December 15, 2011 – Again, the World Money Fair is fully booked. Actually, it has been booked out for weeks. Over 300 exhibitors from 45 countries have registered for the event, counting only those who will showcase themselves to the public with their own booth. Virtually everyone dealing with coins has marked the date of the World Money Fair in the diary.
Crowds at the last World Money Fair.
Because, meanwhile, everybody knows that this is where to meet your business partners. Coin manufacturers, coin dealers, minting engineers, coin collectors, numismatic associations and coin clubs … In short, the entire numismatic “family” will gather again at Berlin’s Estrel Convention Center in 2012.
A Crowd-Pulling Event
Crowds are drawn to the huge exhibition rooms brimming with coins and attractions where numismatic trade and the mints present themselves. This year, more than 300 exhibitors, among them over 50 state mints and national banks, will come to showcase their products on an area of 8,000 square metres.
Focus is on the Olympics when guest of honour Great Britain showcases The Royal Mint’s new releases.
Great Britain, hosting the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games, will be guest of honour at the fair. The magnificent stand designed for this occasion is bound to be swamped with visitors. After all, they are “concocting” something special in the United Kingdom, something all coin collectors will remember.
However, the other fair participants are also making plans. The Berlin Mint will offer the opportunity of making a medal with your photo on it. The Berufsverband des deutschen Münzenfachhandels (The German Numismatic Trade Association) will turn the wheel of fortune for you, besides providing impartial numismatic assessment, which many visitors have come to appreciate in the last years. The South African Mint is preparing a surprise for little collectors. Actually, a lot of mints are thinking of ways to leave a lasting memory with German collectors in 2012.
Over 300 exhibitors, among them more than 50 state mints and national banks, on an exhibition area of 8,000 square metres. This range is second to none.
Certainly some coin dealers will offer to swap a normal 2 Euro coin for the latest German 2 Euro commemorative coin of the Länder series “Bavaria / Neuschwanstein 2012”.
And the Mint Passports are already finished, as well. Available for 10 Euro, the Passport allows novice collectors of any age to collect 30 small coins at the booths of international mints.
Plan ahead for your visit to the World Money Fair and enter the colourful world of numismatics!
A Numismatic Highlight
On Thursday, 2 February 2012, the company Fritz Rudolf Künker will hold its yearly Berlin auction. As every year, a very special catalogue will be issued. New record prices seem to have become almost a standard, particularly because this auction will see a numismatic first.
Record prices are expected this year at Künker’s when, for the first time in the history of numismatics, the five different versions of the family rouble will auctioned.
The famous “family rouble” is among the most sought-after coins in Russian numismatics. It was struck in five different varieties and never before have all five been put up for sale in an auction at the same time. Künker auctioneers are proud to be the first to do so in the history of coin trade.
The Trade Show
In parallel to the event for the general public, meetings and conferences for experts are held. Directors of mints from all over the world gather to discuss the current issues and problems associated with our “small money”. On Thursday, their technicians meet at the Technical Forum to review recent developments in coin production.
The Media Forum, providing information about the latest coin releases to the press, is open for everybody. Coin collectors who attend the event will get a good insight on what awaits them in 2012. Plenty of exciting new products are guaranteed!
The World Money Fair is great to start off the numismatic year 2012. Make sure you are a part of it!
You will find the list of exhibitors and the final programme here.
For more information about the auction on February 2, 2012 (viewing on 1 February 2012, from 11 am), please see Künker’s website.