



-y\ 



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Fig. 30. — Silver Doi.l.JvR. 1804. "class I" variety 

 struck in 1834-1835. 



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Fig. 31. — Silver Doll.-\r. 1804, unique "class 11" 

 variety, with plain edge, struck in 1858-1859 

 over Swiss 5-franc shooting piece. 



mental dignitaries and distinguished numismatists. ■■' 

 Both in concept and design the ncwlv renovated hall 

 was in bold contrast to the old (fig. 131). Bright, 

 internally lighted cases replaced the massive wooden 

 ones which had been dependent on daylight or ceilint; 

 fixtures for illumination. Attractive displa\- panels 

 were either decorated and illustrated with background 

 art work and labels done by silk screening or covered 

 with linen fabric. The main display in the new hall 

 was dedicated tu monetary history — from primitive 

 barter to modern monetary systems — and traced the 

 development of money as an integral aspect of society. 

 Displays of coins, tokens, and paper currencies were 

 arranged in their historical and cultural context, 

 rather than by conventional classifications. Special 



emphasis was given to the various forms of currencies 

 of North America and their role in the economic and 

 political groyvth of the United States. 



The first half of the display showed significant 

 phases in the evolution of money economy in the 

 Western world (fig. 133): earh' economies; the 

 first coins; the Hellenic world; ancient Rome; the 

 Byzantine Empire; the penny (fig. 134); the rex-ival 

 of gold; groats and testons; the dollar; the New- 

 World: barter on the frontier; C^olonial money, 1607- 

 1764; spirit of independence, 1764-1787; building a 

 nation; the I nitcd .States Mint; economic adjust- 

 ments, 1812-186U; L'nitcd States coin designs; war 

 and reconstruction, 1860-1873; rise of modern 

 America, 1873-1900 (fig. 135); and the 20th century. 

 Special lopical displays completed the basic monetary- 

 history exhibit, and an-iong the themes illustrated 

 were the origin of coin names, the Reformation (fig. 

 136), Clonfederatc currencies, and state bank notes. 

 Also on display was a reconstruction of a coin stamper 

 designed by Leonardo da Vinci (fig. 137) which em- 

 phasized the introduction of mechanization in coining 

 techniques. This machine was reconstructed for the 

 Smithsonian Institution by the International Business 

 Machines Corporation. Prominently displayed in the 

 reno\'ated hall were the United States Mint collec- 

 tion and the noted Straub collection of coins, which 

 together include the world's largest display of gold 

 coins, and a group of oversized multiple talcrs of the 

 Brunswick duchies. Also featured were the Japanese 

 gold and silver coins from the President Grant 

 collection. 



■'^i^m^^ 



'- USN.M Repoil, I'lhl, pp. L"J-;5:i, ill.; ,V/ R,f,.,l, l'H,l, p. 1:',; 

 sec also, "Smithsonian Institution Numismatic Display, Ex- 

 tension of Remarks of Hon. .\. Willis Robertson of Virginia 

 i n tlic Senate of the United States," Coniinssional Rrcord { Monday 

 March 20, 1961), .\1887-8; V. Clain-Stei anf.lli, "Hall of 

 Monetary History and Medallic .\rt, Smithsonian Institutioji, 

 Washington, D.C:.," Museum (1962), \ol. l.'i, no. :i, ill., with 

 I rench, .Spanish, and Ru.ssian abstracts, pp. I91-l'iii, jlso 

 pp. XXVH, XXXIl; "Monetary History and Medallic .\rt 

 a the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C," .\umi\nin 

 (N.adrid, 1965), vol. 15, no. 75, pp. :5l-48. 



Fig. 32. — Historical 1838 Proof half dollar 

 struck at the New Orleans Mint, i'hc first 5(1- 

 cent piece issued by a branch mini. 



Displayed in two table cases were selections Irom 

 the Willis H. dii Pont donation of Russian coins 

 illustrating coins issued b\- the Tsars Peter the Great, 

 Peter II, and Anna as well as the iwlitical aims of 

 Peter the Great evidenced on medals. 



PAPER 31 : HISTORY OF TIIK X.\TIOX.\E NUMISMATIC COLLECTIONS 



23 



