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National Numismatic Collection

National Numismatic Collection

American History Museum

The National Numismatic Collection is comprised of approximately 1.6 million objects and is thought to be the largest collection of money and transactional objects in the world. Its diverse holdings represent every inhabited continent and span more than three millennia.

The collection has grown from a few thousand objects in the mid-19th century to its present size through donations from public institutions and private collections.

The National Numismatic Collection is unrivaled in its holdings of American material. It is the U.S. monetary system's collection of record and includes the extraordinary collections of the U.S. Mint, Treasury, and Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

A small portion of the National Numismatic Collection is available here. The National Numismatic Collection is currently working to develop digitization initiatives in order to make the national collection more accessible to the public.


  • National Museum of American History 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cowrie Shell 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Kissi Penny 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Kissi Penny; Africa; Liberia, Sierra Leone 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Nails 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Tablets 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • nontraditional money 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Axe Money (Xiqui) 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Axes (tools) 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Beads 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Beads; North America; U.S., California, Pomo Indians 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cowry Shell Money; Africa; Uganda 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Manilla; Africa; Gold Coast to Lower Niger 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Money 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North America; United States 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Tea Brick Money; Asia; Siberia 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Tiger Tongue Money; Asia; Laos 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Xiquis Handaxes 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Xiquis Handaxes; Axe Money (Xiqui); Americas; Mexico, Pre-Aztecs 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • alternative currency; Asia 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • alternative currency; North America; U.S., Nez Perce Indians 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • alternative currency; Oceania, South Pacific 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • cowrie shell money 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • cowry shell 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • manilla 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • nail; North America; United States 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • premonetary exchange 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • stone money 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • tea brick money 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • tiger tongue money 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • traditional money 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1500s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1700s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1800s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1900s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1930s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • BCE 2000s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Africa 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Dhī Qār 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Guinea 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Iraq 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Liberia 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Sierra Leone 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Ur 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Asia 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Aztec Empire 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • East Asia 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Federated States of Micronesia 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Laos 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Mexico 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North America 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Northwestern 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Oceanic 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Pismo Beach 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Russia 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Siberia 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Uganda 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Yap 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Value of Money 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Coins, Currency and Medals 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • West African Currency 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • American Enterprise 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Coins 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • East Asian Coins 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Legendary Coins 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Numismatics 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • West African Currency 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Coins 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Money 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Numismatics 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Included:

  • Remove Resource Type: alternative currency close

Wampum

Tiger Tongue Money, Laos, 19th Century

Manilla, West Africa, 19th Century

Brick of Tea, Siberia, 18th-19th century

Rai Stone, Yap, 20th century

Cuneiform Tablet

Cuneiform Tablet

Pismo Beach, California, 1 Dollar, 1933 (clamshell)

Cowrie Shell, Asia, n.d.

Cowrie Shell, Uganda, Africa

Iron Nail, United States, 17-18th century

Kissi Penny

Xiqui Handaxe, Mexico, 13th - 15th century

Cowrie Shell

Wampum

Iron Nail, United States, ca 1700s

"Made Beaver" Pelt

Kissi Penny

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