The Value of Money
Monetary objects are powerful sources for exploring the past. The Value of Money connects American history to global histories of exchange, cultural interaction and expression, political change, and innovation through objects from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection.
This exhibition, which opened at the National Museum of American History in 2015, examines the origins of money, new monetary technologies, the political and cultural messages money conveys, numismatic art and design, and the practice of collecting money. The Value of Money features hundreds of objects from our national money collection representing every inhabited continent and spanning more than 3,000 years.
This exhibition was made possible through leadership support from Bill Gale, Lilly Endowment Inc., Lee and Saundra Minshull, an anonymous donor and contributions from many others in the numismatic community.
Gold Coin Necklace, United States, 20th Century
Donated by Estate of Doris M. Brixey
20 Dollar Ultra High Relief “Double Eagle” Coin, United States, 1907
Donated by Estate of Josiah K. Lilly Jr.
5 Cent “Liberty Head Nickel” Coin, United States, 1913
Donated by R. Henry Norweb
Copper Cross, Central and Southern Africa, 19th Century
Donated by The Chase Manhattan Bank
Coin Tree Mold, China, 1862–74
Donated by The Chase Manhattan Bank
100,000 Dollar Note, United States, 1934
Donated by U.S. Department of the Treasury
1,000 “Grand Watermelon” Note, United States, 1890
Donated by U.S. Department of the Treasury
