Went to the Smithsonian's coin exhibit today...Lots of pics

frnklnlvr · December 30, 2009 6:42AM

I'm up in Arlington, VA this weekend visiting family and decided to go to the Smithsonian's recently opened coin exhibit with my dad and brother. I was amazed to see all these fantastic rarities in one place! I could have spent hours there looking at these coins. The lighting was terrible but I got some pretty good pics. Enjoy!!!

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doh · December 30, 2009 6:44AM

Wow an 1822 $5....very cool! Thanks for all the pics!

Smittys · December 30, 2009 6:45AM

Nice no plastic anywhere

illini420 · December 30, 2009 6:50AM

Very cool, thanks for taking pics, that Barber $20 pattern is pretty neat

fcloud · December 30, 2009 6:53AM

Cool, but I think most of that stuff would be body bagged!

SpaceMonkey · December 30, 2009 6:54AM

very cool... but those metal prongs... ouch! and people complain about the new NGC slabs!

-sm

RWB · December 30, 2009 6:55AM

The Barber/Morgan 1906 $20 pattern seems to have been a test of the mint’s ability to put a lettered edge on the coin as required by Saint-Gaudens. The edge is the same one (identical) used for the first batch of MCMVII EHR experimental pieces struck in Feb 1907.

golfer72 · December 30, 2009 7:00AM

Hey nice pics! Thanks for taking the time to post these. Very interesting. Love the 13 V nickel and the 33 Saint.

Coinosaurus · December 30, 2009 7:00AM

Can anyone explain the 1900 cent? Did the curator just pull it out of his pocket or what??

Awesome photos - thx for sharing.

mumu · December 30, 2009 7:02AM

<< very cool... but those metal prongs... ouch! and people complain about the new NGC slabs!

-sm >>

I was going to say, is that a good idea?

yellowkid · December 30, 2009 7:04AM

<< very cool... but those metal prongs... ouch! and people complain about the new NGC slabs!

Ain't it the ruth? Can you say "electrolysis"

frnklnlvr · December 30, 2009 7:04AM

<< Cool, but I think most of that stuff would be body bagged! >>

I was thinking some of these coins looked like they may have been cleaned.

SaorAlba · December 30, 2009 7:07AM

I also have to wonder what damage was caused by the beating down of those metal prongs onto the coin surfaces.

All the same, thanks for sharing the photographs, I took pictures years ago with a film camera and they were awful.

mrearlygold · December 30, 2009 7:09AM

I'm willing to duel with anyone here for the 1849 Double Eagle. One shot at 20 paces

OK?

LoveMyLiberty · December 30, 2009 7:10AM

Your photos are very much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to show them
to us. Their condition is quite surprising, as is the method of display.
Thanks again.

WoodenJefferson · December 30, 2009 7:12AM

Thanks for posting all the images of these great coins...I was appalled at the amateurish mounting of these great treasures. A real travesty.

ricko · December 30, 2009 7:14AM

An incredible display... with coins that many would want to own. But leave it to the forum to find reason to criticize .... just cannot appreciate the coins for themselves. Cheers, RickO

coindeuce · December 30, 2009 7:18AM

Ditto what WoodenJefferson wrote. Those amateur mounts are an absolute disgrace to the legacy of National Treasure. Time to write to my Congressman.

mrearlygold · December 30, 2009 7:21AM

<< Ditto what WoodenJefferson wrote. Those amateur mounts are an absolute disgrace to the legacy of National Treasure.

>>

Ditto

Total lack of respect.

Windycity · December 30, 2009 7:21AM

Wonderful coins. Wow!!! So nice to just look at them. A trip to DC is a necessity.

Thanks for posting the pics.

Broadstruck · December 30, 2009 7:25AM

The metal prongs look like they are copper, gold, and silver depending on the type being held.

Thanks for the images yet the prongs made me cringe!

ebaytrader · December 30, 2009 7:28AM

<< 

<< Ditto what WoodenJefferson wrote. Those amateur mounts are an absolute disgrace to the legacy of National Treasure.

>>

Ditto

Total lack of respect. >>

Better than when the coins were glued onto the boards.

ebaytrader · December 30, 2009 7:29AM

BTW, in which Smithsonian bldg are they displayed?

mrearlygold · December 30, 2009 7:29AM

<< 

<< 

<< Ditto what WoodenJefferson wrote. Those amateur mounts are an absolute disgrace to the legacy of National Treasure.

>>

Ditto

Total lack of respect. >>

Better than when the coins were glued onto the boards. >>

The coins were glued to the boards?

NO private owner would treat property this way.

