Coin Show and Fair to support Nevada State Museum Aug. 21-22 offers rarities, appraisals, fun

Dealers, collectors, admirers and amateurs will find fun at the 2015 Carson City Mint Coin Show and Fair. Professionals will buy, sell and trade money and offer expertise in a lecture series during the two-day event Aug. 21 and 22. Held this year at both the Nevada State Museum and across the street at the Carson Nugget, the fair includes activities for children, prize drawings, lectures, coin sales and free appraisals with admission.

New this year are drawings by Steve Lesnick, who designed the first Nevada State Medallion, and a special display showing a rare twenty-cent piece with matching die. Also new, the first 100 lecture attendees will receive a free one-year membership to the American Numismatic Association.

As the site of the former U.S. Mint, the museum has a long history in coinage. “I would encourage guests to share the heritage by enjoying lectures about the history of Nevada State Medallions, historic Coin Press No. 1, double dimes and a recently discovered matching die, plus the story of mint employees who introduced baseball to Carson City,” said Jim Barmore, museum director. The museum’s new exhibit “Ranching in the High Desert: Five Generations, One Family,” featuring the work of photo-journalist Jeff Scheid is included in admission to the fair.

“We will also be minting special commemorative medallions on the original historic Coin Press No. 1 at the museum.” Dealers will be at the Carson Nugget where rarities and famous coins that circulate the country will be shown and sold. The 2015 show and fair also offers gold panning for $5, mine tours, a rock and mineral lab and a treasure chest of foreign coins for children.

The annual raffle supports programs of the museum throughout the year. The grand prize will be awarded at 3 p.m. Saturday. “We sell the $1 tickets in advance at the museum or by mail, and people donate some great stuff. More than $3,000 in prizes will be awarded,” Barmore said.

“Double Dimes and the Amazing Find at the Carson City Mint” will be presented by John Frost, director of education of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club and co-author of “Double Dimes-the United States Twenty-cent Piece.” Frost will offer a detailed overview of U.S. twenty-cent pieces, including interesting varieties and a discussion of the legendary 1876-CC rarity. His highly-illustrated presentation also describes the discovery and restoration of discarded coinage dies at the U.S. Mint in Carson City and the role the study of 20-cent pieces played in this remarkable tale of discovery. The analysis includes matching one of the recovered dies to a recently discovered rare 1875-CC coin.

“The History of the Nevada State Medallions” will be presented by Steve Lesnick, an internationally recognized artist, art instructor, author, historian, newspaper columnist, inventor and art consultant. The Nevada State Medallion story began when Lesnick won the United States Bicentennial award, sponsored by the Franklin Mint. His design, which focused on Nevada’s contribution to the Union, was then minted on Coin Press No. 1, the original press of the U.S. Mint in Carson City. Medallions were minted in gold, silver and bronze. Soon after, Lesnick was contacted to design the first Nevada State Medallion. The first design choice was The Nevada State Museum. Lesnick went on to create seven more medallions. His presentation will focus on the design process from concept to final product.

Coin Show and Fair gold sponsors include the American Numismatic Association, Numismatist Magazine, Reno Gazette Journal, Carson Nugget. Silver sponsors are Nevada Magazine, The Nevada Appeal, Northern Nevada Coin, Downtown Coin Club and Vams and More. Other sponsors are the Reno Coin Club, S&T Coins, Camelot Party Rentals and Friends of the Nevada State Museum. The event partner is Downtown Coin Club.

Admission is half price at $4 and one ticket will admit guests to both sites for one day. Museum members and ages 17 and younger are always free. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 21 and to 4 p.m. Aug. 22 at 600 N. Carson St. and the Carson Nugget ballroom, 507 N. Carson St.

Minimum $10 raffle ticket orders can be sent to Deborah Stevenson, Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St, Carson City, NV 89701. Winners need not be present so contact information is important. For more information, contact Stevenson at dstevenson@nevadaculture.org or (775) 687-4810 ext. 237.

Tips for enjoying the 2015 Carson City Mint Coin Show and Fair
1. Pack the car and grab the kids
Fun activities are also educational when it comes to the coin show and fair. Kids will travel the globe looking for the home of foreign coins in the show, and earn free gifts for playing.
2. Make a wish list
Whether it is that one piece still missing after all these years, or the one that just caught your eye online, the show will have something to match every collection
3. Wear walking shoes
Make time for the lectures as they offer some pretty cool stories and information. The coin displays are at the Carson Nugget and the lectures, workshops and kids activities are across the street at the museum. Catch them all. Admission includes both locations.
4. Bring money to win raffle prizes
A fundraiser for the Nevada State Museum programs throughout the year, the raffle offers more than $3,000 in great donated finds.
5. Check out the fun in your own backyard
Find out how much that coin in your closet is worth, with free appraisals and information about new things to do.