WEEKLYPRESS.COM · UCREVIEW.COM · JULY 18 · 2012 3


The first coin authorized by President Washington in 1792 and struck in Philadelphia will be among $1 billion of the world’s most famous rare coins and paper money publicly displayed at the World’s Fair of Money in Philadelphia, Aug. 7 - 11, 2012.


Te World’s Fair of Money


“Home- coming” for George Wash- ington’s First Coin, Struck in Philadel- phia 220


Years Ago By Haywood Brewster Staff Reporter


M


ore than $1 billion of historic rare coins and colorful


paper money -- including the first coin authorized by President George Washing- ton and struck in Philadel- phia 220 years ago -- will be publicly displayed at the World’s Fair of Money (www.WorldsFairOfMoney. com) in the Pennsylva- nia Convention Center in Philadelphia, August 7 - 11, 2012. Visitors to the family- friendly, five-day educa- tional event can see dozens of eye-opening exhibits including $100,000 bills, a famous $2.5 million nickel and the Washington-autho- rized 1792-dated silver “half disme,” an early spelling of the word, dime.


“It’s a homecoming for one of America’s most impor- tant coins. It’s about the size of a modern dime, and was struck in the cellar of a saw maker’s shop at 5th and Cherry Street over two centuries ago while the United States Mint facility was still under construc- tion,” said Tom Hallenbeck, President of the nonprofit, 28,000-member American Numismatic Association


1792 half disme, front


(www.money.org), sponsor of the event. “Approximately 1,500 half dismes were struck in July 1792. They were personally presented by Mint Director David Rittenhouse to then- Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson who received them on behalf of President Wash- ington. Only about 400 of these coins are believed to survive today. This one is in remarkably well preserved condition and valued at $220,000,” said Hallenbeck. Among other extraordi- nary exhibits will be the U.S. Treasury Department’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing “Billion Dollar Display” that includes two dozen $100,000 bills and other high-denomination antique money. Visitors can see daily demonstrations of a Civil War-era, one-ton, hand-turned money print- ing press.


In addition to the historic 1792 half disme, the ANA Money Museum in Colo- rado will display one of the world-famous 1913 Liberty Head nickels, valued today at $2.5 million. Only five of these fabled 1913-dated


Liberty design nickels are known. This particular coin was innocently kept in a Virginia closet for four decades after the owners were mistakenly told it was a fake.


“Money is history you can hold in your hands. At this event you can see every- thing from half-cents to a $500 million Treasury Note. There will be educational seminars, exhibits and a children’s treasure hunt trivia game with free prizes, and over a dozen mints from around the world will showcase their country’s money,” Hallenbeck said. More than 1,000 profes- sional coin and currency dealers attending the show will be buying and selling items ranging from $1 to $1 million, and many of them will provide free, informal appraisals for visitors who bring in their old money. Stack’s Bowers Galleries will conduct a public auc- tion of coins and currency.


The World’s Fair of Money will be held in Hall A (2nd floor) of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St., Philadelphia. Public hours are from 10 am to 5:30 pm Tuesday through Friday, August 7 - 10, and from 10 am to 4 pm Satur-


day, August 11. General admission is $6. Children 12 and under are admitted free.


For additional information, visit the American Numis- matic Association website, www.WorldsFairOfMoney. com, or call (719) 482-9867.


Political updates on the State & Local Level


The UC Review and Weekly Press compile political news that affects voters each week on the city and state level to keep readers more abreast of local politics. If there’s an issue you would like included in this column, please email it to newsdesk@pressre- view.net by the Monday, noontime deadline!


C


ongressman Chaka Fattah recently joined U.S. Sec- retary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Mayor Michael Nutter at the 80-year-old Wayne Junction Substation in North Philadelphia to launch $12.8 million in critical infrastructure work that will improve service and safety for half of SEPTA’s regional rail grid. The grant comes from the Department of Transportation’s TIGER 4 (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recov- ery) program. The four rounds of TIGER grants have gener- ated $55 million in job-creating infrastructure projects for the Philadelphia region. In reaction to recent announcements that US Airways has taken steps to acquire distressed American Airlines, a deal which could affect Philadelphia-based jobs and travel to and from the City, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown is calling on US Airways and American Airlines to ensure that in any merger agreement, that Philadelphia remain a hub and major international gateway: “Any merger between US Airways and American Airlines that could cost our city thousands of jobs and divert travel to other locations should not be completed until it is assured that Philadelphia International Airport remains a hub and major international gateway. I am calling on both airlines to ensure that whatever decision is made by the companies that assurances of Philadelphia’s stability, if not growth, are in place. “


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