The Museum of American Finance will unveil a gold and jeweled Monopoly set by world-renowned artist and jeweler Sidney Mobell on Oct. 15.
Created in 1988, the game includes a full-size 23k gold-plated board with tokens, hotels, houses, and dice done in solid 18k yellow gold with diamonds, rubies and sapphires. The game is set with 165 gemstones weighing a total of 51.21cts. It is on loan from the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History.
The Smithsonian received the game as one of 20 jeweled art objects from Mobell’s personal collection of. A long-time resident of San Francisco, Mobell is known for his fanciful and innovative employment of everyday household items as works of art.
Mobell will be at the New York museum during the unveiling and will attend a press conference. Afterward, there will be Monopoly tournaments for children and adults. The first tournament, scheduled to run from 10:15 am - 12 pm, is open to students under the age of 18. The second tournament, to be held from 1 - 3 pm, will be open to adults 18 years and up. Both tournaments are free and open to the public and will be available on a first come, first served basis. Prizes will be awarded to a winner at each table.
“We are thrilled to have this one-of-a-kind item and its creator here,” said museum president David Cowen. “The game is symbolic to America and was popularized during the difficult economic times of the depression. We again face difficult economic times, and this incredibly valuable item will bring joy to our many visitors.”
The Museum of American Finance, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is the nation’s only public museum dedicated to finance, entrepreneurship and the open market system. The museum is located at 48 Wall Street.