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) 10 dollar noteUnited States, 1878Obverse Image: Portrait of Robert Morris.Obverse Text: 10 / CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT / THIS CERTIFIES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED WITH THE TREASURER OF THE U.S. AT WASHINGTON, D.C.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 10 dollar note
United States, 1878
Obverse Image: Portrait of Robert Morris.
Obverse Text: 10 / CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT / THIS CERTIFIES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED WITH THE TREASURER OF THE U.S. AT WASHINGTON, D.C. PAYABLE AT HIS OFFICE TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND TEN SILVER DOLLARS / COUNTERSIGNED / REGISTER OF THE TREASURY / TREASURER OF THE UNITED STATES / ASSISTANT TREASURER U.S. / A12509 / A / ACT OF FEBRUARY 28TH 1878 / X / TEN / ROBERT MORRIS / ENGRAVED & PRINTED AT THE BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING.
Reverse Image: "SILVER" surrounded by decorative border.
Reverse Text: SILVER / 10 / TEN DOLLARS / UNITED STATES / CERTIFICATE / THIS CERTIFICATE IS RECEIVABLE FOR CUSTOMS, TAXES, AND ALL PUBLIC DUES, AND WHEN SO RECEIVED MAY BE REISSUED. / ENGRAVED & PRINTED AT THE BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING.
date made
1878
depicted
Morris, Robert
maker
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
ID Number
NU.78.5.603
accession number
1978.0941
catalog number
78.5.603
serial number
A12509
One (1) dollar coin, patternUnited States, 1878Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a headband, crown of cotton and wheat, and cap.
Description (Brief)
One (1) dollar coin, pattern
United States, 1878
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a headband, crown of cotton and wheat, and cap. 13 stars around edge.
Obverse Text: E PLURIBUS UNUM / LIBERTY / 1878
Reverse Image: Eagle with outstretched wings, clutching branch and arrows in talons. Half wreath below eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / IN GOD WE TRUST / ONE DOLLAR
Date made
1878
mint
United States Mint
ID Number
1985.0441.2020
catalog number
1985.0441.2020
accession number
1985.0441
This pattern came from the same impetus that led to the creation of the four-dollar gold coin, or Stella--a desire to give American coinage a greater competitiveness and convertibility in international markets. [reference no. Judd 1643]
Description
This pattern came from the same impetus that led to the creation of the four-dollar gold coin, or Stella--a desire to give American coinage a greater competitiveness and convertibility in international markets. [reference no. Judd 1643]
date made
1879
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1985.0441.2059
catalog number
1985.0441.2059
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) coin treeChina, 1862-1874The saying “money doesn’t grow on trees” clearly didn’t originate in China, because until the late 19th century, this actually was the case.
Description (Brief)
One (1) coin tree
China, 1862-1874
Description
The saying “money doesn’t grow on trees” clearly didn’t originate in China, because until the late 19th century, this actually was the case. Quite different from the method of striking coins popularized in Europe, Chinese coin makers would manufacture coins by pouring molten metal into master molds. When the metal cooled, the new coins were connected to a rod made from metal that had cooled in the middle of the cast, rather than in a coin mold. The result resembled branches stemming from the trunk of a tree, earning the name, “Coin Tree.” The cooled metal coins would then be carefully broken off from the metal rod and sanded down to create the finished products.
date made
1862 - 1874
ID Number
NU.79.112.CM00337
accession number
1979.1263
collector/donor number
CM00337
catalog number
79.112.CM00337

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