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.

One (1) 5 dollar coin, patternUnited States, 1878Obverse Image: Bust of Liberty facing left, wearing cap.Obverse Text: E PLURIBUS UNUM / 1878 / LIBERTYReverse Image: Eagle with outstretched wings, holding arrows and branch in talons.Reverse Text: IN GOD WE TRUST / UNITED STATES O
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin, pattern
United States, 1878
Obverse Image: Bust of Liberty facing left, wearing cap.
Obverse Text: E PLURIBUS UNUM / 1878 / LIBERTY
Reverse Image: Eagle with outstretched wings, holding arrows and branch in talons.
Reverse Text: IN GOD WE TRUST / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIVE DOL.
Description
The fact that this pattern was designed by George T. Morgan comes as no surprise: it looks for all the world like a cut-down, but golden, version of his silver dollar design. [reference no. Judd 1577]
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1878
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Morgan, George T.
ID Number
1980.0976.0001
catalog number
1980.0976.0001
accession number
1980.0976
catalog number
1980.0976.01
William Barber designed this pattern. Only a half-dozen,including this one, are known. [reference no. Judd 1544]Currently not on view
Description
William Barber designed this pattern. Only a half-dozen,including this one, are known. [reference no. Judd 1544]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1877
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Barber, William
ID Number
1979.1263.01046
catalog number
1979.1263.01046
accession number
1979.1263
catalog number
01279
One (1) 20 dollar coinUnited States, 1850Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a coronet and facing left. 13 stars around.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1850Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 20 dollar coin
United States, 1850
Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a coronet and facing left. 13 stars around.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1850
Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scrolls on either side of eagle, ring of 13 stars above eagle's head, rays above stars.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / TWENTY D. / E PLURIBUS UNUM
Description
The 1850 double eagle (20 dollar coin) is the first year of the regular issue for the type and denomination.
It is extremely popular as such and is one of the more available dates of the type. A surprising number of coins have been auctioned in the last 15 years; most, however, grade VF (very fine) to AU (almost uncirculated.) Fully Mint State examples of this issue are rare, with fewer than a dozen choice pieces.
The treasure of the S.S. Central America contained 26 coins, but all were circulated.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850
maker
United States Mint
designer
Longacre, James Barton
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1979.1263.00182
catalog number
1979.1263.00182
accession number
1979.1263
catalog number
CM04996
One (1) 20 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1896Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a coronet and facing left. 13 stars around.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1896Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 20 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1896
Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a coronet and facing left. 13 stars around.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1896
Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scrolls on either side of eagle, ring of 13 stars above eagle's head, rays above stars.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / TWENTY DOLLARS / IN GOD WE TRUST / E PLURIBUS UNUM
Description
As a date, the 1896 double eagle is considered common in most grades. Large numbers were minted and examples are found regularly in overseas shipments. Ample supplies of the date are known in all grades from VF (very fine) to MS (mint state -63.) Choice examples are scarce with very few surviving in gem condition.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1896
maker
United States Mint
designer
Longacre, James Barton
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1979.1263.00068
catalog number
1979.1263.00068
accession number
1979.1263
collector/donor number
CM01550
One (1) 10 dollars coin, patternUnited States, 1877Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a cap.Obverse Text: E PLURIBUS UNUM / LIBERTY / 1877Reverse Image: Eagle with outstretched wings, holding arrows and branch.Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / IN GOD WE TRUST / TEN
Description (Brief)
One (1) 10 dollars coin, pattern
United States, 1877
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a cap.
Obverse Text: E PLURIBUS UNUM / LIBERTY / 1877
Reverse Image: Eagle with outstretched wings, holding arrows and branch.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / IN GOD WE TRUST / TEN DOL.
Description
This pattern was designed by artist George T. Morgan. Most patterns he designed came to look like his one successful, circulating coin, the silver dollar that bears his name. It has been estimated that between seven and twelve patterns like this one exist in copper. No mention has been found of a gilt copper piece elsewhere. [reference no. Judd 1545]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1877
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Morgan, George T.
