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 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 over 460,000 world coins.
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Templeton Reid $2.50
Smithsonian Collection
Ex: U. S. Mint Collection
Repaired |
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imagesTempleton Reid
$2.50
Smithsonian Collection
Ex: Lilly Collection
Very Fine/Extremely Fine |
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Templeton Reid $5
Smithsonian Collection
Ex: U.S. Mint Collection
Repaired |
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Templeton Reid $5
Smithsonian Collection
Ex: U.S. Mint Collection
Repaired |
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Templeton Reid $10 Dated 1830
Smithsonian Collection
Ex: Lilly Collection
Repaired |
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Templeton Reid $10, Undated Variety, 40 Stars
Smithsonian Collection
Ex: Lilly Collection
Extremely Fine |
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Templeton Reid $10, Undated Variety, 40 Stars
Smithsonian Collection
Ex: U.S. Mint Collection
Specimen strike or Prooflike Uncirculated |
The photographs for the coin images on this page are courtesy of Douglas A. Mudd, Collection Manager
Copyright © Smithsonian Institution.
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