Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-22
RARE COINS AND MEDALS
IN MUSEUM COLLECTION
Some Pieces Of Money Date Back to
About 1884
B. C.
Collection Of Medals Representative
Of Nearly Every Country in
the World.

The National Museum coin and medal
collection of some 5000 pieces includes
several Chinese coins of the earliest type.
dating back to about 2254 B. c. The rarest
pieces Of this ancient coinage are of
spade" key and circular form, termed
merchandise or Cloth money, some
Of them over 1900 years old. While their
face value probably was not more than a
few cents, each individual one Is worth
a large sum today.
Another odd form Of early coin Is the
Chinese knife" money. Of which several
specimens are exhibited. They resemble
nothing SO much as a set of very old and
was the first article Of trade In China
The aborigines bought their necessities for
so many knives, and 1t was only natural
for them to adopt this imagery in their
early trade coins. Most Of these coins
are of iron and copper. but some are OF
silver, gold, lead and bamboo.
Part Of Glover Collection.
These Chinese coins form part of the
George D. Glover collection. which in
cludes representative coins from many
Of the dynasties OF China, and a set Of
modern coins dated 1907. Coins from the
Ming. Tarta, Tschine, Hsia. Yuen, the
Rebellion of Princes, and other periods
are arranged in chronological order, rang
ing from about 1854 BIC. to recent issues.
Some queer antique amulets and medals
are also in this collection, and several old
money and medal molds.
From Japan there are several rare old
coins Of gold, silver and copper, and an
issue of 1870. The Glover exhibit includes
2O25 coins and medals
The Henry Adams collection Of coins
comprises many interesting pieces Of
ropean Kingdoms as we'll as a number re-
lating to the South American countries.
A remarkably complete Polish series
has been presented to the museum by
the Polish National Alliance of the
United States.
While the medal collection Is repre-
sentative of nearly every country of the
world, large part Of 1t pertains to the
United States. This part Is divided into
the following divisions: Prior to the revo-
revolutionary events but issued subse-
quently. and 1812-1s14. Mexican, civil and
Spanish-Amertcan war periods.
Mark Notable Events.
A large number of the medals COM
memorate notable events in the United
ates.referring to history, exploration
and centennials, while others are bronze
copies OF presidential medals. peace
medals. life-saving medals from the gov
eminent mint. and individual rewards for
personal services rendered the govern
ment.
Among the foreign coins and medals
is q fine series from Great Britain and
another from France. while Austria, Bel
GUM, Italy, the Netherlands. Norway.
Portugal, Russia. Sweden. Switzerland.
Porto Rico and the Philippines are rep
resented. The coinage Of Spain and the
Spanish possessions Is well shown. and
from Africa and Asia there are many in
teresting specimens of ancient and mod
ern moneys.
The coin collection Of the United States
Is Incomplete, but contains numerous par
ticularly interesting specimens. Some of
the recalled and cent copper pieces
and the s, 10 and 20 cent pieces Of silver
are included. Samples of the American
coinage of the island possessions are also
on exhibition.