Did you know that the nation’s oldest private mint – Osborne Coinage, founded in 1835 – is located right
here in Cincinnati? It is! And they will have a prominent presence at the Big Coin Show coming to the
Sharonville Convention Center July 26 and 27.
The Greater Cincinnati Numismatic Exposition, produced by the Cincinnati Numismatic Association, is the
tri-state’s oldest and largest coin show. It also offers some unique nuggets of Cincinnati and U.S. history.
That is only fitting, since the term “numismatics” refers to the study and analysis of how people use
money, as well as the collection of various types of money, coins, and other forms of consideration. The
history of numismatics dates back centuries. However, coin collecting likely began at the time currency
was invented.
Osborne Coinage struck campaign tokens for the Lincoln presidency. The die used for those tokens will
be on display at this year’s show. And Honest Abe himself will be in attendance, courtesy of Dennis
Boggs, the best Lincoln impersonator in the world.
Attendees will be able to see the dies used to strike the Office of Price Administration (OPA) tokens that
were an integral part of the nation’s rationing program in World War 2 and watch an ancient coin-striking
demonstration. Cincinnati author Peter Bronson will be signing copies of and giving a half-hour
presentation about his book “The Man Who Saved Cincinnati” about Federal General Lew Wallace’s
defense of the Queen City during the Civil War. There will also be some free book giveaways.
And, of course, there will be 125 tables of rare and unique coins. This is the tri-state’s largest coin show, after all.
