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 7 items.
Missouri Five Mill Sales Tax Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this sales tax token around 1935. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens. This token was used when Missouri’s sales tax was less than a cent.
- Obverse: Image of the state of Missouri. Legend reads: MISSOURI SALES TAX RECEIPT/ 5/ 5.
- Reverse: Image of the state of Missouri. Legend reads: MISSOURI SALES TAX RECEIPT/ 5/ 5.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1542
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1542
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Missouri Single Mill Sales Tax Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this sales tax token around 1935. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens. This token was used when the sales tax was less than a cent. There is a hole in the center of the token.
- Obverse: Image of the state of Missouri, with “1” in the center. The legend reads: MISSOURI SALES TAX RECEIPT/ 1.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1549
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1549
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Missouri Single Mill Sales Tax Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this sales tax token around 1935. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens. This token was used when the sales tax was less than a cent. There is a hole in the center of the token.
- Obverse: Image of the state of Missouri, with “1” in the center. The legend reads: MISSOURI SALES TAX RECEIPT/ 1.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1550
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1550
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Missouri Five Mill Sales Tax Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this sales tax token around 1935. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens. This token was used when the sales tax was less than a cent. There is a hole in the center of the token.
- Obverse: Image of the state of Missouri. The legend reads: MISSOURI SALES TAX RECEIPT/ 5/ 5.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1551
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1551
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Puerto Rican Hardware Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and transportation tokens. The number 3 is penned on the obverse.
- Obverse: The legend reads: QUINCALLA Y FERRETERIA
- Reverse: The legend reads: TRUJILLO Y SUBINA/ 10/ EL COMETA
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1587
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1587
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Not Once Cent Hard Times Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this hard times token around 1841. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and transportation tokens.
- Obverse Profile image of Lady Liberty facing left.: The legend reads: E PLURIBUS UNUM/1841.
- Reverse: The legend reads: MILLIONS FOR DEFENCE/NOT ONE CENT/FOR TRIBUTE.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1615
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1615
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this souvenir coin in 1930. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
- Obverse: Image of a full-sailed frigate on water, and an inset image of a man in Pilgrim garb. The legend reads: : MASSACHUSETTS TERCENTENARY 1630-1930.
- Reverse: Image of the Old Powder House tower. The legend reads: TERCENTENARY SOUVENIR/1630-1930/ OLD POWDER HOUSE SOMERVILLE.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1630
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1630
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center