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.

This Y. M. K. storecard was made in Russia in 1824, during the reign of Alexander I, who ruled Russia from 1801-1825. Storecards were used as a form of payment employers would use to pay their workers.
Description
This Y. M. K. storecard was made in Russia in 1824, during the reign of Alexander I, who ruled Russia from 1801-1825. Storecards were used as a form of payment employers would use to pay their workers. An employer would give the storecard token to their workers and the token could then be redeemed at any of the employer’s establishments. These were personal to specific employers.
Obverse inscription: H:3 1824гo Г.
Reverse inscription: Y. M. K.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1824
ID Number
NU.68.263.1609
catalog number
68.263.1609
accession number
281689
Russia 1826Nicholas I CoronationObverse Inscription: H -I (Nicholas I)Reverse Inscription: КОРОНОВАНЪ ВЪ МОСКВЪ 1826 ("Coronation at Moscow")Currently not on view
Description
Russia 1826
Nicholas I Coronation
Obverse Inscription: H -I (Nicholas I)
Reverse Inscription: КОРОНОВАНЪ ВЪ МОСКВЪ 1826 ("Coronation at Moscow")
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1826
ruler
Nicholas I Emperor of Russia
ID Number
NU.69.128.71
catalog number
69.128.71
accession number
286473
One (1) 8 real coinMexico, 1821Obverse Image: Portrait of Ferdinand VII.Obverse Text: DEL GRATIA / 1821 / FERDIN VIIReverse Image: Two (2) pillars with shield and crown.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 8 real coin
Mexico, 1821
Obverse Image: Portrait of Ferdinand VII.
Obverse Text: DEL GRATIA / 1821 / FERDIN VII
Reverse Image: Two (2) pillars with shield and crown. Images of lions and castles are on the shield.
Reverse Text: HISPAN / ET / IND / G / 8R / F / S
Description
This silver Spanish dollar (also known as an eight real coin or piece of eight) was minted around 1821. The obverse, or front, of the coin has a profile portrait of King Ferdinand the VII. The coin reads “Del Gratia 1821 Ferdin VII,” (Ferdinand VII by the Grace of God, 1821). The reverse has an image of Spain’s Pillars of Hercules lesser royal coat of arms. The reverse reads, “HISPAN ET IND REX Ga 8R FS” (King of the Spains and the Indies, Guadalajara, 8 reales). The initials “FS” belong to the coin’s assayer.
Spanish dollars were the monies of choice when coins were available in Colonial America, and Americans liked them so much that they eventually based their own U.S. dollar on the Spanish real. In early years reales were actually preferred to dollars because the coins contained more silver. There was even a scam to trade American dollars for reales in the West Indies, after which they would be returned to the United States and turned into the U.S. Mint for melting so as to make a profit by getting paid back in new dollars.
date made
1821
ruler
Ferdinand VII King of Spain
issuing authority
Guadalajara Mint
ID Number
1992.0121.0181
catalog number
1992.0121.0181
accession number
1992.0121
This H-P.M.3. storecard was made in Russia. Storecards were used as a form of payment employers would use to pay their workers. An employer would give the storecard token to their workers and the token could then be redeemed at any of the employer’s establishments.
Description
This H-P.M.3. storecard was made in Russia. Storecards were used as a form of payment employers would use to pay their workers. An employer would give the storecard token to their workers and the token could then be redeemed at any of the employer’s establishments. These storecards were personal to specific employers.
Obverse inscription: H-P.M.3. ПEУTOAЬHA.
Reverse inscription: H-P.M.3. OPOЬЪ.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1829
ID Number
NU.68.263.1606
catalog number
68.263.1606
accession number
281689
Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteersCurrently not on view
Crowdsourcing
Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
Location
Currently not on view
BEP certification date
1909-03-16
plate date
1901-10-08
series date
1822
issuing authority
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Treasurer of the United States
Roberts, Ellis Henry
Register of the Treasury
Lyons, Judson Whitlocke
issuing bank
Osceola National Bank
depicted
Garfield, James A.
manufacturer
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
ID Number
NU.297219.009928
accession number
297219
catalog number
297219.009928
bank charter number
6033
Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteersCurrently not on view
Crowdsourcing
Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
Location
Currently not on view
BEP certification date
1909-03-11
plate date
1900-11-26
series date
1828
issuing authority
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Treasurer of the United States
Roberts, Ellis Henry
Register of the Treasury
Lyons, Judson Whitlocke
issuing bank
First National Bank of Laurinburg
depicted
Garfield, James A.
manufacturer
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
ID Number
NU.297219.027719
catalog number
297219.027719
accession number
297219
bank charter number
5651
One (1) ruble coin, ConstantineRussia, 1825Obverse Image: Portrait of Constantine, facing right.Obverse Text: Б / М / КОНСТАНТІІНЂ / І / ИМІІ / И / САМ / ВСЕРОСС / 1825Reverse Image: Center the Russian coat-of-arms, a double-headed eagle wearing a shield with a mounted figure (Sa
Description (Brief)
One (1) ruble coin, Constantine
Russia, 1825
Obverse Image: Portrait of Constantine, facing right.
Obverse Text: Б / М / КОНСТАНТІІНЂ / І / ИМІІ / И / САМ / ВСЕРОСС / 1825
Reverse Image: Center the Russian coat-of-arms, a double-headed eagle wearing a shield with a mounted figure (Saint George), the imperial crowns on each head stand for the unity and sovereignty of Russia, the orb and scepter grasped in the eagle's talons are traditional heraldic symbols. There is a wreath encircling the eagle.
