New Field Museum Exhibit Is All About Gold

Museum To Display Items From Ancient Currency To '05 White Sox World Series Trophy

CHICAGO (CBS) - The Field Museum is giving visitors what might be described literally as a golden opportunity.

On Friday, the museum is opening a new temporary exhibit simply titled "Gold." It features a display of more than 550 items.

"You'll discover gold's amazing physical properties, learn how this precious metal is mined from the earth, and see how cultures around the world and through time have valued gold as a status symbol, religious emblem, and form of currency," the museum says.

The exhibit includes rare coins, including the first minted ones from ancient Anatolia, and gilded cowrie-shell currency from ancient China. Coins bearing Alexander the Great and the emperors of Rome will all be on display.

The value of gold in culture and fashion will also be showcased. Pendants from the ancient African kingdom of Akan, 13th century gold earrings from Iran, and 19th century gold swords from Japan will be among the items on display.

There are also rare doubloons found in sunken Spanish galleons.

Some prestigious gold items of modern vintage will also be featured, among them Susan Sarandon's Oscar, Harrison Ford's Golden Globe, a Kentucky Derby Trophy, Shani Davis' two Olympic gold medals for speed-skating, and the 2005 White Sox World Series trophy.

Also featured is a 300 square-foot room lined completely with 3 ounces of gold leaf, which demonstrates the malleability of the precious metal.

The exhibit will close on March 6 of next year.

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