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<p>[QUOTE="Sallent, post: 2727430, member: 76194"]This is a brief write-up on my trip to the Gallery of Numismatics, which houses the National Numismatics Collection for the Smithsonian Museum. You can find this collection at the Museum of American History. This is by no means a comprehensive overview of the entire exhibit, as it is too vast for just one thread in a forum. But I do hope it gives you an idea of what awaits you if you ever find yourself in Washington D.C. and decide to check this exhibit for yourself.</p><p><br /></p><p>The entrance to the exhibit is quite imposing, mimicking a bank vault. The exact location is on the second floor, left hand side of the building, at the Museum of American History, which is right next to the National Mall.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]619348[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I know this is a coins forum, but if you also like paper money then you will not be disappointed. There were denominations there that I had never seen in person, only in catalogs and books. Again, keep in mind that these are but a few pictures...the full collection is much larger than what's pictured here.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]619349[/ATTACH]</p><p>$100,000 Gold Certificate</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]619350[/ATTACH]</p><p>$5,000 Federal Reserve Note</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]619353[/ATTACH]</p><p>Prototype US Currency and old notes</p><p><br /></p><p>For those who love ancient coins, the exhibit does not disappoint. There are probably over 60 ancient coins on display (and I'm happy to say I own about a third of the types on display). They are well displayed, and have interesting write-ups on them. There are some very rare ancient coins there too, including a Julius Caesar lifetime portrait denarius and a very rare Nero sestertius. Below are but a small sample of what they have to offer on exhibit.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]619354[/ATTACH]</p><p>Byzantine cup-shaped coins along with a modern US coin mimicking the shape.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]619356[/ATTACH]</p><p>Ancient Greek coins</p><p><br /></p><p>And this has got to be the gem of the exhibit. I know most of us probably don't care much for Chinese cash coins, but they have a nearly intact cast tree of Chinese cash coins. I cannot begin to tell you just how rare that is. I don't think I know anyone who has one of these near intact looking almost the way they came out of the mold, nor have I ever seen one at auction. Something so rare, if it ever came up at auction, would probably fetch a hefty sum. What a treasure!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]619365[/ATTACH] Chinese Cash Coin Mold Tree (Nearly Intact)</p><p><br /></p><p>And for those of you with a gold tooth, no need to be disappointed. There is plenty of gold in this vault. Here is but a small taste to wet your appetite</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]619366[/ATTACH]</p><p>Gold coins from around the world.</p><p><br /></p><p>And no collection would be complete without some stone money. Here is a delightful yap stone. These stones are one of the most interesting forms of traditional indigenous money ever devised. Most are so big and heavy that they cannot be moved and remain where they were first placed, though everyone in the village knows who the stone belongs to even if the location never changes.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]619367[/ATTACH]Yap stone money</p><p><br /></p><p>So the question begs asking, should you fly to DC just to see this collection? Of course not, Washington D.C. has a lot more to offer as far as museums and monuments, which makes it well worth while visiting. As interesting as this exhibit is, I have to admit it is overshadowed by the shear amount of history and things to experience in the nation's capital city. But if you are ever in the area and have some spare time, I suggest you make time to visit the Museum of American History and stop by the second floor with an hour or so to kill. It is well worth it. This is all but a mere fraction of what awaits you, including more ancient coins, rare American coins, rare paper money, lots of gold, and plenty of numismatics history for you to learn a little and have a good time.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]619369[/ATTACH]</p><p>A display on precious metals coins and artifacts, and precious metals certificates[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Sallent, post: 2727430, member: 76194"]This is a brief write-up on my trip to the Gallery of Numismatics, which houses the National Numismatics Collection for the Smithsonian Museum. You can find this collection at the Museum of American History. This is by no means a comprehensive overview of the entire exhibit, as it is too vast for just one thread in a forum. But I do hope it gives you an idea of what awaits you if you ever find yourself in Washington D.C. and decide to check this exhibit for yourself. The entrance to the exhibit is quite imposing, mimicking a bank vault. The exact location is on the second floor, left hand side of the building, at the Museum of American History, which is right next to the National Mall. [ATTACH=full]619348[/ATTACH] I know this is a coins forum, but if you also like paper money then you will not be disappointed. There were denominations there that I had never seen in person, only in catalogs and books. Again, keep in mind that these are but a few pictures...the full collection is much larger than what's pictured here. [ATTACH=full]619349[/ATTACH] $100,000 Gold Certificate [ATTACH=full]619350[/ATTACH] $5,000 Federal Reserve Note [ATTACH=full]619353[/ATTACH] Prototype US Currency and old notes For those who love ancient coins, the exhibit does not disappoint. There are probably over 60 ancient coins on display (and I'm happy to say I own about a third of the types on display). They are well displayed, and have interesting write-ups on them. There are some very rare ancient coins there too, including a Julius Caesar lifetime portrait denarius and a very rare Nero sestertius. Below are but a small sample of what they have to offer on exhibit. [ATTACH=full]619354[/ATTACH] Byzantine cup-shaped coins along with a modern US coin mimicking the shape. [ATTACH=full]619356[/ATTACH] Ancient Greek coins And this has got to be the gem of the exhibit. I know most of us probably don't care much for Chinese cash coins, but they have a nearly intact cast tree of Chinese cash coins. I cannot begin to tell you just how rare that is. I don't think I know anyone who has one of these near intact looking almost the way they came out of the mold, nor have I ever seen one at auction. Something so rare, if it ever came up at auction, would probably fetch a hefty sum. What a treasure! [ATTACH=full]619365[/ATTACH] Chinese Cash Coin Mold Tree (Nearly Intact) And for those of you with a gold tooth, no need to be disappointed. There is plenty of gold in this vault. Here is but a small taste to wet your appetite [ATTACH=full]619366[/ATTACH] Gold coins from around the world. And no collection would be complete without some stone money. Here is a delightful yap stone. These stones are one of the most interesting forms of traditional indigenous money ever devised. Most are so big and heavy that they cannot be moved and remain where they were first placed, though everyone in the village knows who the stone belongs to even if the location never changes. [ATTACH=full]619367[/ATTACH]Yap stone money So the question begs asking, should you fly to DC just to see this collection? Of course not, Washington D.C. has a lot more to offer as far as museums and monuments, which makes it well worth while visiting. As interesting as this exhibit is, I have to admit it is overshadowed by the shear amount of history and things to experience in the nation's capital city. But if you are ever in the area and have some spare time, I suggest you make time to visit the Museum of American History and stop by the second floor with an hour or so to kill. It is well worth it. This is all but a mere fraction of what awaits you, including more ancient coins, rare American coins, rare paper money, lots of gold, and plenty of numismatics history for you to learn a little and have a good time. [ATTACH=full]619369[/ATTACH] A display on precious metals coins and artifacts, and precious metals certificates[/QUOTE]
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