Why are they closing the National Coin Collection?

[errorist]

Is it because of low attendence?

[Hoot]

Pat - You need to get a hold of nearly every back issue of Coin World back through March (?) of this year. Or just call the ANA at 800-367-9723.

 

Governmental apathy at best.

 

Hoot

[errorist]

What are they going to do with the coins?

[Hoot]

Place them in their vault for storage. You might get to see them by special appointment.

 

Hoot

[errorist]

Will they ever open it again?

[TomB]

I've been there in person to view the coins and they do such a poor job of allowing people to view the pieces that it's almost a waste of time to go. It's sad.

[airplanenut]

I've been there in person to view the coins and they do such a poor job of allowing people to view the pieces that it's almost a waste of time to go. It's sad.

It'd be a real waste to go now... it was taken down two weeks ago See if you can get an appointment to see the coins in the vault--lots of amazing stuff up there.

 

Jeremy

[BillJones]

This is a general reflection of government presenting history in a politically correct format. The emphasis has gotten away from studying history and looking at historical objects as my generation studied it. Now we need to show “people’s movements” and displays ethnic groups that have been neglected in the past.

 

As a result they might throw a coin in a display or two, but any serious public display of the wonderful items that the Smithsonian has will be a thing of past, at least within my lifetime.

 

With all due respect, airplane nut, young fellows like you will get a chance to see the coins because “we need to educate our youth.” Older people like me will NEVER see these coins because the only people of my age (mid 50s) who “count” are experts usually with big time academic credentials. A person such as myself who has spent years educating myself does not amount to much in the eyes of government officials. The only way that I will get to see those coins is if I get some political pull, and that’s not going to happen.

 

Here’s an example of a PC government historical display. When I visited Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia a some years ago, they had big display about John Brown. That’s not surprising, but what did surprise me was that fact that they made him into a BIG HERO. John Brown was absolutely right about slavery and abolition, but my attitude toward him was right cause, wrong methods.

 

John Brown was a terrorist and murderer. He killed innocent people in cold blood, If his plans to arm the runaway slaves with pikes and later guns had gone into effect he would have been a violent revolutionary that would have been just as bad as the Rebels although the other side of the issue. I was really appalled that a government agency would try to make a hero of such a person.

 

They certainly would not think that about the contemporary violet protesters, like the Earth First movement and those who blow up abortion clinics.

[airplanenut]

With all due respect, airplane nut, young fellows like you will get a chance to see the coins because “we need to educate our youth.” Older people like me will NEVER see these coins because the only people of my age (mid 50s) who “count” are experts usually with big time academic credentials. A person such as myself who has spent years educating myself does not amount to much in the eyes of government officials. The only way that I will get to see those coins is if I get some political pull, and that’s not going to happen.

I've already seen the collection--I was in the vault helping to take down the collection two weeks ago.

 

You can call the museum and ask to view the coins in the vault--they're very accomodating, as I've heard.

 

Jeremy

[BillJones]

Well, maybe the Smithsonian will be better than the Boston Public Library. NO ONE can see the gold medal that was awarded to George Washington for the liberation of Boston during the Revolutionary War.

 

Back in 1876 a group of Boston citizens pooled their funds to buy the medal so that it could be held by the library and shown to the public from time to time. The current adminstrators of the library totally ignore the wishes of those who gave their funds years go so that the public can see this national treasure. This is a case where it would be better if the medal were in private hands or in the collection of a museam that lived up to its public responsibility.

[JamminJ]

This is a case where it would be better if the medal were in private hands or in the collection of a museam that lived up to its public responsibility.

 

I think this is true of almost all numismatic rarities. The only nonprofit I've seen that does an acceptable job displaying their collection is the ANA. Alternately, rarities in private hands make appearences at larger coin shows regularly.

 

-JamminJ

[Count_Erfit]

I think it's good that they took it down. I already saw it.

 

And having it up can only remind civilians (used to be "citizens") that their government used to let people use REAL money so they didn't have to depend on foreign exchange rates and they were free to go anywhere they pleased and they could take their money with them if they wanted.

 

It's dangerous to have such examples of true "freedom" available for public viewing.

It could make people question their government's policies and possibly demand what they once had.

 

This would be very very bad for politics.

 

What the folks don't know won't hurt em.

..................Mr. B. L. Zebub