Coin show should attract thousands

For about 12 years, the Carson City Mint Annual Coin Show has attracted numismatists and those who are simply curious about the city's history of currency production.

Rusty Goe, owner of Southgate Coins and Collectibles, said, this year, he is bringing a few surprises to the Carson City show.

"We're bringing our finest Carson City coins," he said. "We have some special treats lined up that we're going to unveil at the show. We'll have a surprise for everybody."

Although Goe isn't saying what those are, he is eager to discuss a coin club he devised to help promote the 2005 show. Goe said he's promoted Carson City Coin Collectors of America nationwide. It has about 150 members from New Hampshire to Hawaii.

Goe will also sign copies of his book, "The Mint on Carson Street," at the coin show Aug. 27. He's also working on a book about James Crawford, a superintendent at the Carson City mint from 1874 to 1885.

Deborah Stevenson, curator of education at the Nevada State Museum, said she expects about 2,000 people to attend this year's event. About 40 coin dealers will be at the show, most from California and Northern Nevada. Dealers give free appraisals and have merchandise for sale or trade.

"We expect a really good crowd," she said. "We have activities for the whole family, including gold panning and crafts for kids."

Museum officials promise that every child who pans for gold will go home with a small vial of gold flecks. A more challenging activity is the foreign coin treasure chest. Stevenson said if a child can match a coin selected from the chest to its country of origin then he or she can keep the coin. Entertainment will be by jazz musician Bobby Joe Holman.

A popular feature at the show is the $25 commemorative medallions minted on an original Carson City Mint coin press.

"We're going to be minting them off coin press No. 1," said Bob Nylen, curator of history. "On the two days of the coin show, we'll be minting the state seal, the Pony Express, the Virginia & Truckee Railway, and the final one will be the Carson City Mint. We'll do those all in .999 fine silver, which is as pure as you can get."

Stevenson said this year's raffle is the largest, with 30 prizes, including a framed shadow box with U.S. Treasury certification for the uncirculated 1881 Morgan "CC" mint mark silver dollar. Items will be raffled every half hour during the event. Ticket holders do not have to be present to win.

Nylen said since Nevada's state quarter will be issued in 2006, this would be a good time to get involved in coin collecting.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

If you go:

What: Carson City Mint Annual Coin Show

When: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Aug. 27; 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 28

Where: Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St.

Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for seniors. Free for those under 18

Raffle tickets are available at the state museum for $1 each, or six for $5. Funds earned from the raffle support future educational programs, exhibits and museum projects.

For information or to volunteer at the show, contact Deborah Stevenson at 687-4810, ext. 237.