Reports about the growth of the collection were in- 

 corporated in the Director's Annual Report from 1910 

 through 1921 under the title "The State of the Numis- 

 matic Collection" (after 1917, "The Progress of the 

 Numismatic Collection").'*' All these activities 

 ended with Dr. Comparette's sudden death on July 3, 

 1922. 



The idea of the transfer of the collection to Wash- 

 ington had been proposed as early as 1916 by Dr. 

 George F. Kunz of Xew York, President of the 

 American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society 

 and one of the most active members of the American 

 Numismatic Society. He discussed the idea with Dr. 

 Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian, 

 and with the Director of the Mint, Robert VV. Wooley, 

 on April 4, 1916. The following documents trace the 

 transfer of the Mint Collection to the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



Xew York City. 

 April 6, 1916. 

 401 5th Avenue. 

 Hon. Robert \V. WooUcy, 

 Director of the Mint, 

 Washington, D.C. 

 Dear Mr. Woolley: 



.•\ppropos of our conversation of Tuesday. I am now 

 writing the following letter: 



In view of the fact that in a number of foreign countries, 

 a great national collection of coins is in the National 

 Museum and in the national capital, it occurred to me that 

 if the United ,States Government transferred the majority 

 of the coins froin the Mint in Philadelphia to the United 

 States National Museum and had it distinctly known that 

 a great national collection was being formed there, it would 

 undoubtedly be enriched by gifts and legacies from time to 

 time. The Curator in charge could be transferred from the 

 Mint to the National Museum. 



The collection there would be more accessible to the 

 Director of the Mint and. undoubtedly, would be of con- 

 siderable value to him; the collection at present is more or 

 less inaccessible. .-X greater number of visitors would see it 

 at the National Museum and the study of coins and coinage, 

 which has had great bearing upon Art in history, would be 

 materially advanced. 



I had the pleasure of dining with Director W'alcolt of the 

 Lnited States National Museum on luesdav. the 4lh. and 



^" Annual Report of the Director oj Ihf Mini . . . /91J, pp. \9(.: 

 op. cit., 1912, p. 18; op. cit., 1913, pp. 23f.; op. cit., 1914, pp. 

 28f.; op. cit., 191,3, pp. 29f,; op cit., 1916, p. 24; op. cit., 1917, 

 p. 34 ("The Progress of the Numismatic Collection"); op. cit., 

 1918, p. 33; op. cit., 1919. p. 33; op. cit., 1920, p. 42; op. cit., 

 1921, pp. 33f. 



spoke to him of the possibility of a coin collection at the 

 Museum. I think that he seemed interested. 



There are a number of large collections of coins in the 

 United States and with the example of Mr. Treer giving 

 jjaintings, there may be something doing in the coin line. 

 Believe me. 



Very truly yours, 

 George F. Kunz 



The lack of a curator after the death of Dr. Com- 

 parette and the closing of the Mint to the public 

 because of a robbery at the Denver Mint (committed 

 after thieves obtained information through a previous 

 visit) were among the factors that persuaded the 

 Secretary of the Treasury, .\ndrew \V, .Mellon, to de- 

 cide to transfer the collection to the National Museum 

 in W^ashington, and he so notified Secretary Walcott: 



Washington 

 February 8, 1923. 

 Hon. Charles D. Walcott, 

 Secretary. .Smithsonian Institution 

 Washington. D.C. 

 My dear Dr. \Valcott: 



It has recendy been deemed advisable in the interest of 

 safety to close the United States Mints to visitors. .As you 

 are aware, there is a large numismatic collection in the 

 Mint at Philadelphia. Since the Mint is to be permanendy 

 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 numismatic collection 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 con- 

 sider the undertaking 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. 



The Curator of the Mint at Philadelphia died several 

 months ago, but we have made no special effort to fill the 

 position for the reason that the removal of the collection to 

 Washington has been tentatively considered for some time. 

 The collection is tmder the jurisdiction of the Director 

 of the Mint, and I shall be glad to instruct that officer to 

 jjlace before you all available information 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 projxjsed 

 transfer of the collection for the Mint to the National 

 Museum. 



\'ery truly yours, 



A. \V. Mellon 



Secretarv of the Treasurv. 



92 



BULLETIN 229: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 



