World's Fair of Money rolls out in Rosemont

ROSEMONT, Ill. (WLS) -- The World's Fair of Money is in town and suddenly, Rosemont, Ill., is worth a lot more than it was yesterday.

For the next five days at the Stephens Convention Center, thousands of people from around the world will be here buying and selling the money that has shaped our world. There is the new stuff that stuffs our wallets and there are the ancient coins that have jingled in pockets and togas since the time of Christ.

"The Bible mentions coins in several spots including things like the thirty pieces of silver. We've got examples of those coins here. We also have examples of the coins of Pontius Pilot. Pontius Pilot was a governor of Judea and he issued coinage and we've got those piece right here," said Doug Mudd, curator of Money Museum.

The show is sponsored by the American Numismatic Association and they like to say that coins are history you can hold in your hands. This coin is the beginning of the coins we use today.

"That coin is important because it comes from the seventh century B.C. - 2,700 years ago - and it has the first example of writing on a coin that we've seen historically," Mudd said.

Back then, it could buy ten cows. Now, it's worth $250,000.

The U.S. Mint has an exhibit here worth a billion dollars. It's not a big showcase, but inside it's the money that does the talking.

"We have two $100,000 sheets of currency. They were just used by the Federal Reserve Banks. They were never in public circulation," said Kevin Brown, Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

But that's chump change compared to two half-billion-dollar treasury notes.

"A $500 million treasury note. It's like a very expensive savings bond," Brown said.

"Well, who would own it? Who would use it?" ABC7's Frank Mathie asked.

"Very wealthy people," Brown said.

The money will be rolled out in Rosemont through Sunday.