When I was a kid, I had a clutch of bills and coins from around the world. Some were my grandpa's and others my dad collected while on board ships in the military. Different in size, shape and design from the money I was used to -- and of which I had basically none -- these colorful bills, especially, were fascinating and gave me a sense (cents?!) of how big the world could be.
On my travels, I usually bring home a bit of money even now, to add to that incomplete and completely informal and disorganized "collection."
So, I was interested to hear about a new collection of currency currently on display at Milwaukee School of Engineering's Walter Schroeder Library on Jefferson Street and Kilbourn Avenue, across from Cathedral Square Park Downtown.
"There are dozens of bills from around the world," MSOE's Rick Gagliano wrote me in an e-mail.
"It started out with a few bills being put on display at the bookstore as international students shared them with one of the bookstore employees, Cheryl Myers. The collection grew as more international students and alum travelers wanted to share their currency, also."
The limited-time-only display also includes a few books on the subject of currency that will interest those curious about the bills.
If the international spirit of the currency doesn't speak to you, the variety of designs and colors just may nab your attention.
"It really is awe-inspiring to see the detail that goes into something that many of us take for granted," says Sarah Rowell, who is the senior circulation coordinator at the library.
Stop by and check (sorry) it out before it disappears on Oct. 22, when it will be replaced by a display of African art.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
