Projects

Recent Digitization Initiatives

International Grand Cross Orders of Knighthood Digitization Project

The National Numismatic Collection has completed a project to digitize the 237 Grand Cross Orders of Knighthood of the Frederick W. MacKay collection bequeathed to the museum in 1967. In addition to the digitization, a Learning Lab collection was developed using these objects. This project was generously funded by the Howard Franklin Bowker Numismatic Projects Endowment Fund.

• Access the collection in the museum's online catalog
• Access the project's Learning Lab

Treasury Banknote Digitization and Education Project

The National Numismatic Collection has completed a project to digitize the 808 banknotes transferred from the United States Treasury to the NNC in 1978. In addition to the digitization, 5 Learning Lab collections have been developed using these objects. This project was generously funded by the Howard Franklin Bowker Numismatic Projects Endowment Fund.

• Access the collection in the museum’s online catalog
• Access the project’s Learning Labs
  • Women on American Money
  • Money and the Civil War
  • Messages of Democracy and Nationhood on American Money
  • The Art of Paper Money
  • Paper Money of the United States

South African Currency Digitization Project

The National Numismatic Collection partnered with the London School of Economics (LSE) and Stellenbosch University to digitize 759 South African currency objects. This project was generously funded by the LSE's Knowledge Exchange and Impact Fund. 

• Access the collection in the museum's online catalog
• Access the article written by project collaborators here
• Access the project’s Learning Labs
  • South African lesson 1: A quick history of money: What can money tell us about the world?
  • South African lesson 2: Minerals and Money
  • South African lesson 3: The Great Depression, the gold standard and South Africa
  • South African lesson 4: Bretton Woods, national currencies and South Africa's new money

Mass Digitization Project: Coins and Medals of the Lilly, Straub, and Mikhailovich Collections

The National Numismatic Collection partnered with the Smithsonian Digitization Program Office to digitize over 25,000 coins and medals from the Josiah K. Lilly Jr., Paul A. Straub, and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich collections. This project received additional funding from the National Collections Program. These images will be available online by mid-2020. 

Access a video about the digitization

• Access the Josiah K. Lilly Jr. collection
• Access the Paul A. Straub collection
• Access the Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich collection

West African Currency Digitization Project 

 

The National Numismatic Collection partnered with the London School of Economics (LSE) to digitize 880 West African currency objects. This project was generously funded by the LSE's Knowledge Exchange and Impact Fund.

• Access the collection in the museum's online catalog
• Access the project's Learning Lab
• Access a description of the project here
• Access a review of the project here

Numismatics 3D Digitization Pilot

The Smithsonian Digitization Program Office's 3D team partnered with the National Numismatic Collection to digitize and create online educational experiences for a collection of East Asian coins.

• Access the models here
• Access the project's Learning Lab

German Notgeld Inventory

The National Numismatic Collection has completed a one year project to catalog and digitize approximately 6,000 German notgeld notes. This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.

• Access the project's Learning Lab
• Access the collection in the museum's online catalog

Cataloging and Digitizing Chinese Paper Money

The National Numismatic Collection has completed a two year project, generously funded by Michael Chou, to catalog and digitize approximately 5,800 pieces of Chinese paper money. Images of these objects are available on the Smithsonian's Collections Search Center and a portion are on the Smithsonian's Transcription Center website, where digital volunteers all over the world will be able to assist with the transcription and transliteration of these notes.

• Help transcribe
• Access the collection in the museum's online catalog

Howard F. Bowker East Asian Coin Project

The National Numismatic Collection completed a two year project to digitize over 8,000 coins in its East Asian coin collection thanks to a generous donation from the Howard F. Bowker Family and Michael Chou. A dedicated member of staff cataloged and photographed these coins and related monetary objects that span nearly three thousand years of East Asian history. 

• Access the collection in the museum's online catalog

John Adams Comitia Americana Medals Project

The National Numismatic Collection completed the digitization of its Comitia Americana medals thanks to a generous donation from John Adams. A dedicated member of staff cataloged and facilitated the photography of 119 medals struck between 1776 and the late 19^th century. This group of historic medals represent a newly independent United States engaging with the international community through numismatic art.

• Access the collection in the museum's online catalog
• Access the project's Learning Lab
• Related blog: How a Congressional vote to create Revolutionary War medals affirmed the Declaration of Independence

Bureau of Engraving and Printing Rapid Capture

In October 2014 the National Numismatic Collection initiated an innovative “Rapid Capture” digitization project, pioneering one of the first projects of its kind at the Smithsonian. The goal of the project was to digitize about 250,000 proof sheets from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) collection, consisting of over a quarter-million unique sheets used to print banknotes and tax stamps from 1863 to the early 20^th century. These proof sheets were kept by the BEP as a collection of record for the currency issued during this time and were transferred to the National Numismatic Collection between the 1960s and 1980s.

The project involved a conveyer belt system with a custom-designed 80 megapixel imaging system to digitize the objects as efficiently as possible. This innovative process was incredibly effective when compared to the old method of employing a flatbed scanner. The digitization team processed nearly 3,500 sheets every day at a cost of less than a dollar per sheet in just four and a half months!

Access a video about the digitization

Another component of this project was the integration of the Smithsonian’s Transcription Center. Through this online platform, members of the public are able to log on, see our objects, and assist us with cataloging them by filling in predetermined information fields. Their work has allowed us to catalog objects quickly and efficiently.

At the completion of the project, the team was able to digitize 274,340 currency proof sheets from our collection. 

The National Numismatic Collection is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to make our collections accessible, furthering the Smithsonian Institution’s mission of sharing our valuable resources with the world.

Recent Rehousing and Preservation Initiatives

Inventory and Rehousing of Colonial Currency

The National Numismatic Collection is conducting a project to inventory and rehouse the colonial currency collection of approximately 3,850 objects. This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.

Inventory and Rehousing of American Coins

The National Numismatic Collection has initiated a multi-year project to inventory and rehouse the American coin collection. This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.

Removal of Wax from Coins

The National Numismatic Collection is actively working to remove wax from the surface of over 6,000 coins. This project was made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Howard F. Bowker Numismatic Projects Endowment Fund. This project also received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.

Rehousing the Rare Book Collection

The National Numismatic Collection rehoused its collection of rare numismatic books and ephemeral materials thanks to a generous donation from Michael Chou. The Mint Accounts Book (1856-1903) and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich’s texts on Russian numismatics are included among the many books preserved through this project. This world-class collection of 18th – 20th century books is crucial for the identification and interpretation of objects in the NNC.

Rehousing the International Paper Money Collection

The National Numismatic Collection rehoused its international banknote collection thanks to a generous donation from Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Shiva. Two dedicated members of staff moved all the notes from degrading plastic sleeves, into new, archival quality folders for their long-term preservation. The collection consists of more than 80,000 individual pieces of paper money, dating from the late 18^th century to present day and representing dozens of countries around the world. While working through the collection, the team also revealed its potential as a resource for historical research.

• Related Blog: Hidden turtles and rude gestures in World War II-era Chinese banknotes