Smithsonian Coin Collection
Raufus
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Sorry to write about a topic that's been covered ad nauseam, but...
I was at a professional conference in D.C. for the past few days. I got out early yesterday and decided to see the small but amazing portion of the Numismatic collection which is on display. No matter how many times I see it (which is a fair number being a local) it just never ceases to amaze me.
The collection of coins in that most humble display with the most important items, held by small metal prongs, with simple captions is just utterly stunning. Beyond thinking about how many tens to over a hundred million dollars that those few coins would bring at auction, being able to see such incredible pieces all in one case is just incredible. The numismatic and U.S. history which they represent is so much fun to ponder. I also love listening to the comments of the numismatically lay public as they look at the coins. Everyone seems to love the half unions and to marvel at the beauty of the UHRs. One guy commenting on the 1913 V nickel was telling his wife that it was worth THOUSANDS just for that nickel. LOL.
Anyway, sorry to ramble on but I was just so struck by the collection that I felt like posting a note.
I can't encourage forum members strongly enough to check out the collection if you should be in the D.C. area.
I was at a professional conference in D.C. for the past few days. I got out early yesterday and decided to see the small but amazing portion of the Numismatic collection which is on display. No matter how many times I see it (which is a fair number being a local) it just never ceases to amaze me.
The collection of coins in that most humble display with the most important items, held by small metal prongs, with simple captions is just utterly stunning. Beyond thinking about how many tens to over a hundred million dollars that those few coins would bring at auction, being able to see such incredible pieces all in one case is just incredible. The numismatic and U.S. history which they represent is so much fun to ponder. I also love listening to the comments of the numismatically lay public as they look at the coins. Everyone seems to love the half unions and to marvel at the beauty of the UHRs. One guy commenting on the 1913 V nickel was telling his wife that it was worth THOUSANDS just for that nickel. LOL.
Anyway, sorry to ramble on but I was just so struck by the collection that I felt like posting a note.
I can't encourage forum members strongly enough to check out the collection if you should be in the D.C. area.
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<< <i>I can't encourage forum members strongly enough to check out the collection if you should be in the D.C. area. >>
I'll second that. I first saw the Smithsonian collection as a kid in 1964, and was awestruck. If I remember correctly, there were 2 1804 dollars, and countless type and pattern coins that I had never seen in person. The ones that I remember most vividly were the Walking Liberty half dollar patterns. The next time I saw the collection, decades later, there was an incredible collection of gold on display, but not much else. It would be great if they photographed the entire collection and had it available on the internet.
Jim
There are three 1804 dollars. A Type I, the unique Type II and a Type III all in a row at the top of the case. Wouldn't that make a fine addition to one's collection? :-)
I really hope that they greatly expand the numismatic display. It's a real shame to have so many amazing items locked away.
It is on my bucket list.
I was not happy....
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<< <i>Sorry to write about a topic that's been covered ad nauseam, but...
I was at a professional conference in D.C. for the past few days. I got out early yesterday and decided to see the small but amazing portion of the Numismatic collection which is on display. No matter how many times I see it (which is a fair number being a local) it just never ceases to amaze me.
The collection of coins in that most humble display with the most important items, held by small metal prongs, with simple captions is just utterly stunning. Beyond thinking about how many tens to over a hundred million dollars that those few coins would bring at auction, being able to see such incredible pieces all in one case is just incredible. The numismatic and U.S. history which they represent is so much fun to ponder. I also love listening to the comments of the numismatically lay public as they look at the coins. Everyone seems to love the half unions and to marvel at the beauty of the UHRs. One guy commenting on the 1913 V nickel was telling his wife that it was worth THOUSANDS just for that nickel. LOL.
Anyway, sorry to ramble on but I was just so struck by the collection that I felt like posting a note.
I can't encourage forum members strongly enough to check out the collection if you should be in the D.C. area. >>
Thanks! Always welcome a reporting on anyone's visit to the Smithsonian collection. Last time I was in D.C. was for a swearing in ceremony before the Supreme Court a few years ago and wish time had allowed me to see the collection. There is always next time.
<< <i>I visited Washington DC about 4 years ago with the intent to visit the collection, only the section was closed for renovation!
I was not happy.... >>
That matches the time frame I was in D.C. I knew the collection was "hidden" for an extended period of time but had assumed it might have opened sooner than apparently it did.
<< <i>I visited Washington DC about 4 years ago with the intent to visit the collection, only the section was closed for renovation!
I was not happy.... >>
That's when I was last there as well
This thread reminds me of the recent story (ANA press release?) of the ex-Smithsonian curator and his "private collection" of extremely rare coins (maybe it was a Heritage auction announcement?). You guys know what I'm talking about? Anyone find it odd that the dude in charge of handling our nation's coin collection just happened to acquire his own on the side? Maybe a few of the museum's pieces slipped into his pockets and ended up in his "private" safe? Or, I suppose, his salary could've been great enough, and his free time / vacation days numerous enough, that he could afford to acquire all those pieces in addition to his museum duties ...
<< <i>
<< <i>I visited Washington DC about 4 years ago with the intent to visit the collection, only the section was closed for renovation!
