74 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



It is proposed to build up and exhibit a complete series of tlie pres- 

 ent coinage of all countries, and to provide labels showing the commer- 

 cial and intrinsic value, fineness, and comparative value with the coins 

 of the United States. Such a collection, it is believed, would be of great 

 interest to the public and to students. 



A very large series of medals of various countries is now in storage 

 but inaccessible to the public. This will be placed upon exhibition as 

 soon as the necessary space is provided, as will also a series of iDortraits 

 of representative Americans, such as was shown by the Museum at the 

 World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. 



The number of specimens received during the year was 3,441, and 

 the total number of specimens in the collection is estimated at about 

 35,000. There were 441 entries made in the catalogue. 



Oriental antiquities and religious ceremonials. — Dr. Paul Haupt 

 remains in charge of the collection of oriental antiquities as honor- 

 ary curator, while Dr. Cyrus Adler holds the position of assistant cura- 

 tor in this deiiartnient and also that of custodian in the section of 

 religious ceremonials. 



Although the number of accessions for the year was considerably 

 less than for the preceding year, the number of specimens included in 

 these accessions shows an increase of more than 100 per cent. The 

 material received during 1896-97 is also of greater scientific value. 



From St. John's College, Shanghai, China, a collection of objects 

 used in Buddhist worship and illustrating the form of the ceremonial 

 of that religion in China was received in exchange. A small collec- 

 tion of Buddhist and Mohammedan objects from India was purchased, 

 as was also a collection of objects of Christian ceremonial. While 

 many of the other accessions contained material of interest and value, 

 these were the most important. 



In the chapter entitled "Development and arrangement of the exhi- 

 bition series" will be found a statement relating to the present condi- 

 tion of the collections on exhibition and the changes recently made. 



An exhibit comprising 167 objects was prepared for the Tennessee 

 Centennial Exposition at jSTashville. 



Dr. Adler has completed a description of the exhibit of Biblical 

 science at the Cotton States and International Exposition at Atlanta, 

 embodying also the results of recent discoveries and researches in the 

 domain of Biblical and oriental archaiology. This paper is published 

 in Part II of the Report of the National Museum for 1896. A study of 

 ancient oriental seals is in ])rogress. 



During the year a number of persons have received information or 

 assistance in one way or another with reference to antiquities. 



Dr. Adler has prepared and published a short paper on the Cotton 

 Grotto, an ancient quarry in Jerusalem, and Dr. I. M. Casanowicz 

 published in the American Anthropologist during the year a paper 

 entitled "Tel-et Tin on Lake Ilomis, in the Valley of the Oroutes." 



