only 15 known examples. No U.S. dollars dated 1804 actually were struck in that year; Class I specimens were struck in 1834-5 as diplomatic gifts (8 known), while Class II (unique) and III specimens (6 known) were struck during the 1850s for collectors. The Idler/Bebee specimen was donated to the ANA by Aubrey and Adeline Bebee in 1991.

Money Talks audio tour: Kenneth E. Bressett, who co-authored “The Fantastic 1804 Dollar” with Eric Newman, discusses the lore, origins and history behind the 1804 Dollar. Call 719-325-7608 and press 1#.

The McDermott/Bebee Specimen 1913 Liberty Head “V” Nickel
Five Liberty Head nickels were made in 1913 under mysterious circumstances. The existence of the nickels was unknown until 1919, when an advertisement in The Numismatist offered to purchase any example for $500. The ad was placed by Samuel W. Brown, a former Mint employee. In 1920 Brown exhibited all five nickels at the ANA convention in Chicago. The McDermott/Bebee specimen was donated to the ANA by Aubrey and Adeline Bebee in 1989.

Money Talks audio tour: NGC Chairman Mark Salzberg has authenticated all five 1913 Liberty Head Nickels and has many insights on these coins. Call 719-325-7608 and press 2#.

The National Bank Notes of Colorado
A wide range of rare National Bank notes from Colorado, as a territory and state, will be on display.

Money Talks audio tour: ANA Governor and paper money expert Wendell Wolka leads this tour of National Bank Notes. Call 719-325-7608 and press 3#.

The BEP Billion Dollar Display
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is also participating in the Money Talks tours. Paper money expert and ANA Governor Wendell Wolka narrated a five-stop tour of the BEP’s Billion Dollar Display. Call 719-325-7608, press 7#, 8#, 9#, 10# and 11#.

The National Money Show features more than 500 dealers with an exhaustive numismatic inventory, great educational programming, and a variety of special events, family events and children’s activities. Show hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. May 10-11 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 12. Admission is $6 for adults and free for ANA members and children 12 and under.  For more information or to download a $2-off admission coupon, go to www.NationalMoneyShow.com.

Details:
March 3, 2012, through July 8, 2012
Leonard L. Milberg Gallery of Firestone Library
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., closed holidays.

The complete press release from Alan Stahl at Princeton follows.

When the founders of the American Republic declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, one of the major tasks they took on was the creation of a coinage for the new nation. There were few precedents to guide them in choosing specific images to represent the ideals of their republican form of government as most existing coinage bore the image of a monarch. The leading figures in the process of selecting the numismatic imagery of theAmericanRepublicwere Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington, each of whom made contributions that reflected personal background, attitudes, and ideals. Following a rancorous dispute between the Senate and the House of Representatives, the ultimate choice for the main image for the new coinage was “an impression emblematic ofLiberty,” which took the form of the head of a beautiful woman, sometimes accompanied by a cap derived from classical attributes of the Roman goddess Libertas. Together with the complementary attributes of an eagle and a wreath, this symbol came to exemplify theUnited States of America.

The rich resources of Princeton University Library’s Department of Rare Books and Special Collections serve as the basis of an exhibition entitled “Capping Liberty,” which illustrates the search for imagery and the selection and adoption of symbols for a national coinage.

“The star of the show will undoubtedly be the Princetonspecimen of the 1792 ‘half disme’,” predicts Alan Stahl, the exhibition’s curator. This is a superb example of the first coin minted by the United Statesgovernment under the Constitution. Delays in passing the Mint Act of 1792 left little time to strike coins that year, so a very small issue of half dismes (the old French spelling was used on the piece) was minted in a temporary facility, reputedly from silver supplied by George Washington for the purpose. Fewer than 2,000 examples are believed to have been struck. The Princetonspecimen was purchased by Charles A. Cass, Class of 1904, from an auction in 1917, by Thomas Elder where it was described as “the finest known specimen of this exceedingly rare coin.” It came to Princetonwith the impressive Cass

numismatic collection by bequest in 1958. The specimen has been characterized by Roger Siboni, president of the American Numismatic Society, as “perhaps the finest, or one of the finest 1792 half dismes in existence” in an article in Coin World (Sept. 1, 2008).

Other important coins from the Princeton University Numismatic Collection in the exhibition are four issues of the seventeenth-centuryMassachusettssilver shilling coinage, two examples of the tin “Continental dollar” patterns of 1776, and a 1794 (14 star) silver dollar.