I was not happy.... >>
That matches the time frame I was in D.C. I knew the collection was "hidden" for an extended period of time but had assumed it might have opened sooner than apparently it did. >>
I remember going in the 1990s with my dad. I can't recall the year - we travelled to NYC annually but only stopped in DC a couple times. I'm thinking '95, maybe. Anyway ... he was telling me that the collection was going to be closed shortly afterwards and that I should TAKE A GOOD LOOK! We stood there for over an hour, maybe two staring at all the coins. World coins, too not just US. It was huge. Like, an entire wing of the museum. It was like entire Type sets from every country that you could possibly imagine. There were people video taping through the glass (as you often see at Smithsonian museums). I remember wishing that we had a video camera. Looking back, I now understand my dad's enthusiasm. God knows if those coins will ever see light again. The museum has millions of items in storage and limited display case real estate.
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<< <i>It would be great if they photographed the entire collection and had it available on the internet. >>
We already have excellent photos, right in this forum:
http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=796393
http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=685278&STARTPAGE=10
Bob
PHOTOS of our National Numismatic Collection with info detail
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If you have time and can schedule an apointment with the Director, you can have access to any and all coins (or other area of interest or study) there. There is good security involved, but there are amazing coins there. I detailed my trip there from about 10 years ago in another post on these boards. I focused on Barber halves, but was able to see ANYTHING I wanted and had a good visit with Dr. Richard Doty. Well worth the trip. I really liked the Barber patterns dated 1891. Neat stuff.
<< <i> I have never seen the 1849 twenty dollar gold coin(pictures don't count). Bob >>
This coin has been on display at a couple shows in recent years - summer ANAs I think.
<< <i>As the original poster above has said, a visit to the Numismatic collection is well worth it. However, what many people may fail to realize, the VAST majority of coins and other holdings of the Smithsonian are in storage; there is absolutely no way to display all of the material that is there. The Smithsonian is a great place to do research on coins or other collections they have. If I remember correctly, they have over 500,000 confederate notes!
If you have time and can schedule an apointment with the Director, you can have access to any and all coins (or other area of interest or study) there. There is good security involved, but there are amazing coins there. I detailed my trip there from about 10 years ago in another post on these boards. I focused on Barber halves, but was able to see ANYTHING I wanted and had a good visit with Dr. Richard Doty. Well worth the trip. I really liked the Barber patterns dated 1891. Neat stuff. >>
That is really great to know. I had assumed you had to have academic credentials to get access. Although a little off topic the cave drawings in Europe are similarly not open to viewing by the public but I learned earlier this year when visiting the caves in Nerja Spain that with advance arrangement one could schedule access. (The DK Travel Guide did not so advise and only stated, "Wall paintings found in them are believed to be 20,000 years old but they are closed to public view." )
Pictured are the similar looking nearby caves from within the Rock of Gibralter sans any cave drawings. The even more spectacular Nerja caves can also be visited without advance scheduling but the areas where the cave drawings are located require prior arrangements.
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<< <i>Guess what I found after a little searching …
PHOTOS of our National Numismatic Collection with info detail >>
Wow, just wow!! Those are great pictures!
Thanks for sharing the link.
I was in my Sophmore year in High School - my Dad had taken an assignment in DC - and the family
would take the train down every other weekend - as well as school vacations and I was introduced to
the collection by my Dad.
On my first visit, after an hour of the family casually browsing, they wanted to go.
I said have a good time, I'm staying.
I was in "Hog Heaven" ... I was able to spend quite a few hours there during my vacations
and every other weekend. That was a year I never forgot.
Seeing selections of these coins on the ANA road trips brings back many fond memories.
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<< <i>As the original poster above has said, a visit to the Numismatic collection is well worth it. However, what many people may fail to realize, the VAST majority of coins and other holdings of the Smithsonian are in storage; there is absolutely no way to display all of the material that is there. The Smithsonian is a great place to do research on coins or other collections they have. If I remember correctly, they have over 500,000 confederate notes!
If you have time and can schedule an apointment with the Director, you can have access to any and all coins (or other area of interest or study) there. There is good security involved, but there are amazing coins there. I detailed my trip there from about 10 years ago in another post on these boards. I focused on Barber halves, but was able to see ANYTHING I wanted and had a good visit with Dr. Richard Doty. Well worth the trip. I really liked the Barber patterns dated 1891. Neat stuff. >>
You have a wonderful, thoughtful and caring wife to have "made" you take a week off and go to the Smithsonian
to view IN HAND all of those Barbers. I can't believe it's been ten years already !! Your write up made us all
feel as if we shared the conference room with you. I saved the images of the 1891 Patterns - ( on another device ) -
and wished I was able to view them in hand. I remember the article as if I read it yesterday. Peter, you should bring
that Thread back up to the top - there are many new collectors on the boards now, most would love to read your article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
the display, and especially the coins, was superb. In those days they had a set of clad quarters displayed
as well and these were simply abysmal. They were poorly made coins and not well preserved. They were
so badly lighted one almost couldn't tell just how bad they really were.
<< <i>The coins need to be slabbed so that they are better protected.....those metal prongs that they sit on probably scratch the coins >>
Not necessarily slabbed, but better protected
<< <i>Guess what I found after a little searching … PHOTOS of our National Numismatic Collection with info detail >>
LochNESS, thanks for the link!
Jim