Coins, Currency, and Medals

The museum possesses one of the largest and most diverse numismatic collections in the world. Its diverse holdings represent every inhabited continent and span more than three millennia. The collection includes coins, paper money, medals, tokens, commodity and alternative currencies, coin dies, printing plates, scales and weights, financial documents and apparatuses, credit cards, and objects that reflect established and emerging digital monetary technologies worldwide.

United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty with flowing hair facing right, date below. Reverse: Denomination in wreath, fraction (1/100) below. This design has been traditionally ascribed to a British artist named William Russell Birch.
Description
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Head of Liberty with flowing hair facing right, date below. Reverse: Denomination in wreath, fraction (1/100) below. This design has been traditionally ascribed to a British artist named William Russell Birch. Patterns with these designs were struck towards the end of 1792. By the time the cent entered formal production, however, its weight and size had been reduced, and another artist was brought in to design the coin.
[reference no. Judd 4]
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1792
maker
U.S. Mint
ID Number
1993.0532.0001
accession number
1993.0532
catalog number
1993.0532.0001
This Jefimok trade ruble was minted during the reign of Paul I in 1798.
Description
This Jefimok trade ruble was minted during the reign of Paul I in 1798. He was Czar of Russia from 1769 until his assassination on March 12, 1801.
Obverse text: Jefimok of 1798 year
Obverse image: A cross monogram consisting of four "P" letters in Cyrillic and the Roman numeral I in the center for Paul I.
Reverse text: Sample 83 1/3 / Not to us, not to us and to your name
Reverse image: Moto in square border.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1798
head of government
Paul I Emperor of Russia
ID Number
NU.NU83583
catalog number
NU83583
accession number
257688
Germany n.d.Catherine IIObverse Inscription: CATHR.II D.G.
Description
Germany n.d.
Catherine II
Obverse Inscription: CATHR.II D.G. RUSS IMP ("Catherine II by the Grace of God Emperess of Russia")
Reverse Inscription: (Indistinct)...LIK LACHET DER ANKER WACH...(Indistinct) - (Believed to be a segment of DER ANKER WACHET, DAS GLÜCK LACHET - roughly "While the Anchor Rests, Luck Smiles" - possibly a gaming token)
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1762-1796
ID Number
NU.69.127.521
catalog number
69.127.0521
accession number
286471
One (1) 10 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1795Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a cap, facing right.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 10 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1795
Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a cap, facing right. 15 stars around.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1795
Reverse Image: Small eagle perched on a palm branch with wings outstretched, holding a wreath aloft in its beak.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1795
mint
United States Mint
designer
Scot, Robert
ID Number
NU.68.159.0262
accession number
283645
catalog number
68.159.0262
One (1) 200 pound check, Aaron BurrUnited States, 1790Obverse Image: Designs on the left hand side of note.Obverse Text: CASHIER OF THE BANK, PAY TO [NEEDS TRANSLATION] OR BEARER, TWO HUNDRED POUNDS PAPER.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 200 pound check, Aaron Burr
United States, 1790
Obverse Image: Designs on the left hand side of note.
Obverse Text: CASHIER OF THE BANK, PAY TO [NEEDS TRANSLATION] OR BEARER, TWO HUNDRED POUNDS PAPER. / NEW-YORK, THE 27TH DAY OF FEBY 1790 / 200 / AARON BURR
Reverse Image: N/A
Reverse Text: N/A
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1790
date on object
1790-02-27
ID Number
NU.79.112.X00026
accession number
1979.1263
catalog number
79.112.X00026
collector/donor number
X00026
Produced by Peter Getz at a temporary mint in Philadelphia. Obverse: Bust of George Washington in uniform, date below. Reverse: Eagle, stars above. Peter Getz created the dies for these and several other pieces, basing his designs on two British copper proposals of 1791.
Description
Produced by Peter Getz at a temporary mint in Philadelphia. Obverse: Bust of George Washington in uniform, date below. Reverse: Eagle, stars above. Peter Getz created the dies for these and several other pieces, basing his designs on two British copper proposals of 1791. The United States lacked a mint, and so the Getz pieces were struck in the coach house of John Harper, a metallurgical expert then resident in Philadelphia. Only a few specimens including this piece survive in silver. There are handful more in copper. The scheme for adopting this design came to naught when President Washington declined the honor of appearance on American coinage. Apparently, Washington preferred a depiction of Liberty on the national coinage rather than a portrait of himself.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1792
issuing authority
Getz, Peter
moneyer
Getz, Peter
obverse designer
Getz, Peter
reverse designer
Getz, Peter
maker
United States Mint
ID Number
1993.0532.0002
catalog number
1993.0532.0002
accession number
1993.0532
catalog number
93.532.02
One (1) 10 kopek coin, pattern, Catherine IIRussia, 1796Obverse Image: Crowned initals. Ten dots.Obverse Text: E IIReverse Image: N/AReverse Text: 10 / ДЕСЯТЬ / КОПЂЕКЬ / 1796
Description (Brief)
One (1) 10 kopek coin, pattern, Catherine II
Russia, 1796
Obverse Image: Crowned initals. Ten dots.
Obverse Text: E II
Reverse Image: N/A
Reverse Text: 10 / ДЕСЯТЬ / КОПЂЕКЬ / 1796
date made
1796
ruler
Catherine the Great
ID Number
NU.NU83528
catalog number
NU83528
accession number
257688
collector/donor number
GM 665
One (1) 1/2 poltina coin, Catherine IIRussia, 1790Obverse Image: Bust of Catherine II facing right.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 1/2 poltina coin, Catherine II
Russia, 1790