The “poster piece” of the exhibition is the gilt bronze striking of Augustin Dupré’s 1783 Libertas Americana medal, a gift of Rodman Wanamaker, Class of 1886, which is believed it have been the basis for the depiction of Liberty on the early United States coinage. It is accompanied by a selection of ancient coins that inspired it, including a Sicilian dekadrachm and a series of denarii of the Roman Republic and sestertii of the Empire that show the goddess Libertas and her distinctive cap. Other important medals in the exhibition are an original bronze striking of Dupré’s Diplomatic Medal of 1791 (one of only three known), a gift of the scholar of ancient and American coinage Cornelius Vermeule III, and a hand-engraved medal believed to have been given to Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee (Princeton Class of 1773). Also on display are three unique plaster moulds made by Jean-Baptiste Nini as preparatory models for his famous terra-cotta medallions of Benjamin Franklin.

Complementing the coins and medals from the Numismatic Collection are many items from other divisions ofPrinceton’s Special Collection, including books formerly in the libraries of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. Among the depictions ofLibertyfrom colonial publications is the portrait of John Hancock engraved in 1774 by Paul Revere, where the patriot is flanked by a knight with a copy of the Magna Charta andLibertywith her cap. In manuscript letters George Washington voices support for Jefferson’s “Propositions Respecting the Coinage of Gold, Silver and Copper,” and John Adams asks Mint Director Benjamin Rush (Princeton Class of 1760) for examples ofUnited Statescoinage for his son John Quincy Adams to send toRussia. A 1778 print attributed to the painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard depicts Benjamin Franklin crowned by the goddessLiberty, and a large piece of Toile de Jouy fabric printed around 1785 has the image of George Washington in a gold chariot drawn by cheetahs.

On Sunday, May 6, the noted scholar of American colonial coinage, Louis Jordan, of the University of Notre Dame, will give a public lecture entitled “Transformations in Numismatic Iconography during the American Revolution” at 4 p.m. in 101 McCormick Hall on the Princeton campus. The lecture will be preceded at 2:30 by a curatorial tour of the exhibition in Firestone Library by Alan M. Stahl,Princeton’s Curator of Numismatics. A reception in Firestone Library will follow the lecture. Additional curatorial tours will be held on Sunday, March 25, and Thursday, May 31, both at 2:30 p.m. The exhibition and its associated events are free and open to the public.

A website devoted to the exhibition, including high-resolution images of both sides of all coins on display and images from the books, manuscripts, and graphic arts, is online at http://rbsc.princeton.edu/capping-liberty and will remain on the site after the close of the exhibition.

“Capping Liberty” runs from March 3, 2012, through July 8, 2012, in the Leonard L. Milberg Gallery of Firestone Library, PrincetonUniversity. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., closed holidays. Further information can be obtained from Alan Stahl, Curator of Numismatics, at astahl@princeton.edu or (609) 258-9127.

The Yale University Art Gallery is in the final phase of a renovation and expansion that will transform the visitor experience of both the museum and its esteemed collections. The project will enable the Gallery to enhance its role as one of the nation’s most prominent teaching institutions and to join the ranks of the country’s leading public art museums. The expanded Gallery will open in December 2012.

Read the entire article here.

Scouts learning about foreign currency.

Straight from the organizer’s press release:

Attendance is expected to be up at the SoCal Coin & Currency Show, held December 8-10 at the Ontario Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Way, Ontario, CA 91764.  The continued surge in gold and silver prices is driving new faces onto the bourse floor.   Whether convention goers come to sell, invest or hedge against the future, many become interested in the hobby and start a collection here.

The event features over 200 dealers buying and selling gold, U.S. and world coins, currency, stamps, tokens, ancients, collectibles and jewelry, special guest speakers, exhibits and young numismatist activities.

Public hours open Thursday 12pm to 7pm, Friday 10am-7pm, and end Saturday 10am-5pm.

Admission is $3 for all three days.  Coin club members will gain free admission by showing their membership card. Free entry will also be offered to seniors, active military and all boy or girl scouts in uniform.

Dollar enthusiasts will have a rare opportunity to learn about VAMs from one of the foremost VAM experts, C Logan McKecknie of VAMS and More.  This limited-seating mini seminar is scheduled for Saturday at 12:15 p.m.

Attendees can tour ideas and designs of America’s state quarters with Garrett Burke, author of Quarterama and concept designer of the California state quarter at 1:40pm.

The SoCal Coin and Currency Show is also offering free tables for coin clubs to attract new members, raise revenue and display exhibits.  To reserve your free club table, please call 800-208-1810.

