National Numismatic Collection

The National Numismatic Collection is comprised of approximately 1.6 million objects and is thought to be the largest collection of money and transactional objects in the world. Its diverse holdings represent every inhabited continent and span more than three millennia.

The collection has grown from a few thousand objects in the mid-19th century to its present size through donations from public institutions and private collections.

The National Numismatic Collection is unrivaled in its holdings of American material. It is the U.S. monetary system's collection of record and includes the extraordinary collections of the U.S. Mint, Treasury, and Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

A small portion of the National Numismatic Collection is available here. The National Numismatic Collection is currently working to develop digitization initiatives in order to make the national collection more accessible to the public.

One (1) oban coinJapan, 1480
Description (Brief)
One (1) oban coin
Japan, 1480
date made
1480
associated date
1480
head of government
Ashikaga Yoshimasa
ID Number
NU.18528.0013
accession number
18528
catalog number
18528.0013
date made
456 BCE
ID Number
1998.0329.0004
catalog number
1998.0329.0004
accession number
1998.0329
One (1) dollar coinUnited States, 1979Obverse Image: Susan B. Anthony facing right. 13 stars around edge.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / IN GOD WE TRUST / 1979 / DReverse Image: Eagle, with a branch in its talons, landing on the moon. Earth in background.
Description (Brief)
One (1) dollar coin
United States, 1979
Obverse Image: Susan B. Anthony facing right. 13 stars around edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / IN GOD WE TRUST / 1979 / D
Reverse Image: Eagle, with a branch in its talons, landing on the moon. Earth in background. 13 stars.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / ONE DOLLAR
Date made
1979
mint
U.S. Mint, Denver
maker
Gasparro, Frank
ID Number
1982.0799.0045
accession number
1982.0799
catalog number
82.47.45
One (1) oban coinJapan, 1573 - 1592General Information: Koshiu of Iorijo
Description (Brief)
One (1) oban coin
Japan, 1573 - 1592
General Information: Koshiu of Iorijo
date made
1573 - 1592
ID Number
NU.18528.0020
accession number
18528
catalog number
18528.0020
collector/donor number
3058
One (1) oban coin, KameyamaJapan, 1582
Description (Brief)
One (1) oban coin, Kameyama
Japan, 1582
date made
1582
associated date
1582
ID Number
NU.18528.0016
catalog number
18528.0016
accession number
18528
collector/donor number
93838
One (1) oban coinJapan, 1586 - 1587
Description (Brief)
One (1) oban coin
Japan, 1586 - 1587
date made
1586 - 1587
ID Number
NU.18528.0019
accession number
18528
catalog number
18528.0019
date made
1573 - 1592
ID Number
NU.18528.0023
accession number
18528
catalog number
18528.0023
collector/donor number
98867
One (1) 20 shilling coinKenya, 1998Obverse Image: Head of the President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi facing right surrounded by legend.Obverse Text: PRESIDENT DANIEL TOROITICH ARAP MOIReverse Image: Numerical denomination and Kenyan coat of arms.Reverse Text: REPUBLIC OF KENYA / 20
Description (Brief)
One (1) 20 shilling coin
Kenya, 1998
Obverse Image: Head of the President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi facing right surrounded by legend.
Obverse Text: PRESIDENT DANIEL TOROITICH ARAP MOI
Reverse Image: Numerical denomination and Kenyan coat of arms.
Reverse Text: REPUBLIC OF KENYA / 20 / HARAMBEE / TWENTY SHILLINGS / 1998
date made
1998
ID Number
2014.0198.05
accession number
2014.0198
catalog number
2014.0198.05
One (1) cent coinUnited States, 1793Obverse Image: Right-facing Liberty. Three leaf sprig below Liberty.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1793Reverse Image: Wreath.Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / ONE CENT / 1/100
Description (Brief)
One (1) cent coin
United States, 1793
Obverse Image: Right-facing Liberty. Three leaf sprig below Liberty.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1793
Reverse Image: Wreath.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / ONE CENT / 1/100
date made
1793
maker
U.S. Mint (unauthorized)
ID Number
1991.0357.0003
catalog number
1991.0357.0003
accession number
1991.0357
The languages used on money convey a message about the community for which the currency is intended. One of the earliest bilingual coins is this Indo-Greek drachm from around 160 BCE, which features both Greek and an ancient South Asian script.
Description
The languages used on money convey a message about the community for which the currency is intended. One of the earliest bilingual coins is this Indo-Greek drachm from around 160 BCE, which features both Greek and an ancient South Asian script.
date made
160 - 150 BCE
ID Number
1987.0935.12
accession number
1987.0935
catalog number
1987.0935.12