ID Number
1979.1263.01045
catalog number
1979.1263.01045
accession number
1979.1263
catalog number
01280
One (1) 5 cent coinUnited States, 1913Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a coronet.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 cent coin
United States, 1913
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a coronet. 13 stars along edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1913
Reverse Image: Wreath of wheat, cotton, and corn.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / V / CENTS
General Information: This coin is from the King Farouk Collection, and is also known as the King Farouk V Nickel.
Description
Some rarities are accidental, like the 1927 Denver double eagle. Others are contrived, beginning their lives as scams. The 1913 Liberty head five-cent piece, or nickel, falls into this category. Were it not for that date, even an advanced collector would hardly give it a second thought. But the date is different, and a very clever set of circumstances ensured that the coins bearing it became memorable, twentieth-century legends.
The first Liberty head nickels were struck in 1883, their designer the prolific if uninspired Charles E. Barber. Millions were made over the next three decades. The design was to be retired at the end of 1912, and that is when things began to become interesting. Despite orders to the contrary, five new Liberty head nickels were struck clandestinely, presumably at the beginning of 1913.
Spirited out of the Mint, they came into the possession of one Samuel W. Brown, of North Tonawanda, New York. He eventually became the town's mayor, but earlier had served as Storekeeper of the Mint. At the end of 1919, he placed an advertisement in the Numismatist, offering to pay $500 each for 1913 Liberty head nickels. Later he raised the offer to $600.
He already had all the coins, so what was he up to? He was making a legend, preparatory to making a profit! He displayed the coins at the following ANA convention (August 1920), finally selling the pieces to a Philadelphia dealer a few years later.
At this point, San Antonio coin dealer B. Max Mehl entered the picture, also making offers to buy any 1913 Liberty nickels. That did it: everyone from ten-year-old boys to sophisticated collectors began checking their change, hoping to come across another 1913. No one ever did, but the coin's legendary status was assured.
date made
1913
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Barber, Charles
ID Number
1977.1199.0001
accession number
1977.1199
catalog number
77.49.01
One (1) trade dollar coin, patternUnited States, 1884Obverse Image: Liberty seated, holding a branch. Stars around.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / IN GOD WE TRUST / 1884Reverse Image: Eagle clutching branch and arrows. Scroll above eagle.Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Description (Brief)
One (1) trade dollar coin, pattern
United States, 1884
Obverse Image: Liberty seated, holding a branch. Stars around.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / IN GOD WE TRUST / 1884
Reverse Image: Eagle clutching branch and arrows. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 420 GRAINS. 900 FINE. / TRADE DOLLAR.
Description
Silver coins with these designs were struck between 1873 and 1878, their target the lucrative trade of the Far East. But the idea proved to be a fiasco, and production for commerce ceased after 1878. A few were made through 1885. This silver-plated version exists in an edition of two. [reference no. Judd 1732]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1884
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1979.0979.0001
catalog number
1979.0979.0001
accession number
1979.0979
catalog number
79.43.01
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coinUnited States, 1808Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1808Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield on chest with vertical str
Description (Brief)
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin
United States, 1808
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1808
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield on chest with vertical stripes on bottom part and horizontal stripes on top, ribbon above head.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 2 1/2 D.
Description
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Draped bust of liberty facing left, wearing a Liberty cap; thirteen stars; date below. Reverse: Eagle, motto E PLURIBUS UNUM on ribbon above; denomination below. This coin was designed by recent German immigrant John Reich. This quarter eagle design was only produced for one year. Fewer than three thousand quarter eagles of this type were struck.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1808
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1979.1263.00266
catalog number
1979.1263.00266
accession number
1979.1263
catalog number
01530
One (1) 20 dollar coinUnited States, 1907Obverse Image: Full-length Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and olive branch in left.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 20 dollar coin
United States, 1907
Obverse Image: Full-length Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and olive branch in left. Capitol Dome in lower left; rays of sun in background; stars around rim.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / MCMVII
Reverse Image: Eagle flying through rays of sun.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / TWENTY DOLLARS
Edge: E PLURIBUS UNUM divided by stars.
