The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-10-09
u. 5. HaSFINE
COIN COLLECTION
Latest Addition to the National
Treasure in Washington.
is OF UNUSUAL INTEREST

A coin collection of the first magni-
tude is the latest addition to the ma
tional treasure in Washington. Until
now the United States has been able
to make no particular boast as a col
lector of rare coins and medals. The
government has owned an abundance
of material, but it has not been avail
able in the form of a comprehensive
collection. The treasure has been di-
vided, with inevitable loss of value.
With the removal of the Philadel-
phia mint collection to Washington
and its consolidation with the material
owned by the Smithsonian institution.
the American people have ready &C
cess to one of the great collections Of
the world.
The concentration of the Philadel-
phia and Washington collections Is
AIKEN as the initial step in giving the
United States a place in the ranks OF
nations which nave taken numismatics
with the seriousness the science de-
serves.
N~umismatics may be described as
covering coins, medals and decora-
lions. In these three branches it af-
fords a wide field for historical study
and a wealth of human interest, deal
ing with the progress of nations, the
development of civilization and the in
dfviduaI achievements of the human
race.
Of Great Importance.
Recent visitors to the Smithsonian
have found Curator Belote busily en-
gagged in the installation of the ma
terial, old and new. To Mr.. Belote
the move is of great Importance from
the historical standpoint. American
history is his special study and prob
lem, and as curator of the division Of
history he recognizes the value of the
collection
The newly organized display aggre-
gates approximately $4,000 pieces.
With one exception 1t Is the largest
assemblage of specimens in the United =,
AS far as public exhibit is con-
eerned it is the largest The one col
lection of greater size is that of h
American Numfs1natic society, in New
York, but the New York material IL
intended primarily for research and
not for exhibition purposes, while the
Smithsonian collection is the property
Of the public and will command the
Interested attention of students and
sightseers alike.
One of the notable features is the
series of casts of ancient coins, pre-
senting exact reproductions of some
Of the most interesting coinage of
centuries long past. Included in these
ire the classical types prepared by
he British museum, selected with a
view to showing the development Of
he art of coinage. This carries the
study back to the Seventh century be-
ore the birth of Christ, the earliest
period recognized by n~umismatic
scientists in their classification and
In this collection may be
'ound reproductions of coins covering
he whole range of ancient Greece.
casts show the coins of Lydia, in
Asia Minor, and embrace Roman coin
lge as recent as that of the year
LOO A. d.
Spanish Coins.
There is special interes to Ameri-
ans in the collection of Spanish coins
with the early history of this
ountry. Actual specimens which
we're in circulation in the American
during the Colonial period af-
ord interesting sidelights on history.
Another notable feature is the col
ection Of the coins of Poland, pre-
iented to the Smithsonian by the Pol
sh National alliance AS a token of the
warm friendship between Poland and
United States. Poland's history Is
exceedingly rich, and the present
struggle of the nation to establish
'epublican government modelled after
hat of the United States gives par
value to this showing of the
coinage.