Did You Know That President Dwight D. Eisenhower Collected Coins?

DrDarryl

When I was performing research on the President Eisenhower appreciation medals https://potus-sgm.com/, I found a file in the National Archives that shows that President Eisenhower donated his entire "coin" collection to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. The President's collection amounted to 189 pieces. The file did provide a complete donation inventory of the collection (that is how I know the actual count of 189 pieces). The following image is the thank you letter from the Smithsonian.

I periodically visit the Smithsonian museums in Washington DC when time permits. On one visit to the National Museum of American History, I came upon the following display.

Guess what the accompanying placard said?

TurtleCat

It’s neat that he collected but I wish they showed those more interesting pieces mentioned in the letter.

DrDarryl

There is a possible connection of Dwight D. Eisenhower the coin collector and President Eisenhower the awarder / gifter of appreciation medals. It's a coincidence that the donation took place in 1958 and the first appreciation medals were awarded/gifted in 1958.

MedalCollector

Ike must not have been a fan of TPGs

DrDarryl

Imagine this...Ike collecting Ikes. Yikes...

PerryHall

@DrDarryl said:
Imagine this...Ike collecting Ikes. Yikes...

I bet if he were still alive, he would be collecting Ike Dollars.

TurtleCat

@PerryHall said:

@DrDarryl said:
Imagine this...Ike collecting Ikes. Yikes...

I bet if he were still alive, he would be collecting Ike Dollars.

Nah, he would be autographing them for a TPG special label edition.

chesterb

Ike collected dreck and widgets?

TurtleCat

@chesterb said:
Ike collected dreck and widgets?

I thought that at first but the letter implies he had some cool stuff, too. They only wanted to show the dreck.

mcarney1173

Thank you for posting these photos. I visited the Smithsonian back and February and attempted to take a photo of this same display. I must have pulled my phone away too quickly and the photo I took was horrible. For some reason I thought this was an FDR display

1northcoin

He also shot photos with a 3-D camera. If I recall correctly the model he had strapped around his neck was a Stereo Realist although Kodak made one that looked similar.

1northcoin

Doing a little leg work I was able to confirm that Ike shot with a Realist as I had recalled.

At his Presidential Library in Abilene Kansas a collection of over 1,100 of his 3D slides are preserved. They recorded in 3D historical events to include his own inauguration, The Bermuda Conference and the funeral of a King George as well as scenic locations such as Camp David.

The photos recorded historical events, and scenes in 3D throughout the decade that spanned from 1948 to 1958.

I am guessing that his 3D camera(s) or at least ones like his are also on display.

DrDarryl

The mention of the "...military and political leaders of World War II" in the thank you letter is actually (from the inventory): a Gold Coin Collection in red leather case of Chiefs of the Second War, 14 coins. Set can be seen at...

https://taxfreegold.co.uk/venezuelagoldmedalsjefezenlasegundaguerra.html

Hydrant

Another reason to..LIKE IKE!

ksuscott

I had no idea. I grew up 15 minutes from his hometown, but it has been awhile since I've been to the museum.

1northcoin

@1northcoin said:
He also shot photos with a 3-D camera. If I recall correctly the model he had strapped around his neck was a Stereo Realist although Kodak made one that looked similar.

@1northcoin said:
Doing a little leg work I was able to confirm that Ike shot with a Realist as I had recalled.

At his Presidential Library in Abilene Kansas a collection of over 1,100 of his 3D slides are preserved. They recorded in 3D historical events to include his own inauguration, The Bermuda Conference and the funeral of a King George as well as scenic locations such as Camp David.

The photos recorded historical events, and scenes in 3D throughout the decade that spanned from 1948 to 1958.

I am guessing that his 3D camera(s) or at least ones like his are also on display.

@ksuscott said:
I had no idea. I grew up 15 minutes from his hometown, but it has been awhile since I've been to the museum.

Not the sharpest photo, but here you see Eisenhower with his Stereo Realist 3D camera. Best I recall it was this image or one very similar that was seen on the front cover of an issue of Life Magazine:

mannie gray

I didn't know he was interested in coins.

Zoins

This is great to know! I wish we could see his nicer coins. Quite the coincidence on the dates for his Appreciation Medals.

It would be great if the Smithsonian photographed their collection and placed them online like the ANS.

Wonder if the NNC will ever get the kind of resources and priority to do that.

cameonut2011

Very cool! I wonder how he resisted ordering the Mint to produce ultra rarities that he could purchase at face value (e.g. branch mint proof or specimen wheat cents and silver coins). I don't believe that all other ultra rarities were authorized by Congress so there is some precedent for creative minting.

Jimnight

Nice to know.

ricko

It is interesting to find that such a 'world and national' figure had hobbies to fill his personal time... coins and photography.... Sometimes we forget that such people are human just like the rest of us. Cheers, RickO

WillieBoyd2

From the last lines on the letter "Original: Federal Tax File - 1958" it appears that Dwight Eisenhower was going to claim a tax deduction for the donation.

If he (or his accountant) did claim a tax deduction one wonders what value was declared on the tax form.

cameonut2011

@WillieBoyd2 said:
If he (or his accountant) did claim a tax deduction one wonders what value was declared on the tax form.

I'm sure presidential ownership adds a couple of digits or more.

topstuf

@cameonut2011 said:
Very cool! I wonder how he resisted ordering the Mint to produce ultra rarities that he could purchase at face value (e.g. branch mint proof or specimen wheat cents and silver coins). I don't believe that all other ultra rarities were authorized by Congress so there is some precedent for creative minting.

Perhaps he knew about FDR and James Farley.
There was a president who knew how to create rarities.

For his pals.

1630Boston

1northcoin

@1northcoin said:
He also shot photos with a 3-D camera. If I recall correctly the model he had strapped around his neck was a Stereo Realist although Kodak made one that looked similar.

@1northcoin said:
Doing a little leg work I was able to confirm that Ike shot with a Realist as I had recalled.

At his Presidential Library in Abilene Kansas a collection of over 1,100 of his 3D slides are preserved. They recorded in 3D historical events to include his own inauguration, The Bermuda Conference and the funeral of a King George as well as scenic locations such as Camp David.

The photos recorded historical events, and scenes in 3D throughout the decade that spanned from 1948 to 1958.

I am guessing that his 3D camera(s) or at least ones like his are also on display.

@1630Boston said:

Thanks for adding that crisp photo!