August 23, 2012 – Coin lovers can visit a new gallery housing the National Numismatic Collection in Washington, DC in 2015, when the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History opens its renovated, west exhibition wing. Dallas-based international metals dealer Dillon Gage is one of the donors helping to make this exciting new coin gallery possible. The company has pledged $10,000 to the gallery’s development and encourages other industry members and collectors to take an interest in the project and contribute to it.
Construction on the 1,000 square-foot, numismatic gallery will begin later this year and is expected to cost $1.5 million. However, the Smithonian is still lacking $300,000 to arrive at the targeted sum and thus looking for potential donors.
‘One of the many benefits of the new gallery is that the museum will be able to display considerably more of its historic coin collection to the public,’ says Terry Hanlon, President of Dillon Gage Metals. ‘I encourage other industry members and coin collectors to donate to the project in any amount that they can.’ The museum has already raised much of the funds for the gallery but needs more.
The National Numismatic Collection is the largest of its kind in North America and is one of the biggest in the world, with 1.6 million objects – ranging from 3,000-year-old coins to those in circulation now. The collection includes over 450,000 coins, medals and decorations, along with 1.1 million pieces of paper money, and covers the nation’s and world’s numismatic history.
Of particular interest are the collection’s rare coins, including the Brasher half doubloon and the 1913 Liberty head nickel. Other rarities are three types of the 1804 silver dollar and two of the three known examples of the world’s most valuable coin – the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. One notable, recent acquisition was the ‘Confederate Treasury horde’ of canceled Confederate paper money.
‘The National Numismatic Collection continues to grow, with great additions that will appeal to coin collectors, investors and historians,’ Hanlon says. ‘I personally look forward to visiting the new gallery and seeing the latest acquisitions.’
Recent donations to the NNC include the Josiah K. Lilly holdings – consisting of 6,150 gold coins, with an almost complete U.S. gold coin collection, a wealth of Latin American gold and many rare European gold coins, including a 20 excelentes de la Granada of Ferdinand and Isabella and two large 100 ducats from Austria and Poland.
Besides Dillon Gage other dealers and companies from the numismatic world like Stack’s Bowers Galleries contribute to these plans too. Although the Smithonian is not launching a public appeal officials will contact potential donors and are appreciating any contribution.
Not only the numismatic gallery will be restructured but also the rest of the museum, thanks to a public-private partnership.
For more information you may also read this article on the subject.
To learn more about the Smithonian, please go to its website.