Is the Smithsonian coin collection gone for your lifetime?

291fifth · May 23, 2004 6:16AM

What do you think? My guess is that, except for an occasional coin in a related display, we have seen the last of the Smithsonian's coin collection for many, many years. It doesn't surprise me to see it taken off view. Museum's generally do a terrible job with coin collections. Once a dedicated champion departs from the scene the collection soon slips into oblivion.

It won't surprise me if it is soon replaced by a politically correct exhibit. Let see what happens.

nwcs · May 23, 2004 6:24AM

It'll probably be gone for a long time.

Hedger · May 23, 2004 6:58AM

Gone for good and never to be seen again.

BillJones · May 23, 2004 8:31AM

Yes, I’d say that the display of the National Coin Collection is gone for a very, very long time, perhaps forever.

The collection that the Smithsonian Institution holds is one of the two finest numismatic collections in the world. The Russians have the other one. Those who have built the collection dates back to at least Adam Eckfeld who pulled an example of the 1822 half eagle (just three known) from deposits of old gold coins in 1838 that passed through the mint for melting. It continues through the Lilly Collection, which came into the possession of the Smithsonian as result of deal that that the Lilly family made with government over inheritance taxes.

This action by the Smithsonian Institution is particularly galling in view of the fact that funds raised from the sale of the 1996 150th Anniversary coin sets were to be used to improve the exhibit of the national coin collection. Now the whole thing is going to put into vaults, where no one will see them except government bureaucrats and selected favored American citizens. On occasion some coins will be shown in conjunction with other exhibits, such as an exhibit of “Native American Culture” which will be presented in strictly Politically Correct terms.

The “low life” who is responsible for this disgusting action is Dr. Brent D. Glass. You can send an email to him at glassb@nmah.si.edu or you can send a letter to Dr. Brent D. Glass, Director, National Museum of American History, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20560.

There should be a Congressional investigation about this, and if I had my way I would fire Dr. Glass immediately and put him in charge of the something that is closer to his field of interest, like Politically Correct Studies. He is a “pubic servant” who deserves to be fired immediately, and replaced by someone who has some respect for the tax payers of the United States of America.

Baley · May 23, 2004 8:34AM

gone for my lifetime

Glad I saw it when I was in DC back way in 19 and 96.

rainbowroosie · May 23, 2004 9:59AM

I think Bill Jones nailed it!!!

LanLord · May 23, 2004 10:55AM

Let's start a conspiracy theory, it's being taken out of the National display so it can be quietly sold off to high paying rich collectors (bids already accepted).

oreville · May 23, 2004 2:20PM

BillJones: So why don't we start a campaign to oust Dr. Glass and to start a Congressional investigation as to how the funds we donated were spent. Perhaps we can enlist some of our former US Mint Directors to convince the President and Congress to force the Smithsonian to divest itself of the coin collection and send the coins to the US Mint in Philadelphia, PA for them to build a museum.

I wonder if the funds have been spent as directed?

Perhaps the ANS in New York along with the Federal Reserve could come to the rescue?

northcoin · May 23, 2004 4:18PM

Anyone recall how many more months the exhibit remains intact? It would be great if someone could put together a "virtual tour" of the exhibit and post it on a dedicated website before it gets locked up in the vaults.

MS68 · May 23, 2004 4:24PM

Bill Jones- Well said. It's a travesty that this great collection will be tucked away so that no one but a few elite will ever see again. How did this Glass jerk pull this off? Does he have a boss that we can complain to? I think that the many donors that gave their collections to help build this national treasure are rolling in their graves over this action.

northcoin · May 23, 2004 8:41PM

"Donors rolling over in their graves."

Sad but true.

The land that Princeton stands on was donated by a direct ancestor of mine with the express condition that his descendants would be allowed to attend college without being charged tuition. When one of my kids was being considered for admission there several years ago I met with the admissions office and they proudly announced to me that they don't honor those agreements anymore anyway!

