Some of the world’s most famous and valuable rare coins 

and currency, including the fabled Brasher Doubloon — the USA’s 

first gold coin from 1787 now insured for $10 million — will be publicly displayed at the family-friendly National Money Show, March 5 – 7, 2015.

(Portland, Oregon) –  The public can get free appraisals of their old coins and paper money and see more than $100 million of historic rare coins and colorful currency at the National Money Show (www.NationalMoneyShow.com).  The display will be in the Oregon Convention Center, Halls D-E, in Portland, Oregon, March 5 – 7, 2015. 

One of the featured exhibits is a fabled Brasher Doubloon, the first gold coin made for the young United States in 1787.  It is insured for $10 million for its first public display in Portland. 

The family-friendly educational event is sponsored by the nonprofit, Congressionally-chartered American Numismatic Association (ANA).  During the three-day show more than 500 dealers from across the country will be buying and selling items ranging from a dollar to over a million dollars.  

Admission will be free on Free Appraisal Day, Saturday, March 7, when the public can get complimentary, educational appraisals of their old coins and paper money from top numismatic experts.  

“Money is history you can hold in your hands.  Every coin and piece of paper money ever made has a story to tell about people, places or events,” said ANA President Walter Ostromecki.

“The legendary 1787 Brasher Doubloon that will be displayed at the show courtesy of Monaco Rare Coins of Newport Beach, California is the finest of only seven known surviving examples made by New York goldsmith, Ephraim Brasher,” explained Ostromecki. 

“When it was made by hand 228 years ago by George Washington’s New York City neighbor it was valued at $15 worth of gold.  This national treasure now is insured for $10 million for its Portland debut,” said Adam Crum, Vice President of Monaco Rare Coins.

Other eye-opening daily exhibits of numismatic national treasures include a 1792 silver “half disme” (an early spelling of “dime”) that was the first U.S. coin authorized by President George Washington.  The public can also see an exhibit of how copper was used as a traditional form of money among the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, and see one of the few surviving $10,000 notes, the highest denomination circulating currency private citizens were permitted to own but not printed since 1944.  

“The National Money Show will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many people to see more than $100 million of museum-quality historic rare coins and currency in one place at one time.  It also will be a convenient opportunity for people with their own old coins and paper money to find out what it is and what it’s worth,” explained Ostromecki.

“Numismatics is a significant part of Portland’s history.  The flip of a coin in 1845 determined the name of the town.  That coin, an 1835-dated large cent now known as The Portland Penny, is in the Oregon Historical Society Museum,” Ostromecki pointed out.

Representatives of the United States Mint will sell coins for collectors including 2015 U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coins; America the Beautiful™ quarter-dollars honoring state parks and national sites;  Presidential dollars; and 2014 and 2015 Kennedy half dollar products.  The Mint will also display the 2015 March of Dimes Silver Dollars and 2015 March of Dimes Special Set.

On Thursday, March 5, there is a public meeting of the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee as it reviews proposed designs for a new Presidential $1 Coin honoring President Ronald Reagan, the Monuments Men Congressional Gold Medal, the Rosebud Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Gold Medal, and the 2016 Mark Twain Commemorative Coin program.  Additionally, the committee will discusses concepts and themes for the 2017 America the Beautiful Quarters and a First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal honoring First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries will conduct a public auction of coins and currency in conjunction with the show that is hosted by the Salem Numismatic Society, the Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association and the Willamette Coin Club.

Informative, introductory programs on how to begin collecting will be offered to the public at 10 am and 2 pm on both Thursday and Friday, and at 11 am on Saturday during the show.

The National Money Show will be in Halls D-E at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland.  Public hours are Thursday and Friday March 5 and 6, 2014 from 10 am to 5:30 pm; Saturday, March 7, 10 am to 4 pm.

General admission on Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, will be $6 for adults with children 12 and under admitted free.  A $2 discount coupon is available online at www.NationalMoneyShow.com, and  there will be free admission for all on Free Appraisal Day, Saturday, March 7.

For additional information, visit the American Numismatic Association National Money Show website, www.NationalMoneyShow.com, or call (719) 482-9867.

News media contacts: 

Jake Sherlock, (719) 482-9872 

Donn Pearlman, (702) 868-5777