A big draw is the show’s Kid’s Korner, which sponsors free Boy Scout Merit Badge Workshop and mini coin classes for kids age 6-12.  Classes are taught by Patty Finner, former vice-president of the American Numismatic Association. Boy Scouts can pre-register for either Friday or Saturday session by calling 715-252-2003.

The SoCal Coin and Currency Show is held twice a year.  The summer show is set for July19-21, 2012.   Discount coupon is downloadable online.  For more information call Dawn at CK Shows 888-330-5188 or 800-208-1810, email info@ckshows.com  or log on to ckshows.com.

Scouts learning about foreign currency

Family reviewing coins with dealer Glen Schinke

Directly from the ANA’s press release: Six coins from the American Numismatic Association’s collection with a combined value of approximately $18,844 were stolen June 11 or 12 from the St. Louis Museum of Transportation. The coins were part of “Money of the U.S. Civil War,” a four-panel ANA traveling exhibit that was scheduled for display at the museum June 13-June 30.

The following is a list of coins taken in the theft:

1849 silver dollar (VF30), approximate value $425
1861 quarter eagle (AU55), approximate value $400
1857 three dollar gold piece (copy), $244 bullion value
1862 half eagle (MS60), approximate value $15,000
1847 O eagle (VF30), approximate value $925
1861 double eagle (EF40), approximate value $1,850

The ANA is asking the collecting community for assistance in recovering the missing coins. Anyone with information regarding the theft should call 719-482-9814.

The ANA’s traveling exhibit program includes 10 small exhibits available for rent to member clubs, museums, libraries, schools and cultural organizations. This is the program’s first theft; the ANA plans to continue the program after assessing the theft. In all cases, the borrowing organization is responsible for any loss or damage to exhibit items while in their possession, said ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd.

Hosted by the Vallejo Numismatic Society, this all-day event will open for registration at 9 a.m.. There will be two presenters in the morning and two or three in the afternoon. Admission is FREE, and the museum will be open (free of charge) to all attendees.

Where: 734 Marin Street, at Capital, downtown Vallejo, Calif.
This year’s theme: Building a Collection
Presenters: Lawrence K. Casagrande and John P. Russell Jr., Assembling a United States Type Set; Lloyd G. Chan, ASsembling a Year Set: 1909; Michael S. Turrini, Exonumia and Everything Else.
What else to expect: Displays; CSNA library will be available; door prizes

Sponsored by: California State Numismatic Association (CSNA), California Exonumist Society (CES), Northern California Numismatic Association (NCNA) and the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum; with generous support from James HJ. Laird and Michael S. Turrini

For more information, call (707)246-6327, e-mail EMPERORI@juno.com

Hours: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are FREE.

What to expect: a full bourse, exhibits, drawings, a youth table and activities, an information table and a coin error table.

The Northern California Numismatic Association (NCNA) will also hold its annual gathering.

Bourse applications are currently being accepted. Contact Harry W. Davis at 2900 Georgia, VAllejo, CA 94591-6602; (707) 980-8254 for more information.

Exhibitors are welcome and should contact Michael S. Turrini at PO Box 4104, Vallejo, CA 94590-0410; (707) 246-6327; EMPERORI@juno.com.

Updates will be available at www.solanocoinclub.com.

Become a Dealer for a Day at the World’s Fair of Money

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a dealer at a major coin show? Have a collection you’re looking to sell?

The Daily Tables section debuting at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Chicago, Aug. 16-20, is an affordable way for collectors and Internet dealers to sell on the bourse along with the industry’s heavy hitters.

Each day during the World’s Fair of Money, a block of tables will be available for daily rental at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The Daily Tables section will be a major draw for one simple reason: It will feature brand-new material every single day.

“The influx of new materials will keep the bourse floor fresh and exciting for the duration of the World’s Fair of Money,” ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd said. “We believe the daily tables will become a popular area at ANA shows.”

Online dealers will gain the exposure that comes with selling at a major show and have the opportunity to reach new clients. Collectors looking to sell their numismatic items will be able to reach a significant number of potential buyers.

 Prices are $400 for Aug. 16, $300 for Aug. 17, and $250 each day for the rest of the show.

 To register, visit http://www.worldsfairofmoney.com, click on “Dealer Resources” to download a bourse application. Once completed, it can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to the ANA.  Questions? Contact Convention Assistant Tiffany Hulsey at 719-482-9848 or e-mail thulsey@money.org.

Daily tables will also be available at the fall National Money Show, which runs from Oct. 13-15 in Pittsburgh, and at the 2012 spring National Money Show, which will be May 10-12 in Denver. Visit www.nationalmoneyshow.com for rates.