FORT WORTH — Rare American treasures are about to go on display at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
Some of the pieces are worth millions, and important enough to live in museums like the Smithsonian.
But it's the stories behind the coins that make them fascinating, including one that put Fort Worth's Max Mehl at the center of the coin-collecting universe more than 70 years ago.
Mehl was a colorful salesman who is credited with bringing the hobby of coin collecting to the masses.
"He had lots of ego; lots of personality," said Doug Mudd, curator of the Money Museum.
Mehl's national advertising campaign during the Great Depression offered big bucks for the incredibly rare 1913-V nickel. Because only five were known to exist, he was more interested in a marketing gimmick than actually buying the coin.
"They said that traffic was held up because of all the trolley men and busmen were looking at their nickels to make sure they didn't have a 1913," Mudd said.
But now, look no further for the 1913-V nickel. It's in Doug Mudd's pocket at the Money Show, insured for $2.5 million.
Lost for years, the family that owned it thought it was a fake until they had it re-appraised. They loaned it to the American Numismatic Association.
In addition to a floor full of vendors, the Money Show offers a peek at other rare currency, including a sheet of $100,000 bills that were used by the Treasury to move large sums between banks.
"$1.2 million feels pretty good right now," said U.S. Treasury spokesman Kevin Brown. "It's always good to leave with money in your pocket."
And Max Mehl — an immigrant from Europe — felt the same way. His clients included Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt.
Mehl's name still stands on the Fort Worth building where he built his empire.
The National Money Show opens Thursday and runs through Saturday at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
E-mail dschechter@wfaa.com