Description
In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt asked sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to lead an effort to redesign American coinage. Saint-Gaudens developed a design that many consider the most beautiful American coin ever conceived. Work on the production version of the coin progressed through the winter and spring of 1907. Sadly, the artist himself now suffered from cancer, and would die of the disease at the beginning of August.
It was left to his assistant, Henry Hering, to finish the work his master had begun. And Hering would be dogged every step of the way by a jealous competitor, Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber.
Towards the end of December 1907, this new, very beautiful gold coin entered circulation. It was closely based on Saint-Gaudens's original concept, complete with the forward-striding Liberty and the eagle in flight. But Henry Hering had lowered the relief by a small but crucial extent. The coin still could not be struck, once, on a high-speed press. But it could be struck, thrice, on a slower-speed machine.
Under Hering's directions, and over Barber's objections, slightly more than twelve thousand "high relief" double eagles were minted in Philadelphia during the final weeks of 1907. Saint-Gaudens, Henry Hering, and Theodore Roosevelt had proved that a high-relief American coin could be made. Having won the battle, Roosevelt may have tired of the war. He had a good deal else on his mind, including upcoming elections, and the voyage of America's Great White Fleet around the world.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1907
designer
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1979.1263.00803
catalog number
1979.1263.00803
accession number
1979.1263
catalog number
01553
The first silver dollars-and the first silver half dollars-were delivered on the same day, October 15, 1794.
Description
The first silver dollars-and the first silver half dollars-were delivered on the same day, October 15, 1794. Chief coiner Henry Voigt was responsible for 5,300 half dollars that day, and they apparently went into commerce as soon as they were released.
The dollars were another matter. Precisely 1,758 of them were coined on the fifteenth, and they were immediately delivered to Mint Director David Rittenhouse for distribution to dignitaries as souvenirs.
The VIPs were not impressed with what they saw. The dollars were struck on the largest press the mint possessed, but the machine was originally intended for cents and half dollars. The only way it had proved adequate for striking the copper pattern was by striking the piece twice.
The impressions it gave with a single blow were weak, a situation not helped by the fact that the obverse die was damaged early on and had to be polished down along one part of its circumference. This resulted in its making an even weaker impression. So the new federal dollar was not a brilliant success. But it was a first-and sometimes that's success enough.
Precisely 1,758 of these silver dollars, the first ever minted for circulation by the United States, were coined on October 15, 1794. All were immediately delivered to the Mint Director for distribution to dignitaries as souvenirs. The largest press the mint possessed still was not big enough to give a strong impression with a single blow, hence the weak relief on these coins.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1794
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
obverse designer
Scot, Robert
reverse designer
Scot, Robert
ID Number
1979.1263.00334
accession number
1979.1263
collector/donor number
CM01510
catalog number
1979.1263.00334
One (1) dollar coin, patternUnited States, 1882Obverse Image: Right-facing Liberty wearing a headband and earring shaped like a shield.Obverse Text: E PLURIBUS UNUM / LIBERTY / 1882Reverse Image: Defiant eagle facing right.Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / ONE DOLLARThis p
Description (Brief)
One (1) dollar coin, pattern
United States, 1882
Obverse Image: Right-facing Liberty wearing a headband and earring shaped like a shield.
Obverse Text: E PLURIBUS UNUM / LIBERTY / 1882
Reverse Image: Defiant eagle facing right.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / ONE DOLLAR
Description
This pattern by designer George T. Morgan essentially turned his earlier concepts around, with Liberty and the national bird both facing in the opposite direction to their positions on the pattern dollar of 1879. Liberty wears an earring (rather cleverly made into the federal shield). About a dozen including this one of these pattern dollars are known. Morgan created a very similar half dollar, and a very similar quarter dollar, that same year. [reference no. Judd 1702]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1882
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1985.0441.2072
catalog number
1985.0441.2072
accession number
1985.0441
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Capped head of Liberty facing right; stars around and date below. Reverse: Heraldic eagle, stars and clouds above, denomination below. This is one of a series of pattern half dollars by Charles E. Barber.
