The National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution

One of the greatest treasures of numismatics is the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institute. The majority of the collection comes from two sources. First was the U.S. Mint Collection begun in 1838 when Adam Eckfeldt, the Chief Coiner, turned over to the Philadelphia Mint the special coins which he and other coiners had set aside over the years. This collection was turned over to the Smithsonian between 1923 and 1928. Although there is no count of the objects sent over from the Mint, based on the Comparette 1914 Mint compilation, there were approximately 14,000 items.

The second major source was the fabulous Josiah Lilly collection of gold coins which was donated in 1968, this requiring an act of Congress to allow the family to take less than a ten million dollar deduction! The Lilly gold coins went on continuous public display in 1972 and also contains a fabulous selection of world gold issues besides the nearly complete collection of United States and Territorial gold issues. The Smithsonian now houses nearly 20,000 United States coins, including Colonials, Territorial issues, patterns, and other Americana. The Smithsonian Collection now also contains more than 460,000 world coins.

Templeton Reid Coins, Lilly Collection at the Smithsonian

Templeton Reid $2.50
U.S. Mint Collection

Templeton Reid $2.50
Lilly Collection

Templeton Reid $5.00
U.S. Mint Collection

Templeton Reid $5.00
Lilly Collection

Templeton Reid $10.00
Lilly Collection

Templeton Reid $10.00
Lilly Collection

Templeton Reid $10.00
U.S. Mint Collection

Templeton Reid $2.50
Duke’s Creek Collection

Templeton Reid $5.00
Duke’s Creek Collection

Templeton Reid $2.50
Clifford Kagan Collection

Templeton Reid $2.50
Chestatee Collection

Templeton Reid $2.50
Gainesville Collection

Templeton Reid $2.50
Stearns Collection

Templeton Reid $2.50
North Georgia Collection

Templeton Reid $2.50
Duke’s Creek Collection

Templeton Reid $5.00
Lilly Collection

Templeton Reid $5.00
U.S. Mint Collection

Templeton Reid $5.00
Georgia Collection

Templeton Reid $5.00
Clifford Kagan Collection

Templeton Reid $10.00
Lilly Collection

Templeton Reid $10.00
Duke’s Creek Collection

Templeton Reid $10.00
Clifford Kagan Collection

Templeton Reid $2.50
Dr. Dexter Seymour Collection

1838-D Half Eagle NGC MS 63 *
Ex: Coles Collection (Stacks, 10/1983); Arthur Montgomery Collection (Auction '84, Stack's, 7/1984); Farmer Collection; Hancock & Harwell Collection

1839-D Half Eagle NGC MS 61
Ex: James Stack Collection (Stack's, 10/1994); Clary Collection; Hancock & Harwell Collection

1840-D Tall-D Half Eagle NGC MS 62
Ex: B. Max Mehl (1923); John Clapp Collection (1942); Eliasberg Collection (Bowers & Ruddy,10/1982); Farmer Collection; Hancock & Harwell Collection

1841-D Small-D Half Eagle NGC MS 65 +
Ex: James Stack Collection (Stack's, 10/1994); Ed Milas Collection (Stack's, 5/1995); Hancock & Harwell Collection

1842-D Large-D Half Eagle NGC MS 61
Ex: Eliasberg Collection (Bowers & Ruddy, 10/1982); Arthur Montgomery Collection (Auction '84,Stack's, 7/1984); Farmer Collection; Hancock & Harwell Collection

1842-D Small-D Half Eagle NGC MS 63
Ex: Eliasberg Collection (Bowers & Ruddy, 10/1982); Farmer Collection; Hancock & Harwell Collection

1843-D Medium-D Half Eagle NGC MS 64
Ex: Blanchard & Company (Discovered, 1990s); Hancock & Harwell Collection

1844-D Half Eagle NGC MS 64 +
Ex: Stack's (1/1958); Pittman Collection (David Akers, 10/1997); Hancock & Harwell Collection

1845-D Half Eagle NGC MS 64 +
Ex: Elmer Sears Collection (1920); John Clapp Collection (1942); Eliasberg Collection (Bowers & Ruddy,10/1982); Farmer Collection; Hancock & Harwell Collection

1846-D Half Eagle NGC MS 61
Ex: Hancock & Harwell Collection

1846-D/D VP-001 Half Eagle NGC MS 66
Ex: Stack's (3/1993); Hancock & Harwell Collection

1847-D Half Eagle NGC MS 63
Ex: Col. E. H. R. Green Collection; Farouk Collection (Sotheby's, 2/1954); Pittman Collection (David Akers, 10/1997); Farmer Collection; Hancock & Harwell Collection