Coins, Currency, and Medals - Overview
The Museum possesses one of the largest numismatic collections in the world. The collections include over 1 million objects, comprising coins, medals, decorations, and pieces of paper money. Among the many great rarities here are some of the world’s oldest coins, created 2,700 years ago. But the collection also includes the latest innovations in electronic monetary exchange, as well as beads, wampum, and other commodities once used as money. A special strength lies in artifacts that illustrate the development of money and medals in the United States. The American section includes many rare and significant coins, such as two of three known examples of the world's most valuable coin, the 1933 double eagle $20 gold piece.
"Coins, Currency, and Medals - Overview" showing 390 items.
Page 28 of 39
Plaster Model of Liberty Dollar with Phrygian Cap (liberty cap)
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1977
- original artist
- Gasparro, Frank
- maker
- Gasparro, Frank
- ID Number
- 2009.0005.026
- catalog number
- 2009.0005.026
- accession number
- 2009.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Bronze Colored Plaster Model, Liberty Dollar with Phrygian Cap (liberty cap)
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1977
- original artist
- Gasparro, Frank
- maker
- Gasparro, Frank
- ID Number
- 2009.0005.027
- catalog number
- 2009.0005.027
- accession number
- 2009.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Liberty Dollar with Phrygian Cap (liberty cap) Bronze Colored Plaster Model
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1977
- original artist
- Gasparro, Frank
- maker
- Gasparro, Frank
- ID Number
- 2009.0005.028
- catalog number
- 2009.0005.028
- accession number
- 2009.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Untitled Publication, May 1978, "Here Comes the Mini-Dollar"
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1978-05
- photographer
- Stevens, Larry
- author
- Ganz, David L.
- original artist
- Gasparro, Frank
- photographer
- Stevens, Larry
- ID Number
- 2009.0005.029
- catalog number
- 2009.0005.029
- accession number
- 2009.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Gilkes,Paul, Coin World, Magazine, "ODGSO Former Regulatory Bullion Body Treasury Office Could Rule on Legality of Owning Gold coins," 1990, pp.24
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1990-12-12
- journalist
- Gilkes, Paul A.
- original artist
- Gasparro, Frank
- ID Number
- 2009.0005.030
- catalog number
- 2009.0005.030
- accession number
- 2009.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Frank Gasparro's Copy of Coin World
- Description (Brief)
- This front page of Coin Worldstill has the mailing label that addressed the subscription to Frank Gasparro's home. Gasparro preferred his Flowing Hair Liberty design to the Susan B Anthony, but both were Gasparro's designs. When this article asked readers to vote, "Liberty or Susan B. ? Which do you prefer," Coin World readers voted for the beautiful coin with the allegorical imagery of Lady Liberty. Befitting the 1970s focus on women's liberation, congress chose an image of Susan B. Anthony, an actual figure from American history. The Susan B. Anthony coin was the first American woman on an American coin.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1978-05-31
- maker
- Coin World
- original artist
- Gasparro, Frank
- ID Number
- 2009.0005.032
- catalog number
- 2009.0005.032
- accession number
- 2009.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Frank Gasparro Samples Liberty
- Description (Brief)
- In this page advertising coins, Frank Gasparro drew directly over images of the Peace and Morgan dollars to perfect his own prototype of Lady Liberty. The process of borrowing imagery in this manner to make your own designs was a 20th—century phenomenon. Only when reproductions and prints were cheap and easily available could this type of sampling be done.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1977
- artist
- Gasparro, Frank
- ID Number
- 2009.0005.035
- catalog number
- 2009.0005.035
- accession number
- 2009.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Flowing Hair Liberty Sketch, Freedom, 1776—1976
- Description (Brief)
- To keep his skills sharp as an artist, Gasparro was always drawing. Every scrap of paper became a canvas to test out a new coin design.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1977
- artist
- Gasparro, Frank
- ID Number
- 2009.0005.036
- catalog number
- 2009.0005.036
- accession number
- 2009.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Sketch of Proposed Reverse for New Dollar Coin
- Description (Brief)
- Using tracing paper, Gasparro could place one sheet over a drawing and make incremental changes to that image without having to recreate the whole drawing. In this manner Gasparro perfected his designs. The small hole in the center of this tracing (produced by using a protractor to make the circle) and the straight line that comes from the center through the top middle of the drawing (the radius)indicate center. Center guidelines helped the artist to organize the type and composition on the coin.
- In this small group of artwork by Frank Gasparro are five different drawings showing the variations and stages Gasparro developed in eagle designs.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1965-1990
- artist
- Gasparro, Frank
- ID Number
- 2009.0005.037
- catalog number
- 2009.0005.037
- accession number
- 2009.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Eagle with Olive Branch
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1965-1990
- artist
- Gasparro, Frank
- ID Number
- 2009.0005.038
- catalog number
- 2009.0005.038
- accession number
- 2009.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center