Coin Resource - The 1933 Double Eagle, The World's Most Valuable Coin, will be on view at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York

The 1933 Double Eagle, The World's Most Valuable Coin, will be on view at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Beginning November 20, 2002.

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The only existing 1933 Double Eagle twenty dollar gold coin to be made legal tender will be on long-term loan beginning November 20, to the American Numismatic Society's Exhibit, "Drachmas, Doubloons and Dollars: The History of Money," at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 33 Liberty Street.

Minted in 1933 but never issued because President Franklin D. Roosevelt took the country off the gold standard, this single example escaped destruction when it was stolen by a Mint employee, made its way into the collection of King Farouk of Egypt, was withdrawn from an auction of his possessions in 1954, and went underground for 40 years until it was seized from an English coin dealer in 1996. It was sold by the United States Government in an auction at Sotheby's New York on July 30, 2002, where it brought the record sum of $7,590,020. It is the world's most valuable coin and will be on view at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York after Wednesday, November 20th.

The coin will be part of an exhibition of 800 examples from the American Numismatic Society's noted collection of one million coins, bills and other forms of currency used worldwide and spanning three millennia of history. The exhibition highlights the significance of money as political propaganda, artwork, and a reflection of social climate and economy. In addition to the 1933 Double Eagle, four of the Society's most valuable coins are also on exhibit; the Brasher doubloon, the 1804 dollar, a Confederate States half-dollar and the famous ultra high relief 20-dollar gold piece designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

Exhibition hours are 10:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 33 Liberty Street (wheelchair access provided from the Maiden Lane entrance). Admission is free. For a guided tour of the Federal Reserve Exhibits, you must make an appointment by calling 212-720-6130. For further information call the ANS at 212-234-3130.

For further information please call: Ute Wartenberg on 212-234-3130 ext. 218 or Pamala Plummer Wright on 212-234-3130 ext. 231.