34 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1914. 



been presented to individuals for special services, and, representing 

 many phases of United States history, it offers an excellent field for 

 studj^ 



The foreign coins and medals have been installed in geographical, 

 alphabetical and chronological arrangement, the geographical being 

 by continents in the following order, namely, Europe, Africa, Asia ; 

 and the alphabetical by countries in each of the continents, the 

 colonies of each country, wherever situated, being associated with it. 



The European collection begins with Austria, followed by Belgium, 

 of which there are a number of interesting pieces relating to the 

 stirring events of the Eevolution of 1830. After Denmark comes the 

 British Empire with an especially large representation. The coins 

 of the Empire, including its possessions, fill a case, and succeeding 

 them is an important series of English historical medals ranging 

 from the sixteenth century to the present day. Especially note- 

 worthy are the portrait medals of the sixteenth century and a hand- 

 some set of medals issued during the nineteenth centurj?^ commemorat- 

 ing notable events in the history of the city of London. The coinage of 

 France is poorly illustrated, but this is more than atoned for by the 

 splendid series of French historical medals, the bulk of which belong 

 to the Henry Adams and George Brown Goode collections, which 

 compose, in fact, the greater portion of the foreign medal representa- 

 tion in the Museum, the former aggregating nearly 1,000 and the latter 

 about 500 specimens. This series commences with comparatively re- 

 cent issues commemorating the reigns of the French sovereigns from 

 Pharamond, 420-128, to Xapoleon III, 1851-1871, and is followed by 

 miscellaneous medals relating to events from the reign of Louis XII, 

 1498-1515, to that of Louis XIII, 1610-1643. There is a nearly com- 

 plete set of the medals struck during the reigns of Louis XIV, 

 1643-1715, and Louis XV, 1715-1774; and the thrilling period of the 

 French Eevolution from 1789 to 1799 is well represented by designs 

 striking in character and import. The French medallic art of the 

 early part of the nineteenth century is illustrated by a number of 

 examples of fine medals struck during the reigns of Louis XVIII, 

 Charles X, and Louis Philippe. Following these is a large number 

 of portrait medals commemorating the careers of noted men of 

 French history, statesmen, authors, and others. 



Of Germany there is also an excellent presentation, beginning 

 with the coins of the various independent States and continuing 

 with those of the Empire founded in 1871, the arrangement of the 

 medals being the same. Especially noteworthy is the series of com- 

 memorative coins issued by the sovereigns of Bavaria during the 

 early part of the nineteenth century. The independent States 

 and the Kingdom of Italy are similarly illustrated, and in connec- 