At least my alma matter, Northwestern University still abides by a promise it made to investors at the turn of the century with regard to waiving tuition for the descendants in a program where such was promised. My kid who was visiting Princeton eventually went to Harvard anyway but at least I was pleased to learn that Harvard still honors a committment to native American Indians along similar lines - though my kid not being a native American Indian was not a personal beneficiary.

I guess the point here is that there are no guarantees that the original donors' wishes will be honored.

Compa · May 23, 2004 9:27PM

They will be back. They were just removed for cleaning.

Many were not as shiney as they should be. A good dipping and buffing and the public will appreciate them much more.

I spent an hour in the room about a month ago. The display left much to be desired.

Conder101 · May 24, 2004 3:26AM

I believe it is supposed to be on display until the end of July.

Unfortunately the Smithsonian surcharges were spent properly. Originally the money was all supposed to go to the national collection to improve the display and expand the collection. Then as it got close to passage the bill was amended so half went to reduce the national debt, then another allowed half of the Smithsonian portion to be redirected to the general fund and finally the lanuage on how the numismatic portion was to be spent was deleted. I belive that portion of the money was redirected into some maintanence and salaries.

Some of the collection may return to display. The new Mint office building in Washington DC also includes an exhibit area. When it was being remodeled it was discussed that possibly part of the National collection could be displayed there. Unfortunately the Smithsonian it a tourist attraction and the general public would have a better chance of seeing at least a portion of the collection there. I doubt if the Mint Office Building will ever be a major tourist draw. Even if it did get a nice exhibit of the collection.

LAWMAN · May 24, 2004 3:36AM

David Bowers wrote an impassioned plea in Coin World in his column and there was also an editorial in Coin World in the last couple of issues telling you who to write and where.

It is criminal that they are going to take the world's finest US collection (and an amazing world collection), formerly the Mint Collection, and basically, put it in boxes in the basement of a government building somewhere and forget about it.

We numismatists on this Board should rise up and stick our heads out the window and shout I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.

Then we should all write letters and lean on our elected officials to make them come up with a few bucks to put this collection on premanent display somewhere so that future collectors can enjoy it! There was a Simthsonian commemorative for this purpose some years ago, but, guess what, Congress spent the money on pork barrell junk that nobody needs. STAND UP FOR YOUR HOBBY AND BE HEARD -- THAT'S WHAT A DEMOCRACY IS ALL ABOUT!!!!!!!!!

cladking · May 24, 2004 3:39AM

I'm not sure I understand the purpose of removing them from display. There are
more people collecting so it would seem more people would be interested. The extra
security for coins would probably be of nominal cost and may not change that much
even if put into storage. With so many buildings and so much area, how can they not
afford to display some coins? Certainly it would be expected that any numismatic display
would evolve over time but what possible sense can it make to simply close it?

oreville · May 25, 2004 9:13PM

Here is a letter I wrote and the form letter response from Dr Glass, director of the Smithsonian.

I need help in interpreting what they are telling me? They need MORE money????????????????

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>> Oreville21 <oreville21@yahoo.com> 05/24/04 01:00AM >>>
Dr. Brent D. Glass, Director
National Museum of American History
14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W.,
Washington, DC 20560

Dear Dr. Glass:

I have read your report on how you plan on handling
the coin and money museum in the future.

In essence, you have indicated that you plan to
temporarily atore the coins and then possibly disperse
the coins into specialzed exhibits such as "Native
American culture" and possibly loan to other museums.

I personally find your plans to be unacceptable and
inappropriate. The various youth groups I have taken
to the Smithsonian in the past always looked forward
to the coin exhibits as a stand alone exhibit and
while I happen to believe the size of the exhibit does
not have to be quite as large as it is currently, a
somewhat smaller exhibit would at least preserve on a
rotating basis, the essence of a coin and money
museum. It would also raise the quality of the money
museum exhibits themselves along with a collaboration
with the ANS, ANA, Federal Reserve Banks, and the US
Mint to show parts of the Smithsonian coin exhibits on
a PERMANENT basis if you are unwilling to display the
entire money museum at one time.