Description
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Capped head of Liberty facing right; stars around and date below. Reverse: Heraldic eagle, stars and clouds above, denomination below. This is one of a series of pattern half dollars by Charles E. Barber. The obverse design is essentially identical with the format adopted for coinage in 1892. The reverse is different, and the clouds above the eagle never appeared on circulating coinage. This pattern is unique.
date made
1891
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1985.0441.2080
catalog number
1985.0441.2080
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 20 dollar coinUnited States, 1908Obverse Image: Full-length Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and olive branch in left.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 20 dollar coin
United States, 1908
Obverse Image: Full-length Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and olive branch in left. Capitol Dome in lower left; rays of sun in background; stars around rim.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1908
Reverse Image: Eagle flying through rays of sun.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / TWENTY DOLLARS
Edge: E PLURIBUS UNUM divided by stars.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908
maker
United States Mint
designer
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1985.0441.1284
catalog number
1985.0441.1284
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 20 dollar coinUnited States, 1870Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a coronet and facing left. 13 stars around.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1870Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 20 dollar coin
United States, 1870
Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a coronet and facing left. 13 stars around.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1870
Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scrolls on either side of eagle, ring of 13 stars above eagle's head, rays of sun above stars.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / TWENTY D. / IN GOD WE TRUST / E PLURIBUS UNUM
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1870
maker
United States Mint
designer
Longacre, James Barton
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1985.0441.0740
catalog number
1985.0441.0740
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) trade dollar coin, patternUnited States, 1873Obverse Image: Left-facing head of Liberty wearing a crown of leaves over braided hair.
Description (Brief)
One (1) trade dollar coin, pattern
United States, 1873
Obverse Image: Left-facing head of Liberty wearing a crown of leaves over braided hair. 13 stars.
Obverse Text: 1873
Reverse Image: Standing eagle holding arrows in one talon, supporting shield with other.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / IN GOD WE TRUST / 420 GRAINS. 900 FINE. / TRADE DOLLAR.
Description
Congress decided to create a trade dollar to promote the use of silver mined in the United States for commerce in Asia. This was an unsuccessful contestant for design consideration for a trade dollar. William Barber designed the reverse. J. A. Bailly was responsible for the obverse. Specialists assign this coin with a Rarity-4 status which means that between 76 and 200 are estimated to exist.
[reference no. Judd 1281]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1873
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1985.0441.2005
catalog number
1985.0441.2005
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1835Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a headband, 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1835Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.Reverse Text: UNITE
Description (Brief)
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1835
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a headband, 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1835
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / 2 1/2 D.
Description
Designer William Kneass used his "Classic Head" idea for quarter eagles as well as halves. Coins with this general depiction of the goddess were struck from 1834 through 1839. Perhaps five proof quarter eagles exist from 1835. This is one of the nicest.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1835
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Kneass, William
ID Number
1985.0441.0267
catalog number
1985.0441.0267
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 20 dollar coinUnited States, 1931Obverse Image: Full-length Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and olive branch in left.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 20 dollar coin
United States, 1931
Obverse Image: Full-length Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and olive branch in left. Capitol Dome in lower left; rays of sun in background; stars around rim.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1931
Reverse Image: Eagle flying with sun behind.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / TWENTY DOLLARS / IN GOD WE TRUST
Edge: E PLURIBUS UNUM divided by stars.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1931
maker
United States Mint
designer
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1985.0441.1599
catalog number
1985.0441.1599
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1834Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1834Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield on chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1834
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1834
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield on chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 2 1/2 D.
Description
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Capped head of Liberty facing left, stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, motto above, denomination below.
Four proof specimens including this coin are known to exist. A fifth proof is rumored to exist. Some 1834 proof coins were created for presentation to foreign dignitaries. The most famous example of a presentation coin for diplomatic purposes was the so-called "King of Coins" among the 1804 Silver Dollars. Silver dollars dated 1804 were simply not issued for circulation. Silver dollars with that date were produced during the 1830's and 1850's for various purposes.
