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) 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
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
1796
ID Number
NU.68.159.1555
accession number
283645
catalog number
68.159.1555
One (1) 10 dollar coinUnited States, 1795Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a cap, facing right.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 10 dollar coin
United States, 1795
Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a cap, facing right. 15 stars around.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1795
Reverse Image: Small eagle perched on a palm branch with wings outstretched, holding a wreath aloft in its beak.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
date made
1795
mint
United States Mint
obverse designer
Scot, Robert
obverse engraver
Scot, Robert
ID Number
NU.84.76.1
accession number
1984.1125
catalog number
84.76.1
One (1) 10 dollar coinUnited States, 1797Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a cap, facing right.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 10 dollar coin
United States, 1797
Obverse Image: Liberty wearing a cap, facing right. 16 stars around.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1797
Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle holding arrows and branch in its talons, shield over chest.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM
date made
1797
mint
United States Mint
designer
Scot, Robert
ID Number
NU.68.159.0265
accession number
283645
catalog number
68.159.0265
One (1) 10 kopek coin, pattern, Catherine IIRussia, 1796Obverse Image: Crowned initals. Ten dots.Obverse Text: E IIReverse Image: N/AReverse Text: 10 / ДЕСЯТЬ / КОПЂЕКЬ / 1796
Description (Brief)
One (1) 10 kopek coin, pattern, Catherine II
Russia, 1796
Obverse Image: Crowned initals. Ten dots.
Obverse Text: E II
Reverse Image: N/A
Reverse Text: 10 / ДЕСЯТЬ / КОПЂЕКЬ / 1796
date made
1796
ruler
Catherine the Great
ID Number
NU.NU83528
catalog number
NU83528
accession number
257688
collector/donor number
GM 665
One (1) 1/2 poltina coin, Catherine IIRussia, 1790Obverse Image: Bust of Catherine II facing right.
Description (Brief)
One (1) 1/2 poltina coin, Catherine II
Russia, 1790
Obverse Image: Bust of Catherine II facing right. Counterstamp.
Obverse Text: БМЕКАТНРИНА / I I / IMП / ИОАМОДВСКРОСС / СПБ
Reverse Image: Double-headed eagle wearing a crown, wings outspread, holding orb and scepter in claws.
Reverse Text: 1790 / ПОАᴕПОЛТИННИКЬ / Я / A
date made
1790
counterstamp
1783
date made
1783
ruler
Catherine the Great
ID Number
NU.NU77761
catalog number
NU77761
accession number
252180
collector/donor number
GM 551
One (1) ruble coin, pattern, Paul IRussia, 1796Obverse Image: Portrait of Paul I facing right.Obverse Text: Б / M / ПABEAЂ/ I / IMП / ИCAMOД / BCEPOCC / C.L.F. / CПБ [Paul I the Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia / C.L.F.
Description (Brief)
One (1) ruble coin, pattern, Paul I
Russia, 1796
Obverse Image: Portrait of Paul I facing right.
Obverse Text: Б / M / ПABEAЂ/ I / IMП / ИCAMOД / BCEPOCC / C.L.F. / CПБ [Paul I the Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia / C.L.F. / SPB]
Reverse Image: Center the Russian coat-of-arms, a double-headed eagle wearing a shield with a mounted figure (Saint George), surrounded by four crowned П (P for Paul).
Reverse Text: MOHETA / РƔБЛЬ / 1796 / IOДA / [coin / ruble / 1796 / year]
Description
This pattern ruble was minted in Russia in 1796 under Paul I. Paul I was Emperor of Russia from 1769 until his assassination in March of 1801.
date made
1796
head of government
Paul I Emperor of Russia
ID Number
NU.NU83551
catalog number
NU83551
accession number
257688
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Liberty head left, with unbound hair; date below. Reverse: Small eagle, DISME below. The term "disme" was the original choice of the name for a tenth of a dollar. It was probably pronounced "deem."Adam Eckfeldt created the obverse die.
Description
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Liberty head left, with unbound hair; date below. Reverse: Small eagle, DISME below. The term "disme" was the original choice of the name for a tenth of a dollar. It was probably pronounced "deem."
Adam Eckfeldt created the obverse die. William Birch was likely responsible for the reverse die. Henry Voigt did the actual coining. This activity was taking place in a completed section of the new United States Mint. The workers were constructing the rest of the building!
This piece is one of a dozen of these patterns known.
[reference no. Judd 1792]
date made
1792
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
ID Number
1991.0357.0122
catalog number
1991.0357.0122
accession number
1991.0357
One (1) 5 dollar coinUnited States, 1797Obverse Image: Capped bust of Liberty facing right.Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1797Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle, clouds and stars above.Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUMAlthough dated 1797, this coin was probably minted
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin
United States, 1797
Obverse Image: Capped bust of Liberty facing right.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1797
Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle, clouds and stars above.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM
Description
Although dated 1797, this coin was probably minted in the following year. Early United States coins do not always bear the year in which they were struck. The annual visit of yellow fever to Philadelphia, and to the U.S. Mint there, imparted a disjointed quality to our early numismatics.
What is definitely known is that Robert Scot was responsible for the designs. His new, bellicose eagle is a direct reflection of increased national tensions with the British and French. This particular coin is unique.
date made
1797
mint
U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
obverse designer
Scot, Robert
obverse engraver
Scot, Robert
ID Number
NU.68.159.0158
accession number
283645
catalog number
68.159.0158

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