Collection is of interest to you. and is makinii some progress. 



Really I have done very little in this matter; for after all 

 the prime factor in it is Mr. Straub's public spirit and 1 do 

 hope that the ultimate beciuest of the collection to the 

 .Smithsonian Institution will be accomijlished. 



I can assure you that it is a wonderful and representative 

 collection of foreign gold and silver coins primarily, with 

 many rarities, and material in lirst-class condition, and its 

 ultimate acquisition by the Smithsonian would greatly 

 strengthen its numismatic section. 



Of course I shall be most interested in the progress of this 

 proposition and hope that Mr. Straub will soon make a trip 

 to Washington for the discussion of ftu ther details. 

 "I am rooting hard for it." '*"' 



This was W'ormscr's last letter to the Smithsonian 

 for on May 22, 1940, this restless worker and dedicated 

 friend of the Smithsonian's numismatic collections 

 died unexpcctedh . 



Discussions concernint; the donation continued. 

 In July, Straub visited the .Smithsonian and in 

 October he invited Belote to examine his collection. 

 Belote spent November 14 and 15 in New York and 

 Summit, New Jersey, with Straub, and in a detailed 

 memorandum he described the collection as well as 

 the conditions attached to the donation. 



On January 7, 1942, .Assistant Secretary Wetmore 

 wrote to Straub goinir into details connected with 

 exhibiting, labeling, credit lines, and ditticultics that 

 would arise if blue \el\et lining should be used as 

 considered desirable by Straub. 



In his reply of Januar\- 12, 1942, Straub set forth 

 "three fundamental conditions" for the gilt: 



Thanks for yours of the 7th. I have carefully noted its 

 contents and am pleased to know that my collection has 

 had your consideration. 



Replying I would sa\ that there are onlv three kuida- 

 mental conditions attached to mv giving the collection to 

 the Museum, viz.: 



1 . That the coins be carelulU protected from injury and 

 theft. 



'2. That they are ap|jropriately and advantageously 

 shown. 



:i. That they arc made a permanent rxhiliit. .Ml other 

 matters are details that can be adjusted and arranged 

 withoiU trouble. 



It matters little whether the cases are lined with blue 

 velvet, if the pieces are shown to advantag<- in another way. 

 I onh' suggested blue velvet because both silver and gcjld 

 show up well on it. 



.Mso it would be well to show your pieces with mine, loi- 

 by so doing the object to my making the gill is aii.unrd. 



'™ USNM .\rchives, Ace. Ifil.WO. 

 PAPER 3\: HI.STORY OK THE N.\TIONAE NUM 



'1 hat is. to jirovide the nucleus for a better ,md !.ri'.;(r 

 collection, — one that will ])lace at the disposal of the sludciii 

 and the artist specimens of the best coinage of othei' coun- 

 tries. ,Mso to dcvelo]) in oui' people a desire and demand f(ji 

 better designed monies tli.iii we have had in iri<-ru \ears. 

 .See oiu- Commemorative half dollars and <jiu Jellerson 

 five cent nickel. 



If you think it best lo show silver and gold coins together 

 I will agree to it, although I am of the o])inion that it would 

 be much better to separate them. Try and vivuali/e ,i row 

 of gold ducats following a number of large, coarse, double 

 talers and talers. I am sure the sin.ill gold pieces would be 

 overlooked. Gold coins arc so much smaller and of so much 

 finer detail that it seems to me they should be shown by 

 themselves so as to bring out the beauty oi detail. 



If it IS known that gold and silv<'r are shown si-]>ar,itely. 

 I don'l think anv interested person would oli|rct lo walking 

 across an aisle to see botli. I think the (ullniion is so ,u - 

 ranged in Berlin . 



I don't consider a llat case the ideal wa\ to ^how coins, 

 and I only remember seeing coins so displa\ed in Paris at 

 the .National Library, and of course to the disadvantage of 

 the pieces displayed. 



The only way to show coins, to my was of thinking, is in 

 upright cases, the way rvii show the .\meii(an and other 

 coins in the cases against the \s\i\\. However, they should be 

 without the cases in front of them so that a person can get 

 up close to the case and examine the pieces. What can one 

 sec of the details of a gold dollar or a two and a half dollar 

 gold piece at a distances of say one to two leet. or when 

 standing on one's toes and straining to see the piece at all. 



I attach a sketch of my idea of an upright show case as I 

 have seen them in many Museums for your consideration. 

 The cases must be fitted with stifily glaa to prevent the glass 

 being smashed or cut with a diamond and valuable pieces 

 taken. There are gold pieces that cost up to S750., and silver 

 pieces worth up to $500. and more in my collection, and 

 ihev must be protected against accident or theft. 



.\tlaching my name to the pieces means little to me. lor 

 like .\ndy Mellon I seek no notoriety in making the gilt. 

 However, that detail I would leave to you, 



I hope that I have made my position clear, .md I would be 

 gl.id to hear from sou further afler \ou liave considered U. 



Of course, I'll be glad to come down to Washington to 

 arrange details if we get together on the three main pouits. 

 I enjoy<-d Mr, Belnte's visit and il will give me ple.isure lo 

 meet you. 



On February 11, 1942, Dr. Wetmore wrote Straub 

 accepting the collection under the stipulations ollered 

 bv Straub: 



\„m kind li-lter of January 12 came to me in due time 

 .md I greatly aiipreeiate your statements in il regarding 

 your coin collection I hal I liav<- not repli.-d lo you earlier 

 iias been due to the ijicsenl war situation which has made it 



ISM.VnC COLLECTIONS 



101 



