The Secret Life of Money: Currency Exploration Through Collections

Lunch and Learn Series

Thursday, February 18, 2010
12:30 PM to 01:30 PM

MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE
48 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
Tel: 212.908.4110
Fax: 212.908.4601

Harley Spiller, a museum professional and collections expert, presents his mind-boggling collection of unusual artifacts and little-known information from the world of currency and coins. Spiller regales audiences with surprising and true stories, like the one about the bank manager who threw away hundreds of dollars in dumpsters every year – and was rewarded for doing so. Learn to protect yourself against dishonesty, discuss strategies used by the visually impaired, and see how nations of the world put their best foot forward on their paper money. Use magnet detectors, ultra-violet lights, and other anti-counterfeiting devices as Spiller reveals the active ingredient in counterfeit-detecting markers and other secrets behind U.S. currency. Handle his extraordinary collection of unusual government misprints, offbeat bills and coins, and notes designed or altered by important modern artists Alberto Giacometti, J.S.G. Boggs, Peggy Diggs, Nicolas Dumit Estevez and others

Through three decades of professional museum experience, Harley has garnered over a dozen reviews in The New York Times alone. His international coin, currency and exonumia collections have been presented at The New-York Historical Society, CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The Stamford Museum, The Queens Museum of Art, The Bank Street School and elsewhere. A graduate of Northwestern University, Harley is expecting his M.A. from The New School for Social Research in May 2010.

$5 tickets may be purchased at the door and include admission to the Museum. Participants in the 11 am walking tour preceding this event will be admitted free of charge. Feel free to bring your lunch.