The 96th annual National Coin Week, April 21-27, a reminder that money is history you can hold

Every coin and piece of money in your pocket, purse or piggy bank not only has a story to tell about people, places and events, it has its own special week.

National Coin Week, April 21-27, celebrates the historical, cultural, artistic and economic importance of money.

Sponsored by the nonprofit American Numismatic Association (ANA) to foster the enjoyment of coins and paper money collecting, the 96th annual event recognizes discoveries and innovation with the theme, “Discover the Past, Envision the Future.”

The ANA will host a variety of National Coin Week activities online and at the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., including:

  • A contest for ANA members to use their creative talents to design a coin released in 2069.
  • Online daily trivia challenges. Every day of National Coin Week, a new question will be released on the ANA’s Facebookand Twitter accounts and www.NationalCoinWeek.org. Participants submit their answers online for a chance to win prizes.
  • The annual coin club trivia challenge, where ANA member clubs test their numismatic knowledge and compete for prizes.
  • Online resources including articles from The Numismatist, promotional documents, links and suggestions from the ANA library.
  • An open house at the Money Museum on Saturday, April 27, which will include free admission, activities for children and adults, and the minting of the 2019 National Coin Week medallette in the museum’s Mini-Mint.

“Money has long been used to commemorate discovery and invention,” said Andy Dickes, ANA collections manager and coordinator of National Coin Week. “Feats such as the printing press, vaccines, the automobile and reaching the summit of Mount Everest are featured in numismatics. The 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing this year is a great time to celebrate all these achievements.”

Prizes for the design contest and club trivia challenge include:

  • Grand prize – Apollo 11 50th Anniversary 2019 Five Ounce Proof Silver Dollar
  • Second prize – Apollo 11 50th Anniversary 2019 Proof Silver Dollar
  • Third prize – Apollo 11 50th Anniversary 2019 Proof Clad Half Dollar

Other prizes will be awarded as well.

During the week, the public should be on the lookout for any rare or unique coins in pocket change. This year, coin dealers will release thousands of collectible coins across the nation, kicking off the “Great American Coin Hunt.” Historic, old money will be deliberately placed into circulation by more than 200 members of the group Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers to inspire people to closely look at their money. According to Rob Oberth, coordinator of the Great American Coin Hunt, some coins could have a value of $100 or more.

For additional information, email ncw@money.org, call 719-482-9814, or visit www.NationalCoinWeek.org.

The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its 25,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of instructional and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications and conventions. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.

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