The story of walking millions of dollars across the Smithsonian, and how I got the 1804 $1 mirrors
airplanenut
Posts: 22,345 ✭✭✭✭✭
Back in the summer of 2004, the Smithsonian took down their numismatics exhibit. Even though I was just a high schooler, @MrEureka was able to get me in on the action with a bunch of other names you’ll recognize from around the country. For two days, the vault was opened, and when we weren’t putting coins from the exhibit back in their spots, we were allowed to look through the whole collection. It was absolutely awesome.
On the second day—our last—I lamented that I hadn’t gotten to see the ultra rarities, which hadn’t been brought back to the vault yet (staff took everything off display and brought coins to the vault). I was escorted down to the exhibit area, given a box, and told to pluck the rarities—the 3 1804 dollars, 2 1933 double eagles, ultra high relief, and gold half union—from their cases into the box. I then got to walk the unlocked box across the museum to the elevator back to the vault (the big guy next to me the entire time was well armed).
The coins were propped up and displayed with a mirror behind them so you could see the reverse. I asked what they were doing with the mirrors and was told I could have them. I dug the mirrors out at my parents’ House this holiday weekend and finally got a picture of them.
And that’s the story of how I got to walk tens of millions of dollars worth of 7 coins across the Smithsonian in an unlocked box, and then acquire the mirrors that spent years reflecting the reverses of three 1804 dollars. The Cointain held the T2 dollar.
Comments
That was one of the most interesting weeks I can recall. I had no idea you got those mirrors!
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
Thank you for sharing .... I enjoy the story and You certainly have a piece of the history in you hand
Wow, what an incredible story!
Good memories and history.
You have the captured souls of the $s
Thank you for sharing your one-of-a-kind walk through a numismatic event in time.
Awesome story!
So you got to handle "my" Linderman 1804 Dollar, eh??????
Way too Cool...Sort of off topic but my bucket list is to handle Doc Holiday's Colt...it's out there. Great story...Take care...
CC
For me, the highlight of the trip was the look on Jeremy’s face when he stumbled and dropped the tray. At least the mirrors didn’t break. That would have been bad luck.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Great story. Someone had to walk those coins to their destination. No reason it should have been anyone else.
Somewhere I’ve got a picture of me holding the tray, but it’ll take some digging through a few old hard drives to find it.
Love those mirrors. I remember well when all that took place. Several posts were made on the forum. You are one lucky kid (I guess now a lucky young man).
Joseph J. Singleton - First Superintendent of the U.S. Branch Mint in Dahlonega Georgia
Findley Ridge Collection
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It’s a shame they had to go back to the vault. That’s really cool you got to be in on that I would love to work as a curator there be able to see everything behind the scenes
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
I was at the Smithsonian this summer and was looking at the 1804 dollars on display. I was not able to see the reverses at all and now I know why... you took the mirrors!!
Neat story, one you will cherish forever. You made some great connections early on. But you left out the part where you dropped the tray and now I am interested to hear... the rest of the story.
The current 1804 display... without mirrors...
Three 1804s, two 1933s, one UHR $20, and the $50 gold pattern. That would be quite an auction sale!
Saw those mirrors there in 1998.
Interesting to know their destiny!
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Great story, Jeremy. Did Guru at least buy you lunch?
That's really neat. In May of 1983 I broke away from my junior high tour group and spent an hour or so as a sixth grader on the lam so that I could see those coins. Although in retrospect I understand how much consternation and inconvenience I caused, the huge rash of sh!t I got for my reckless action seemed worth it at the time ...