Smithsonian's historic currency collection being scanned

I caught wind of this on another forum -- it bodes very well for collectors and researchers of U.S. paper money. The Smithsonian is using a "rapid capture" scanning process to create high-res images of all the paper money specimens and proofs in the National Numismatic Collection -- some 250,000 items. Check out some of the photos of the process...

Museums Are Now Able to Digitize Thousands of Artifacts in Just Hours

 

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Saw some great Florida proofs Greg. Thanks for the link.

 

Simply amazing.

 

This is superb!

 

maybe we could get a hi-quality photo of the real 1934 $100,000 bill.

 

They already exist what with getting an image of one blown up to this scale to print as a billboard. Big enough for ya?!

 

is that real?
did they really make a note that that was legal tender for that amount?
I must say being new here I am impressed by this.
Do not collect paper money except from my pay check.

 

Yes, there were such notes. They were printed in 1934 for the sole use of banks, and transferred between them, rather than in actual circulation. One can occassionally see them at annual ANA coin shows in display cases, which often also show off sheets of $10,000 notes as well.

There's a pic of a sheet of them at this link:
http://lunaticg.blogspot.com/2010/08/us-100000-dollars-bill.html

 

thank you.

 

! Who put that up?

 

It was an art installation in the Chelsea area of Manhattan a few years ago:

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/high-line-now-sporting-a-giant-100-000-bill-6683945

 

I have an interesting update on this scanning project! Apparently, the Smithsonian is enlisting the help of collectors and other volunteers to transcribe information from these uncut currency sheets. All you need to do is sign up on their site and you can contribute! I'm definitely planning to get involved -- how often do we get an opportunity like this?

The site has details and instructions. You just pull up a scanned sheet and then use drop-down menus to register things like portraits, signatures, charter numbers, etc. Anyone can participate, you just need to create an account. You'll find everything here:

https://transcription.si.edu/browse?filter=owner:7

 

Just a reminder -- new boxes regularly come and go for this project and are completed fairly quickly. The Smithsonian just put up boxes 22 and 23 of New York Nationals for volunteer transcription. If there are any NY forum members out there, you might find this interesting. Just click the link above.

 

Krispy, here's a screen shot I took just now while I was transcribing. Thought you might appreciate it.

 

I'm trying to find time to jump into this project and lend a hand! Looks so fun!

 

Any idea when it might be available to view them online?

 

The first two boxes of Ohio notes have been put out for transcription. These early boxes are often the most interesting -- I see a lot of first charter Nationals among them.

I wish I could say when these will be viewable, but that's up to the Smithsonian. I'll post something if I find more information.

 

And to pique your interest, here's another screen shot of a sheet I entered this morning. You can spend as long as you like or as little as five minutes when you have a free moment. But I must say, it's addicting!

 

Pennsylvania boxes 15 and 16 are now up for transcribing! These may be the last two for this state. Coming soon: Puerto Rico!

 

Here's one I fell into just now.