If nothing else, the minting of special coins for presentation abroad suggests that, after years of isolation, the United States was now beginning to take its place in the family of nations. U.S. Coins struck with special care as well as Peace Medals were excellent tokens of friendship.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1834
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1985.0441.0260
catalog number
1985.0441.0260
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 5 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1829Obverse Image: Portrait bust of Liberty facing left, hair bound with a fillet, stars surrounding, date below.Obverse Text: 1829Reverse Image: American eagle holding a bunch of arrows and branch, denomination.Reverse Text: UNITED / ST
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1829
Obverse Image: Portrait bust of Liberty facing left, hair bound with a fillet, stars surrounding, date below.
Obverse Text: 1829
Reverse Image: American eagle holding a bunch of arrows and branch, denomination.
Reverse Text: UNITED / STATES / OF / AMERICA / E / PLURIBUS / UNUM / 5 D.
Description
The 1829 half eagle comes in two types, large-module, struck before the introduction of the restraining collar, and small-module, struck afterwards. One proof is known for the first category, three for the second. The Smithsonian proof is from the second group. The most obvious way of distinguishing the two types is by means of the date. The date is large on Type 2, much smaller on Type 2.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1829
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1988.0063.0059
catalog number
1988.0063.0059
accession number
1988.0063
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Capped head of Liberty facing right; stars around and date below. The reverse reintroduces the clouds above the eagle, but in a more stylized way. Two pieces are known, both in the Smithsonian Institution. [reference no.
Description
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Capped head of Liberty facing right; stars around and date below. The reverse reintroduces the clouds above the eagle, but in a more stylized way. Two pieces are known, both in the Smithsonian Institution. [reference no. Judd 1764]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1891
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1985.0441.2084
catalog number
1985.0441.2084
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 20 dollar coinUnited States, 1911Obverse Image: Full-length Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and olive branch in left.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 20 dollar coin
United States, 1911
Obverse Image: Full-length Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and olive branch in left. Capitol Dome in lower left; rays of sun in background; stars around rim.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1911
Reverse Image: Eagle flying through rays of sun.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / TWENTY DOLLARS / IN GOD WE TRUST
Edge: E PLURIBUS UNUM divided by stars.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1911
maker
United States Mint
designer
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1985.0441.1333
catalog number
1985.0441.1333
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 5 dollar coin, patternUnited States, 1865Obverse Image: Left facing Liberty with hair tied in a bun and wearing a coronet. 13 stars around.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1865Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin, pattern
United States, 1865
Obverse Image: Left facing Liberty with hair tied in a bun and wearing a coronet. 13 stars around.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1865
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIVE D. / IN GOD WE TRUST
Description
This coin bears the motto IN GOD WE TRUST in the year before it was adopted for circulating coinage. Specialists refer to this piece as a Rarity-8 pattern by which they mean that only two or three are known. [reference no. Judd 445]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1865
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Gobrecht, Christian
ID Number
1985.0441.1941
catalog number
1985.0441.1941
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 20 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1897Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a coronet and facing left. 13 stars around.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1897Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 20 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1897
Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a coronet and facing left. 13 stars around.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1897
Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scrolls on either side of eagle, ring of 13 stars above eagle's head, rays above stars.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / TWENTY DOLLARS / IN GOD WE TRUST / E PLURIBUS UNUM
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1897
maker
United States Mint
designer
Longacre, James Barton
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1985.0441.1134
catalog number
1985.0441.1134
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1836Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a headband, 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1836Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.Reverse Text: UNITE
Description (Brief)
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1836
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a headband, 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1836
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / 2 1/2 D.
Description
Four proof coins including this coin are known for this date of 1836 and this denomination of quarter eagle.
Until the later discoveries of gold west of the Mississippi River, the U.S. had little gold for making coins. A gold strike in Rutherford, North Carolina provided some new gold. Soon, the U.S. Mint established branch mints in Dahlonega, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina to mint gold coins close to the discoveries in those areas. In addition, a branch mint in New Orleans was established convert foreign coins that arrived at this very busy port into U.S. coins. Other sources for gold included French coins that recently arrived as an indemnity payment as well as melting down old American coins and re-issuing the precious metal as new U.S. coins.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1836
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Kneass, William
ID Number
1985.0441.0276
catalog number
1985.0441.0276
accession number
1985.0441

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