Reverse Text: 4 / 30 ЛОТН / 21 ДОЛЯ / РУБЛЬ / CПБ / ҶИСТАГО / СЕРЕБРА
Description
The Constantine Ruble is one of the rarest Russian coins. It depicts Russian Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich, who was expected to ascend to the throne in 1825. He never came to power, having relinquished his succession rights in 1823 due to his controversial marriage, and the coin never circulated.
date made
1825
associated date
1825
depicted
Constantine
ID Number
NU.68.263.68
accession number
281689
catalog number
68.263.68
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
One (1) cent coin, proofUnited States, 1823Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a coronet.
Description (Brief)
One (1) cent coin, proof
United States, 1823
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a coronet. 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1823
Reverse Image: Wreath.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / ONE CENT
General Information: 1823 over 1822.
Description
Robert Scot created these designs, which remained in use between 1816 and 1835.
Cents of this type are likely to have been seen by almost every collector for they are among the most common of early American coins. But this coin is not common. The year 1823 is one of the scarcer dates in the cent series. In addition, this coin is an "overdate." It was created from an earlier die (for 1822 cents) that was softened, redated for the current year, hardened, and put back into service. Overdates are quite common among early American coins, as a fledgling United States Mint tried to cut corners wherever it could.
Finally, this coin is a "proof." It was struck on a highly polished planchet (a disk of metal cut and prepared for striking as a coin) under far more exacting standards than ordinary coins. It has been estimated that only two other proof 1823/2 cents exist.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1823
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Scot, Robert
ID Number
1985.0441.0192
catalog number
1985.0441.0192
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 5 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1821Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1821Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1821
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1821
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 5 D.
Description
Seven quarter eagle proofs are known for the year 1821, but only two proof half eagles are known for this year. This coin is one of them.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1821
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1985.0441.0177
catalog number
1985.0441.0177
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 5 dollar coinUnited States, 1825Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1825Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin
United States, 1825
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1825
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 5 D.
Description
The obverse die for this proof was created in 1821, then recycled for the production of proof coins a few years later. The coin it produced is called an overstruck 1825 coin, or 1825/1 (1825 over 1821) in technical terms. This is one of two known 1825/1 proof half eagles. Two 1825/4 (1825 over 1824) coins made with a recycled 1824 die have also been discovered.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1825
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1985.0441.0199
catalog number
1985.0441.0199
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 5 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1826Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1826Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1826
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1826
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 5 D.
Description
Two proof half eagles are known from this year.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1826
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1985.0441.0206
catalog number
1985.0441.0206
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1829Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1829Reverse 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, 1829
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1829
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
This 1829 proof quarter eagle introduces us to a modified coining technique and to a slightly modified design. The coin (and its multiple, the half eagle) would henceforth be struck using a one-piece, "close" collar. Also, a third die whose vertical striations produced the familiar "reeded" edge we still see on coins today.
Striking the quarter and half eagles in a collar resulted in better metal flow and sharper detail. But it also required modest changes in the obverse and reverse designs. The work was carried out by William Kneass. As many as a dozen 1829 proof quarter eagles including this one may exist. Most have been damaged by handling.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1829
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1985.0441.0223
catalog number
1985.0441.0223
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1825Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1825Reverse 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, 1825
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1825
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
Perhaps three proofs including this one exist in this denomination exist for 1825. All of the early proof coins in the National Numismatic Collection came to the Smithsonian Institution as a result of the transfer from the U.S. Mint during the 1920s.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1825
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1988.0063.0066
catalog number
1988.0063.0066
accession number
1988.0063
One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1824Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1824Reverse 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, 1824
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1824
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. This is one of six proof quarter eagles known for 1824.
The obverse die used for this coin was first dated 1821. The die was redated three years later to produce a handful of proofs dated 1824. Collectors call such coins "overdates."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1824
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1988.0063.0078
catalog number
1988.0063.0078
accession number
1988.0063
One (1) 5 dollar coin, proofUnited States, 1828Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1828Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin, proof
United States, 1828
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1828
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 5 D.
Description
Only two proof half eagles are known with a perfect 1828 date. This is one. Add the known number of surviving strikes for regular circulation and there is still a total of only eight coins!
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1828
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1985.0441.0217
catalog number
1985.0441.0217
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 5 dollar coinUnited States, 1822Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1822Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin
United States, 1822
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1822
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 5 D.
Description
Eighteen thousand half eagles designed by Robert Scot were struck in 1822. Virtually all of them were melted down. Two of the three survivors are in the National Numismatic Collection. This one transferred from the U.S. Mint together with the specimen acquired with the Lilly Collection are legendary rarities of American numismatics.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1822
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1986.0836.0063
accession number
1986.0836
catalog number
1986.0836.0063
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Capped head of Liberty facing left, stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, motto above, denomination below. In this design, Robert Scot's pedestrian head replaced John Reich's more artistic design of 1808.
Description
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Capped head of Liberty facing left, stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, motto above, denomination below. In this design, Robert Scot's pedestrian head replaced John Reich's more artistic design of 1808. This coin is one of a handful of proofs struck in this year and in those years immediately after. Proof coins are specimen strikes for the record, for sale or trade, or for distribution to dignitaries in presentation sets. Proof coinage did not become popular or plentiful in the United States until after the Civil War. Therefore, proofs like this one that date from as early as the 1820s and 1830s are among America's most legendary coins.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1821
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
designer
Reich, John
ID Number
1985.0441.0178
catalog number
1985.0441.0178
accession number
1985.0441

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