Smithsonian Stories on Money Exhibit report

RYK

I was in DC this weekend for a family life cycle event, and having some free time on Saturday afternoon, my immediate family and sister went to the National Mall. The Museum of American History was closed for renovations when we last visited as a family in 2008, so that is where everyone wanted to go. Believe it or not, the money exhibit completely slipped my mind, but when I saw it there, I had to take a peak. I last saw the previous display many years ago, when I lived in the area.

The coins, of course, were fabulous. I felt like a docent, describing them to my sister and children as my wife's eyes rolled time and again. It was a very small exhibit hall (smaller than the smallest walk-in closet at Longacre's estate), but there was a lot of numismatic greatness packed into the small space. It did not take long to visit, and we had plenty of time to see the all-important Ruby Red Slippers from the Wizard of Oz and Michelle Obama's inauguration dress. My favorite areas were an America at War exhibit and the new Star Spangled Banner exhibit. The latter literally gave my chills. If people are interested, I could post some of the coin photos, taken with the coins behind glass, but you have likely seen better representations of these coins elsewhere.

Up there with Air and Space and the National Archives, this is one of my favorite museums in DC. For those of you visiting DC who have more time and want to dig deeper, the Phillips Collection is my all-time favorite museum, just off Dupont Circle.



Link to Stories on Money Exhibit
Link to Phillips Collection

AnkurJ

Id love to see images!
I went a few years ago....and the coin exhibit was closed for renovation!!!

breakdown

I saw the display early last year. Unbelievable set of coins in a display that is more befitting a mom-and-pop museum. Million dollar coins in thousand dollar display. When I was there, people walking through had little or no idea of the rarity and value of some of the coins.
Glad you got to see it.

RYK

<< <i>I saw the display early last year. Unbelievable set of coins in a display that is more befitting a mom-and-pop museum. Million dollar coins in thousand dollar display. When I was there, people walking through had little or no idea of the rarity and value of some of the coins.
Glad you got to see it. >>


I generally agree, from the standpoint of a coin enthusiast. However, in the broader context of the museum, when you have items on display like George Washington's dress uniform, the chairs and table that seated Grant and Lee at Appomattox, and the flag over Fort McHenry that inspired our national anthem, the coins do pale in comparison. Nonetheless, a better display is probably achievable, and I understand that there are efforts in the works.

Shamika

Incredibly, I read somewhere that the Smithsonian can only show 5% of it's total collection (not just the numismatic stuff) so you can imagine the difficulty the staff has in determining how best to use the limited display space they have.

LindeDad

5% usage seems about right for a lot of things in Washington DC.

DrPete

Hi RYK,

Looks like I missed you by a week in DC! Went with my grown 22 year-old son who is just finishing his college degree in Social studies/education, currently doing his student teaching. I was his docent for the coins, but what really was his favorite was the visit to the National Archives and the chance to see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Magna Carte. The coins on display are few, but are the creme de la creme. I figure that display case with the three 1804 dollars, 1849 $20 pattern, the 1906 matte proof Barber gold pattern, and others could be worth upwards of $50-100 million if they were legal to own.

DC is a great place to visit!

SaorAlba

Just coincidentally Smithsonian Channel had a re-run of "The Hunt for the Double Eagle" on TV early this morning.

ModCrewman

I find it interesting that you mention both the Star Spangled Banner display and George Washington's dress uniform...those were two elements of the museum that took my breath away as well when I visited with my family last summer.

tahoe98

<< <i>Just coincidentally Smithsonian Channel had a re-run of "The Hunt for the Double Eagle" on TV early this morning. >>



...i see it is scheduled to be on again march 13th at 8 AM eastern time.

tahoe98

...just checked again! it's on right now!!!!!!!!

WTCG

I got into DC on Saturday and I'm there now. Too bad I missed you.

For any coin enthusiast the numismatic exhibit at the NMAH is worth visiting. For those who don't like coins like spouses and friends could care less.

CoinRaritiesOnline

I am now seated comfortably and ready to view the images.

cladking

<< <i>I felt like a docent, describing them to my sister and children as my wife's eyes rolled time and again. It was a very small exhibit hall (smaller than the smallest walk-in closet at Longacre's estate), but there was a lot of numismatic greatness packed into the small space. >>



Well that's not much help in figuring the size. I've never even been in a place like this
so it could be anywhere from 500 square feet to 1500.

RYK

<< <i>I am now seated comfortably and ready to view the images. >>

DrPete

Nice images of the displays. There are others not in the above photos, but RYK catches some nice images of some extraordinary coins.

They also have right by these masterpieces, a small plexiglass set of two adjoined boxes to drop a cent into, one side to vote for continuing the Lincoln cent, the other for stopping it. Interesting concept and some people put coins other than cents in them. I even saw a dollar bill. Not sure what that person was thinking.

Longacre

Longacre just canned one of his secretaries for not timely notifying him of this thread.

I plan to be in the DC area sometime in early May, jetting in from my undisclosed location. I love visiting the museums in DC. I am not embarassed to admit that I wept at the National Archives.