poinlmcnt pro\idccl a fresli opportunity lor the clc\cl- 

 opmcnt of numismatic collections in the Smithsonian, 

 for Belote had particular inclinations toward this 

 discipline. Also, in the years from 1910 to 1914, with 

 the addition of a new museum building for natural 

 history, space was gradually released in the Arts and 

 Industries Building and the numismatic exhibit area 

 was expanded. By 1914 Belote had finished selecting, 

 classifying, cleaning, and labeling coins and medals 

 for the display. 



During World War I and in the early postwar years, 

 the numismatic acquisitions were heas'ily weighted 

 toward medals and decorations. Most noteworthy was 

 the addition in 1918 of 1,200 medallic Lincolniana 

 which had been as.sembied by Roljert Hewitt.'^ This 

 group included medals, coins, tokens, and Ijadges re- 

 lating to almost every notable e\ent of Lincoln's 

 career. While most of the material was of pureK 

 historical and niunismatic interest, man\- pieces were 

 of artistic merit as well, particularK' those struck in 

 connnemoration of the Lincoln Centennial in 1909 

 (figs. 7-8). In 1919 the Muscinn started a collection 

 of World ^Var I awards, decorations, commemorati\e 

 medals, German satirical issues, and emergenc\ cur- 

 rencies which was systematically assembled over a 

 period of several years.^" In 1920, for instance, an 

 attempt was made to gather a coinplete collection of 

 LibertN' Loan posters. 



The most important event of this period was the 

 transfer of the Mint collection from Philadelphia to 

 the Smithsonian. The curator of the Mint collection, 

 Dr. r. Louis Comparette, died suddenh' in July 1922. 

 \\ hen the Mints were closed to the visiting public that 

 year, ijecause of a robbery at the Den\cr Mint, the 

 Secretary of the Treasury, Andrew W. Mellon, was 

 prompted to suggest the transfer of the Philadelphia 

 Mint's numismatic collection to Washington in a letter 

 to Charles D. ^Valcott, Secretary of the Smitlisonian, 

 on February 8, 1 923 : 



It has recently been deemed advisable in the 

 interest of safety to close the United States Mints 

 to visitors. .As you arc aware, there is a large numis- 

 matic collection in the Mint at Philadelphia. Since 

 the Mint is to be permanently closed to visitors the 

 inspection of the collection by the public is no longer 

 possible. There is an important and very beautiful 

 selection of coins, tokens and medals, perhaps the 

 largest and most complete numismalic collection 



10,00, 



" USAM Report, 1918, p. 27; S/ Report, 1911!, p. 30. 

 2» USNM Report, 1919. p. 65; 1920, p. 25; 1921, p 1:55: 1922, 

 p. 12.'5. SI Report, 1919, pp. 27, .30; 1920, pp. -11, 132. 



Fig. 7. — Lincoln Portr.mt by \'ictor D. Brenner, 

 1909. Preliminary model for coin design. 



owned by the Government. The logical place for 

 this collection would seem to be in the National 

 Museum in Washington, and I am writing to ask if 

 you would consider it feasible to have the collection 

 transferred there. In case you consider the under- 

 taking favorably may I suggest that you designate 

 a representative of the National Museum to inspect 

 the collection in order that you may be advised as 

 to its scope and importance, and as to other details 

 involved in the proposed transfer. 



1 he Curator of the Mint at Philadelphia died 

 several months ago, but we have made no special 

 cflTort to fill the position for the reason that the 

 removal of the collection to Washington has been 

 lenlatively considered for some time. 



The collection is under the jurisdiction of the 

 Director of the Mint, and I shall be glad to instruct 

 that officer to place before you all available infor- 

 mation in regard to it. I am enclosing a Catalogue 

 of the coins, tokens and medals which may be of 

 interest to you in considering the proposed transfer 

 of the collection from the Mint to the National 

 Museum. 



I'ormal acceptance by the Secretary of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution followed on February 19, 1923, 

 and on February 28, Belote was authorized to inspect 

 the collection at the Mint in preparation for its 

 packing and transportation. Afterward, Belote re- 



10 



BULLETIN 2 29: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY .VNU TECHNOLOGY 



