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Is it possible that the Smithsonian will EVER sell their duplicates?

Lots of good stuff just sitting in a few dark vaults for 100+ years. What do you think?

Seth
Collecting since 1976.

Comments

  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    There has been a recent trend among museums toward selling off redundant material in order to update and diversify their collections. Maybe that trend will extend to the Smithsonian. But then, maybe not. It's a rather controversial issue and they may want to steer clear of the idea.

    Russ, NCNE
  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,162 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would love to see them sell just one of their 1933 $20 and use the money for a stand alone building to display more of their coins....
  • NumismanicNumismanic Posts: 2,582 ✭✭✭
    One of their 1849 pattern $20.00 Liberties would be nice. Could you imagine what that would go for! image


    Don
  • cosmicdebriscosmicdebris Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭
    Or at least use the dupes for a West Coast Smithsonian
    Bill

    image

    09/07/2006
  • DeepCoinDeepCoin Posts: 2,781 ✭✭✭
    The Smithsonian will never sell any of their duplicates. No question in my mind. Nice thought, but it just will not happen.
    Retired United States Mint guy, now working on an Everyman Type Set.
  • That would be quite the Pedigree! image

    They would no doubt realize very high prices for even their worst coins!

    Ken
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,701 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>That would be quite the Pedigree! image

    They would no doubt realize very high prices for even their worst coins!

    Ken >>



    In 1978 they had sets of circulation issue clad dimes and quarters on display. The coins
    were all unc but were incredibly ugly. It looked as though they searched more than a few
    rolls to find the worst examples. The collection at the Philly mint was not a great deal
    better. The Denver mint actually had some nice coins but nothing really great.
    Tempus fugit.
  • Apparently the vast majority of the Smithsonian's National Numismatic Collection's donated accessions were given in perpetuity, owing to the tax legislation at the time of donation (including the Lilly coins). Some of the great US rarities in the collection were transferred from the Mint Cabinet collection in the 1920's and 1930's, and these also must be held in perpetuity.

    Also, several other of the known pieces were once in the Chase Manhattan Bank collection that was display in New York City for many years, and they were (somewhat improperly) conserved to remove heavy toning and surface contaminants. I don't think these coins would be so well received in the market as a result.
  • clackamasclackamas Posts: 5,615
    We seem to be selling off all of our other assets to the highest bidder, ANWR, the National Forests, the Rocky Mtn front, etc. If you give enough money to the Presidential campaign they may very well sell them to you without bids from others.

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