December 11, 2014 – Great Exhibition was the first in a series of truly “World’s Fair” exhibitions of culture and industry that were to become a popular 19th-century feature. These World’s fairs grew into what would become an even greater venue which would come to feature technology, popular culture, art, precision machinery, modern home life, education and fashion.
In 2015 – it will be Milan’s turn to shine! The first time Milan hosted such an event was in 1906, the event lasted nearly six months and welcomed more than four million visitors. During the many World EXPO’s, many coins, medal and souvenirs have been produced and issued, many sought after by avid collectors.
Now a special exhibition of past coins and medals commemorating the previous Universal Exhibitions and World’s fairs were brought together in one place and went on show for one week. The show FROM EXPO TO EXPO had on display one of the actual medals given out by Queen Victoria during the Great Exhibition, held in London in 1851, which was the initiative of her consort Prince Albert. Among the many other rare and exclusive medals featured was the 1889 bronze example dedicated to HSH Prince Albert I of Monaco in the occasion of the Universal Exposition, Paris.
The exhibition had its opening day on the 2nd December at Monte Carlo’s own Musee Des Timbres et des Monnaies, Fonvielle, Monte Carlo and concluded on the 7th December. The display was organized in conjunction with the popular and ever-growing “Numismatique” 2014 coin and stamp show held annually in Monte Carlo, Monaco and presented by Editions Gadoury. The one-day show was part of a two day event which also included the well-attended and eagerly awaited Gadoury Auction the day before.
During the show, the latest range of EXPO 2015 Milano coins was unveiled and was available for sale at the bourse. The exclusive product line of coins included gold, platinum and silver coins ranging in sizes from ¼ ounce to one ounce proof quality coins with very limited mintages. A limited number of souvenir pieces have been prepared especially for visitors to the “Numismatique” 2014 show who had also an opportunity to buy the EXPO 2014 Milano coin presented in a special “Numismatique” 2014 folder.
The EXPO 2015 Milano official medals and coin’s distinctive reverse images were designed by Luc Luycx, widely known as the artist behind the common reverse designs for the Euro coinage. Laura Cretara, former artistic chief of the Italian State Mint whose work includes many notable commemorative and circulation coins of the Italian Republic is the designer of the beautiful and inspiring obverse. Mrs. Cretara created the design for the world’s first bi-metallic coin, that of the 500 hundred Lira coin issued in 1982 and the obverse design for the current Italian 1 Euro coin.
More information on this exhibition and official EXPO 2015 Milano souvenir coins, you may find on this website.
And here you can explore the EXPO 2015 Milano. It will be held under the theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” and opens on the 1st May 2015 in one of Italy’s most beautiful and historic cities. The Exhibition will close on the 31st October 2015.