One (1) 1/2 cent coinUnited States, 1794Obverse Image: Right-facing Liberty with cap over her shoulder.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1794Reverse Image: Wreath.Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / HALF CENT / 1/200
Description (Brief)
One (1) 1/2 cent coin
United States, 1794
Obverse Image: Right-facing Liberty with cap over her shoulder.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1794
Reverse Image: Wreath.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / HALF CENT / 1/200
date made
1794
mint
United States Mint
designer
Scot, Robert
ID Number
1991.0357.0010
catalog number
1991.0357.0010
accession number
1991.0357
date made
317 - 311 BCE
ID Number
1999.0253.0004
accession number
1999.0253
catalog number
1999.0253.0004
date made
404 - 350 BCE
ID Number
1992.0352.0267
catalog number
1992.0352.0267
accession number
1992.0352
date made
1644
associated date
1644
head of government
Charles I
ID Number
NU.68.159.5373
catalog number
68.159.5373
accession number
283645
One (1) denarius coinRoman Republic, 44 BCObverse Image: Right-facing image of Julius Caesar wearing laurel wreath.Obverse Text: DICT / PERPETVO / CAESARReverse Image: Standing figure holding small, winged Victory.Reverse Text: SEPVlLIVS / MACER
Description (Brief)
One (1) denarius coin
Roman Republic, 44 BC
Obverse Image: Right-facing image of Julius Caesar wearing laurel wreath.
Obverse Text: DICT / PERPETVO / CAESAR
Reverse Image: Standing figure holding small, winged Victory.
Reverse Text: SEPVlLIVS / MACER
date made
44 BCE
ID Number
2014.0016.026
accession number
2014.0016
catalog number
2014.0016.026
collector/donor number
415.163
One (1) 10 dollar coinUnited States, 1907Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a feather headdress, 13 stars along top edge of coin.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1907Reverse Image: Eagle with wings folded standing on top of a bundle of arrows and branch.Reverse Text: UNITED STATES
Description (Brief)
One (1) 10 dollar coin
United States, 1907
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a feather headdress, 13 stars along top edge of coin.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1907
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings folded standing on top of a bundle of arrows and branch.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / TEN DOLLARS
date made
1907
mint
United States Mint
designer
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus
ID Number
1979.1263.00805
catalog number
1979.1263.00805
accession number
1979.1263
collector/donor number
04994
date made
117 - 138
period of administration
0117 - 0138
head of government
Hadrian Emperor of Rome
ID Number
2002.0007.0606
collector/donor number
426-433
catalog number
2002.0007.0606
accession number
2002.0007
date made
1893
depicted (sitter)
Queen Lili'uokalani
ID Number
NU.68.159.5780
catalog number
68.159.5780
accession number
283645
date made
64 - 68
64-68 CE
ID Number
2002.0007.0234
catalog number
2002.0007.0234
accession number
2002.0007
date made
1638
associated date
1638
ID Number
NU.NU50037
catalog number
NU50037
accession number
161590
date made
3rd century BCE
head of government
Arsinoe II Queen of Thrace and Egypt
maker
Arsinoe II Queen of Thrace and Egypt
ID Number
2001.0009.0202
accession number
2001.0009
catalog number
2001.0009.0202
One (1) shilling coinKenya, 1989Obverse Image: Head of the President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi facing right.Obverse Text: PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC OF KENYA / DANIEL TOROITICH ARAP MOIReverse Image: Numerical denomination and Kenyan coat of arms.Reverse Text: REPUBLIC OF KENYA / 1989
Description (Brief)
One (1) shilling coin
Kenya, 1989
Obverse Image: Head of the President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi facing right.
Obverse Text: PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC OF KENYA / DANIEL TOROITICH ARAP MOI
Reverse Image: Numerical denomination and Kenyan coat of arms.
Reverse Text: REPUBLIC OF KENYA / 1989 / 1 / ONE SHILLING / HARAMBEE
date made
1989
ID Number
2014.0198.06
accession number
2014.0198
catalog number
2014.0198.06
date made
359 - 344 BCE
ID Number
1999.0253.0010
accession number
1999.0253
catalog number
1999.0253.0010
One (1) 1/2 pound coinEngland, 1567-1570Obverse Image: Queen Elizabeth I, wearing a crown, facing left.Obverse Text: ELIZABETH D.G. ANG FRA ET HIB REGINAReverse Image: Crowned shield with crest.Reverse Text: E / R / SCVTVM FIDEI PROTEGET EAM
Description (Brief)
One (1) 1/2 pound coin
England, 1567-1570
Obverse Image: Queen Elizabeth I, wearing a crown, facing left.
Obverse Text: ELIZABETH D.G. ANG FRA ET HIB REGINA
Reverse Image: Crowned shield with crest.
Reverse Text: E / R / SCVTVM FIDEI PROTEGET EAM
date made
1567 - 1570
issuing authority
Elizabeth I Queen of England
maker
Elizabeth I Queen of England
ID Number
2016.0056.015
accession number
2016.0056
catalog number
2016.0056.015

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