Calling all coin collectors: If you're looking for a 1933 Mercury-head dime, be advised you won't find one in a numismatic shop, but you can see one on stage at the Ahmanson Theatre, where the feel-good musical "42nd Street" is playing.
In fact, in the glittery production number "We're in the Money," you'll find a bevy of chorines dancing atop 22 small wooden dimes. Then, the mother of all 1933 coins is rolled out by two guys for hoofer Robert Spring to strut his stuff atop it.
"During 1933, in the Depression," explains 23-year old Spring, who plays Billy Lawlor, "the Mint didn't make dimes that year, or any other coins, for that matter."
So set designer Douglas Schmidt fudged a bit. According to stage manager Renee Rimland, Schmidt downloaded a picture from the Internet. "It's a high-resolution piece of art that looks like the head of a coin. It reads 'In God We Trust' and features the 1933 date." The photo was digitally reproduced to create a graphic that was then affixed to the wooden cylinder painted silver.