Halfsense · December 30, 2009 7:32AM

Thanks for sharing the photos. I liked see a bit of red still evident in the 1787 Connecticut copper piece.
-donn-

mkman123 · December 30, 2009 7:33AM

uhhh is that how the Smithsonian takes care of rare coins??? I would think they would have the coins all slabbed by NGC or PCGS, not put metal prongs around them............

ebaytrader · December 30, 2009 7:34AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Ditto what WoodenJefferson wrote. Those amateur mounts are an absolute disgrace to the legacy of National Treasure.

>>

Ditto

Total lack of respect. >>

Better than when the coins were glued onto the boards. >>

The coins were glued to the boards?

NO private owner would treat property this way. >>

Oh, yeah! The boards were verticle and a few fell off and were laying on the bottom of the display.

I think the 1849 $20 may have been one of them.

Hussulo · December 30, 2009 7:40AM

I was thinking some of these coins looked like they may have been cleaned.

That's what I was thinking.
I wasn't sure if it was me, or the pictures but I can see a lot of hairlines/scratches on many of the coins.

itsnotjustme · December 30, 2009 7:42AM

Neat. I love the 1807 Comet!

I was at the Smithsonian today too. Museum of Natural History with the wife and kids. We also had lunch at the ESPN Zone.

RWB · December 30, 2009 7:48AM

Many of the SI coins were cleaned long ago, when that was accepted procedure. NGC provided modern surface stabilization and plastic holders for many of the coins, but those are removed for public display. A lot of the old Chase Manhattan Money Museum coins had been mounted on cardboard with clear tape - imagine getting that gunk off!

gonzer · December 30, 2009 7:52AM

<< very cool... but those metal prongs... ouch! and people complain about the new NGC slabs!

-sm >>

Yeah, those prongs make me nervous too. You would think that being in the Smithsonian the curators would have opted for something with a little more padding.

frnklnlvr · December 30, 2009 8:07AM

<< BTW, in which Smithsonian bldg are they displayed? >>

They're located in the National Museum of American History (Kenneth E. Behring Center) on the 1st floor.

Hussulo · December 30, 2009 8:11AM

At my local museum in Scotland (Edinburgh) they use clear plastic semi circle holders:

mrearlygold · December 30, 2009 8:12AM

Cointains?

EagleEye · December 30, 2009 8:16AM

Great pics of the Class II 1804 and the 1906 $20. I didn't see all those hairlines on the 1849 $20 when it was in LA. They must be using halogen lights.

I don't think the 1822 $5 will grade.

littlebear · December 30, 2009 8:16AM

Thank you for sharing the photos! It sounds like it was a memorable trip!

Larry L

Unknown · December 30, 2009 8:36AM

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morgandollar1878 · December 30, 2009 8:44AM

Very nice display, thanks for sharing.

Goldbully · December 30, 2009 8:51AM

I didn't see all those hairlines on the 1849 $20 when it was in LA. They must be using halogen lights.

SI Coin Link

frnklnlvr · December 30, 2009 8:59AM

<< Great pics of the Class II 1804 and the 1906 $20. I didn't see all those hairlines on the 1849 $20 when it was in LA. They must be using halogen lights.

I don't think the 1822 $5 will grade.

>>

The lighting was very dim, I had to use my flash to take these.

GritsMan · December 30, 2009 9:09AM

Fun stuff! Thank you!

firstmint · December 30, 2009 11:13AM

Neat coins, tacky display.

MrEureka · December 30, 2009 1:43PM

The prongs are coated with some sort of soft plastic (?) material. I've seen these before, and had no concerns about them scratching the coins.

jsf · December 30, 2009 3:23PM

thanks for taking the time to do this. Fun photos. Looks like more stuff to add to the wish list.

Type2 · December 30, 2009 3:31PM

Very cool Thanks for posting.

sumnom · December 30, 2009 4:34PM

<< very cool... but those metal prongs... ouch! and people complain about the new NGC slabs!

-sm >>

It looks like they use a hammer to mash the prongs down.

sumnom · December 30, 2009 4:36PM

<< An incredible display... with coins that many would want to own. But leave it to the forum to find reason to criticize .... just cannot appreciate the coins for themselves. Cheers, RickO >>

OK, fine.

Call me dull but I really liked the 1974 cent.

frnklnlvr · December 30, 2009 4:45PM

Here's one more pic I left out...

morgansforever · December 30, 2009 7:45PM

Awesome early coinage! What's up with the 1913 nickel, someone hit it with a scrub brush?
Where's the 64 Peace dollar? What would be the final bid if the pieces pictured went to action?
Diggin the aluminum cent

Thanks for sharing,
scott

CoinRaritiesOnline · December 30, 2009 9:24PM

Wow!

Thanks for sharing. No one can say they didn't bring out their (our!) first line stuff.

Connecticoin · December 30, 2009 10:13PM

Wow, nice display.

I did not know the 1822 Fathead $5 was so harsly cleaned, though.

Went to the Smithsonian's coin exhibit today...Lots of pics

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