Obverse Image: Bust of Catherine II facing right. Counterstamp.
Obverse Text: БМЕКАТНРИНА / I I / IMП / ИОАМОДВСКРОСС / СПБ
Reverse Image: Double-headed eagle wearing a crown, wings outspread, holding orb and scepter in claws.
Reverse Text: 1790 / ПОАᴕПОЛТИННИКЬ / Я / A
date made
1790
counterstamp
1783
date made
1783
ruler
Catherine the Great
ID Number
NU.NU77761
catalog number
NU77761
accession number
252180
collector/donor number
GM 551
One (1) ruble coin, pattern, Paul IRussia, 1796Obverse Image: Portrait of Paul I facing right.Obverse Text: Б / M / ПABEAЂ/ I / IMП / ИCAMOД / BCEPOCC / C.L.F. / CПБ [Paul I the Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia / C.L.F.
Description (Brief)
One (1) ruble coin, pattern, Paul I
Russia, 1796
Obverse Image: Portrait of Paul I facing right.
Obverse Text: Б / M / ПABEAЂ/ I / IMП / ИCAMOД / BCEPOCC / C.L.F. / CПБ [Paul I the Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia / C.L.F. / SPB]
Reverse Image: Center the Russian coat-of-arms, a double-headed eagle wearing a shield with a mounted figure (Saint George), surrounded by four crowned П (P for Paul).
Reverse Text: MOHETA / РƔБЛЬ / 1796 / IOДA / [coin / ruble / 1796 / year]
Description
This pattern ruble was minted in Russia in 1796 under Paul I. Paul I was Emperor of Russia from 1769 until his assassination in March of 1801.
date made
1796
head of government
Paul I Emperor of Russia
ID Number
NU.NU83551
catalog number
NU83551
accession number
257688
This token valued at a half penny was issued by a merchant to pay his workers in 1794. The inscription reads "Pay at Leighton Berkhamsted or London - 1794" with a sheep on one side, "Lace Manufactory" and a woman making lace on a pillow under a tree on the other.
Description
This token valued at a half penny was issued by a merchant to pay his workers in 1794. The inscription reads "Pay at Leighton Berkhamsted or London - 1794" with a sheep on one side, "Lace Manufactory" and a woman making lace on a pillow under a tree on the other. "Chambers, Langston, Hall & Co” is stamped around the rim. The token could only be used at one of the merchant's stores. Chambers, Langston, Hall & Co were haberdashers at 46 Gutter Lane, Cheapside, London. This type of tokens was possibly issued due to a shortage of official small change coins in the late 18th century.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1794
ID Number
TE.T12692
catalog number
T12692
accession number
238479
One (1) 10 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1798Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a cap, facing right.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 10 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1798
Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a cap, facing right. 13 stars around.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1798
Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest with vertical stripes on bottom part and horizontal stripes on top part, ribbon held in beak, 13 stars above eagle's head, 6 cloud-like shapes above stars.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM
General Information: 1798 over 1797.
Description
Early eagles had numerous variations in the number and placement of obverse and reverse stars, details on the federal shield, and the date. This piece (with thirteen stars and a 1797 die redated to 1798) is one of the rarer varieties. About a dozen specimens are known including this one in the National Numismatic Collection.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1798
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Scot, Robert
ID Number
NU.68.159.0267
accession number
283645
catalog number
68.159.0267
One (1) 5 dollar coinUnited States, 1797Obverse Image: Capped bust of Liberty facing right.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1797Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle, clouds and stars above.Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUMAlthough dated 1797, this coin was probably minted
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin
United States, 1797
Obverse Image: Capped bust of Liberty facing right.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1797
Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle, clouds and stars above.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM
Description
Although dated 1797, this coin was probably minted in the following year. Early United States coins do not always bear the year in which they were struck. The annual visit of yellow fever to Philadelphia, and to the U.S. Mint there, imparted a disjointed quality to our early numismatics.
What is definitely known is that Robert Scot was responsible for the designs. His new, bellicose eagle is a direct reflection of increased national tensions with the British and French. This particular coin is unique.
date made
1797
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
obverse designer
Scot, Robert
obverse engraver
Scot, Robert
ID Number
NU.68.159.0158
accession number
283645
catalog number
68.159.0158
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Liberty head left, with unbound hair; date below. Reverse: Small eagle, DISME below. The term "disme" was the original choice of the name for a tenth of a dollar. It was probably pronounced "deem."Adam Eckfeldt created the obverse die.
Description
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Liberty head left, with unbound hair; date below. Reverse: Small eagle, DISME below. The term "disme" was the original choice of the name for a tenth of a dollar. It was probably pronounced "deem."
Adam Eckfeldt created the obverse die. William Birch was likely responsible for the reverse die. Henry Voigt did the actual coining. This activity was taking place in a completed section of the new United States Mint. The workers were constructing the rest of the building!
This piece is one of a dozen of these patterns known.
[reference no. Judd 1792]
date made
1792
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1991.0357.0122
catalog number
1991.0357.0122
accession number
1991.0357

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