The Secretary of the Smithsonian ackno\vledc;ed 

 Andrew Mellon's letter on Februarx' 12 and delegated 

 Mr. W. de C. Ravenel, Director of the Museum, and 

 T. T. Belote, curator of history, to discuss the necessary 

 arrangements for the transfer. 



Mv dear Mr. Mellon; — 



I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Febru- 

 ary 8, concerning the transfer to the United .States National 

 Museum of the numismatic collection at present in the 

 Philadelphia Mint, and to assure you of my deepest interest 

 in the safeguarding and exhibition for the Ix-netit of the 

 public of this exceptionally important and valuable collec- 

 tion. The addition of the material to the collection of the 

 same character already in the custody of the Museum 

 would render available to those interested in the science of 

 Numismatics an exhibition collection comparaljle to those 

 shown in the other great museums of the world which have 

 recognized the importance of this subject. .\s a part of the 

 collections already in the National Musemn representing 

 the more general subject of History, with which Niunis- 

 inatics is closely allied, the material from Philadelphia 

 when installed in the Museum would be seen by the 

 thousands of visitors annually from all over the L'nited 

 States who are attracted to the Museum h\ the variety and 

 scientific and popular importance of its exhibits, 



-In accordance with your suggestion, therefore, it will 

 give me much pleasure to authorize Mr. W. de C:. Ravenel, 

 the Director of the Museum, and Mr. I. I. Belote. Clurator 

 of History, who is thoroughly experienced in numismatic 

 work to inspect the collection and confer with the jiroper 

 officials of your Department regarding the transler. 



Wry truly yours. 

 Charles D. Walcott 

 Secretary. 

 The Honorable A. \V. Mellon. 

 Secretary of the 'If easury 

 \Vashington. D.C. 



Formal acceptance of the collection by the .Sec- 

 retary of the Smithsonian Institution followed on 

 February 19: 



My dear Mr. Mellon: — 



Referring to my letter of Februaiy 12. concerning the 

 numismatic collection now in the Philadelphia Mint, .is 

 to the conference between Miss O'Reilly, .-Xcting Director 

 of the Mint, and Mr. T. I. Belote of the Museum stall. 

 I now take pleasure in advising you that the .National 

 Museum is very glad to accept this splendid collection .iiid 

 will be pleased to receive it whenever it is convenient lor 

 the officials of the Mint to have it packed and forwarded. 



.\ representative of the Museum will visit Philadelphi.i 

 to inspect the cases in which the collection is no\s installed 

 with a view to determining whether they will be serviceabh- 

 to the Museum. 



In this connection I wish to assure you of my a]5preciatioii 



of your thoughtful interest in making such an important 



contribution to the national collections. 



\'ery truly yoius. 

 C. D. Walcott 

 Secretary. 



The Honorable A. W. Mellon, 



Secretary of the Treasury, 



Washington, D.C.', 



On February 28, Theodore T. Belote was authorized 

 to inspect the numismatic collection at the Mint in 

 order to plan for its packing and transportation to the 

 National Museum. He spent March 6 and 7 there and 

 reported on Marcli 8 to Miss M. M. O'Reilly, acting 

 director of the Mint, his findings and recommenda- 

 tions. The following passages are of interest: '"the col- 

 lection . . . was partly in exhibition cases and partly 

 in wooden cabinets in the office of the curator. The 

 entire collection was counted by the lady in charge. 

 Miss Anna Tibbies, and myself with the exception of 

 a collection of United States war service badges, 

 which Miss Tibljles informed me had already been 

 completely listed, and a large amount of European 

 emergencN' currency of coinparatisc small intrinsic 

 value. 



"The specimens in the exhibition cases were counted 

 by case and country and two copies of the list were 

 made one of which was entrusted to Miss Tibbies and 

 one retained by myself. The specimens in the storage 

 cabinets were counted by trays." 



He suggested that the coins "be placed in envelopes 

 of suitable size with the small lables which they now 

 bear, then grouped in boxes of strong paper, about 

 twelve by twelve by fourteen inches in size, and finally 

 inclosed in a series of stout wooden boxes of convenient 

 size for shipping such heavy material by express. The 

 medals which are not so liable to injury in transit as 

 the coins may be placed in envelopes of a good 

 quality and packed directly in wooden boxes for 

 shipment. Copies of those sections of the lists prepared 

 by Miss Tibbies and myself referring to the contents 

 of the \arious boxes ma\' \x ]3ackcd with the coins to 

 which they refer."" 



On the same date, Theodore 'F. Belote, forwarding 

 to Ra\cncl his report to Miss O'Reilh', made some 

 additional remarks that should be f|uoted here: 



I found that the size and importance of the collection has 

 been very materially increased since my last visit to the 

 Mint in Philadelphia ,ind ih.u the acccptaiue of this 

 colleetirjii will pi. ice the .N'.ilioii.il Museum in the front 



PAPER 31: HISTORY OF THE N,\TION..\L NUMISMATIC COLLECTIONS 



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