Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, 1 895 

 (Report of the U.S. National Museum) (Washing- 

 ton, 1897). This unusual and rather broadly 

 cast study discusses the coinage of the ancient 

 Britons and ancient trade routes (pp. 818-824 

 and pis. 46-57). 



Adler, Cyrus and C.asanowicz, I. M. "Biblical 

 Antiquities: A Description of the Exhibit at the 

 Cotton States International Exposition, Atlanta, 

 1895." Pp. 943-1023 + 46 plates in the Annual 

 Report oj the Board oj Regents oj the Smithsonian 

 Institution, 1896 (Report of the U.S. National 

 Museum) (Washington, 1898). This paper con- 

 tains a special discussion of "A Selection of the 

 Coins of the Bible Lands" (pp. 982-988 and pi. 9). 



White, Ch.arles A. "The Archaic Monetary Terms 

 of the United States." Smithsonian Miscellaneous 

 Collections, vol. 50, part 1, no. 1714. (Washington, 

 1907). 



BECKwrrH, P.aul Edmond. "Indian Peace Medals; 

 French, Canadian, British, and Medals of the 

 United States." Pp. 829-836 in part 1 of Handbook 

 of American Indians North of Mexico (Bureau of 

 American Ethnology Bulletin 30). (Washington: 



Smithsonian Institution, 1907). 



Library 



Numismatics as a museum discipline demands a 

 complete reference library. In the early days, however, 

 since the museum had no specialized staff of numis- 

 matists, very little was done to build up an adequate 

 library. In the 1880s a beginning was made to obtain 

 various periodicals and 13 numismatic publictions 

 were received in 1888.'*^ Unfortunately, this be- 

 ginning was not pursued as a long-range project for 

 the museum. 



In 1925 the numismatic library was substantially 

 increased with the addition of about 800 volumes and 

 pamphlets from the old Philadelphia Mint cabinet. '^^ 

 No systematic acquisitions were made, however, and 

 current publications, periodicals, and standard refer- 

 ences were acquired only sporadically. Since 1956 an 

 increased flow of books and periodicals has come in, 

 mainly through donations. Although the library still 

 has serious gaps, the Smithsonian numismatic library 

 ranks among the leading specialized libraries in lliis 

 country. 



Appendix VII 

 Gift of Gold Coins from Japan to President U. S. Grant 



A collection of gold and silver coins from Japan 

 was given to President Grant by the Japanese Govern- 

 ment "as a slight return for [his] liberality and thought- 

 fulness in sending to His Imperial Majesty one of 

 [his] blooded horses." The coin collection was pre- 

 sented later to the United States Government by 

 Mrs. Julia Dent Grant and Mr. W. H. Vanderbilt. 

 President Arthur's message to Congress on Febru- 

 ary 4, 1885,'" concerning Mrs. Grant's offer to give 

 the Government the testimonials lately belonging to 

 General Grant, contains a schedule of these objects. 

 In this schedule the Japanese collection is mentioned 

 on page 3: "Collection of coin (Japanese). This is the 

 only complete set, except one which is in the Japanese 

 treasury. Seven of these pieces cost $5,000. This set 

 was presented by the Government of Japan." The 

 collection was accepted by a resolution of Congress 

 which became law on August 5, 1886. (Mr. Isao 

 Gunji of the Economic Research Dept. of the Bank of 



'" SI Report, 1888, pp. 33, 36. 

 '" USNM Report, 1925, p. 109. 

 '<5 Exec. Doc. No. 60. 



Japan recently expressed the opinion that some of these 

 pieces were made during the 18th century for 

 collectors.) 



The only known illustrations of this collection are 

 in William H. Allen's The American Civil War Book and 

 Grant Album published in 1894. 



The following is a transcription of data from original 

 correspondence on file in the Registrar's office, United 

 States National Museum. 



Depariment of Colonization. 

 Tokio. Japan December 2. 1880. 



Sir 



I liavc the honor to inform you that His Imperial Majesty, 

 having highly appreciated the swiftness and beauty of the 

 stallion, of your own breeding, which had been kindly 

 presented by you. has ordered me to make use of him for 

 breeding, in order to improve our native horses, and that 

 the stallion has been sent to the Agricultural farm at 

 .\arwye in the Province Dohima, in the Island of Gesso, 

 for that purpose. I have no doubt that fine stock will soon 

 follow in abundance. 



It affords me great pleasure to present you certain articles 

 mentioned in the enclosed list, as a token of our appreciation 



88 



BULLETIN 229: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 