The neglect of the coin and money museoum was so
readily apparent to any visitor in the last 5 years
and in a poor location.

I would like to believe that you will reconsider your
plans.

Very Truly yours,

Oreville21>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 17:14:45 -0400
From: "NMAH Webmaster" <nmahweb@nmah.si.edu> Add to Address Book
To: oreville21@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Smithsonian U.S. Money Exhibit

Thank you for your inquiry. Please read the following letter from the
Museum Director:

Thank you for writing to let me know about your concern related to the
closing of the National Museum of American History's Numismatic Hall.

The museum is proud to be the home to one of the largest numismatic
collections in the world and maintains its commitment to the visibility of
this collection. Numismatic collections will be part of future
exhibitions at the museum and will be used as a resource for Web sites,
presentations, publications and more. The collection also will remain
available to researchers and scholars as well as for loans to other museums,
conferences and other selected venues. Representatives from major
numismatic organizations have met with the museum and we are hoping to
garner support to create a new endowment and program to promote the history
of coins and currency.

The hall will remain open through July. Visitors can also see wonderful
examples of our collection at the IMF Center in Washington D.C. in an
exhibition developed by the museum's staff, "Money and Sovereignty:
Selections from the National Numismatic Collection." It will remain on view
through Oct. 28, 2005. A selection from the National Numismatic
Collection will also be on display at the Smithsonian's new National Museum
of the American Indian, opening in September of 2004.

I hope that you will continue to visit the museum. If you would like
to be involved in the creation of the Numismatic History endowment,
please send a letter to:

National Numismatic Collection
Attention: Jim Hughes
National Museum of American History, MRC 609
P.O. Box 37012
Washington DC 20013-7012

Brent D. Glass
Director

MacCoin · May 25, 2004 9:16PM

that stinks.............

razorface1027 · May 25, 2004 9:40PM

It'll probably be gone for a long time

Damn...I never got the opportunity to peer upon its beauty. Ahh, maybe my great gradnchildren will.

Conder101 · May 26, 2004 1:27AM

Yes they need money. The Smithsonian does not get that much money from the government and they naturally allocate it to those exhibits with broad popular appeal. Exhibits with smaller levels of interest get short shriff unless theyreceive funds from an outside endowment. About the only funds appropriated for the national collection are 100 proof sets to be used as trading material for proof sets from other countries.

291fifth · May 26, 2004 2:10AM

What the Smithsonian numismatic collection really needs is a tight definition of just what it is supposed to be. Once that is decided upon, the items in the collection that do not fit into the definition, or which are duplicates, should be put up at PUBLIC auction with the funds generated used for maintaining and displaying the collection. This should have been done decades ago but wasn't. The thinning of the collection would also save money by cutting storage and curatorial needs.

It would not surprise me if 75-90% of the items currently in the collection could be considered surplus. Think of the money they would generate at a series of well publicized public auctions. The collection would have an endowment large enough to support it in style far into the future.

I last saw the collection in the mid-90's and thought the display was ragged at that time.

LAWMAN · May 26, 2004 4:30AM

Oreville -- thanks for the action with the letter. Their response is pathetic.

Where are all the major auction houses and huge dealers on this issue????

We should be calling our Congressmen (and he said .[dig this] . . I'd like to help you son, but, you're too young to vote -- sorry, I had a flashback there), sending e-mails to everybody we can find on Google Government, AND REALLY TAKING ACTION NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHO'S GAME TO LIGHT A BIG FIRE UNDER THIS ONE???????????????????????

oreville · May 26, 2004 6:42AM

291 Fifth: Your suggestions make a lot of sense.

Is the Smithsonian coin collection gone for your lifetime?

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