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) 20 dollar coinUnited States, 1849Obverse Image: Emblem of Mormon Priesthood: 3-pointed Phrygian Crown above all-seeing eye.Obverse Text: TO THE LORD HOLINESSReverse Image: Clasped hands.Reverse Text: G. S. L. C. P. G.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 20 dollar coin
United States, 1849
Obverse Image: Emblem of Mormon Priesthood: 3-pointed Phrygian Crown above all-seeing eye.
Obverse Text: TO THE LORD HOLINESS
Reverse Image: Clasped hands.
Reverse Text: G. S. L. C. P. G. / TWENTY DOLLARS / 1849
Description
Not all of the California gold was turned into coins in California. Some of it went north, where it was minted into currency by the Oregon Exchange Company. And some of it went east, to Utah Territory, carried home by Mormon miners who left the cities of Sacramento and San Francisco for Salt Lake City.
On Brigham Young's orders, a mint was set up to turn the California dust into Utah coins. One of the prime movers in the new venture was a British convert named John Mobourn Kay. Kay forged the die blanks, engraved the dies, and, for good measure, helped in the selection of their designs.
The first Mormon coins, eagles, appeared in December 1848-the very first American pioneer coins struck west of the Mississippi. Other denominations were soon added. All of them, including the double eagle on display, have radical design concepts unseen before or since. The coin on display was among the first double eagles ever struck and circulated in the United States. The obverses of these coins bore the emblem of the Mormon Priesthood, a three-pointed crown above an All-Seeing eye. The reverse displayed clasped hands, joined in friendship and solidarity, the badge of a new people stressing unity and welcoming newcomers. Few of these early Utah coins have survived. Most were melted down in the early 1850s. The Smithsonian coin is one of the finest known.
date made
1849
mint
Mormon Mint
ID Number
1985.0441.2218
catalog number
1985.0441.2218
accession number
1985.0441
One (1) 12 ruble coin, Nicholas IRussia, 1840Obverse Image: N/AObverse Text: 9 ЗОЛ . 68 ДОЛ . ЧИСТОЙ УРАЛЬСКОЙ ПЛАТИНЫ / 12 / РУБЛЕЙ / НА СЕРЕБРО / 1840. / С.П.Б. [12 RUBLES TO THE SILVER / 1840 SPB / 9 ZLOT.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 12 ruble coin, Nicholas I
Russia, 1840
Obverse Image: N/A
Obverse Text: 9 ЗОЛ . 68 ДОЛ . ЧИСТОЙ УРАЛЬСКОЙ ПЛАТИНЫ / 12 / РУБЛЕЙ / НА СЕРЕБРО / 1840. / С.П.Б. [12 RUBLES TO THE SILVER / 1840 SPB / 9 ZLOT. / 68 SHARES OF PURE URAL PLATINUM]
Reverse Image: Center the Russian coat-of-arms, a two-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.
Reverse Text: N/A
Description
Minted in Russia in 1840, this coin worth 12 rubles was issued during the reign of Nicholas I. Married to Charlotte (Alexandra Fedorovna) of Prussia, Nicholas I ruled from 1825 to his death on March 2, 1855. He led the Russian army unsuccessfully in the Crimean War, but helped defeat the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War (1828-29). Under his rule, the Russian Empire spanned over 7.7 million square miles.
date made
1840
ruler
Nicholas I Emperor of Russia
issuing authority
Nicholas I Emperor of Russia
ID Number
NU.69.128.242
catalog number
69.128.242
accession number
286473
One (1) ruble coin, patternRussia, 1845Obverse Image: Right-facing portrait of Emperor Nicholas I.Obverse Text: Б / M / NИКOЛАИ / I / ИМПЕРАТОРЪ / И / САМОДЕРКЕПЪ / BCEPOCC.
Description (Brief)
One (1) ruble coin, pattern
Russia, 1845
Obverse Image: Right-facing portrait of Emperor Nicholas I.
Obverse Text: Б / M / NИКOЛАИ / I / ИМПЕРАТОРЪ / И / САМОДЕРКЕПЪ / BCEPOCC. [Nicholas I the Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia]
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.
Reverse Text: ЧИСТАГО / CEPEБPA / 4 30ЛОТНИКА / 21 ДОЛЯ / 1845 [4 zlotn. / 21 shares of pure silver / 1845]
Description
Minted in Russia in 1845, this pattern ruble was issued during the reign of Nicholas I. Married to Charlotte (Alexandra Fedorovna) of Prussia, Nicholas I ruled from 1825 to his death on March 2, 1855. He led the Russian army unsuccessfully in the Crimean War, but helped defeat the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War (1828-29). Under his rule, the Russian Empire spanned over 7.7 million square miles.
date made
1845
head of government
Nicholas I Emperor of Russia
issuing authority
Nicholas I Emperor of Russia
ID Number
NU.68.263.202
accession number
281689
catalog number
68.263.202

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