Financial History Issue 113 (Spring 2015) | Page 9
MUSEUM NEWS
THE TICKER
“America in Circulation: A History of US Currency
Featuring the Collection of Mark R. Shenkman”
Exhibit Opens
drove constant advances in design.
“Today, there are only seven notes in
circulation. Yet most Americans don’t
realize that both the banks and the government were issuing many different types
of currency for most of our nation’s first
150 years,” said Museum President David
Cowen. “The notes in this exhibit tell the
story of the development of America, and
their striking beauty makes them pieces of
art in and of themselves.”
The exhibition features approximately
250 notes spanning from the Colonial era
to the present day. Highlights include rare
examples of currency bearing the signatures
of signers of the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence; a complete set of
notes from the Educational Series of 1896,
renowned for being the most beautiful paper
money in American history; and uncommon examples of high denomination notes
including $5,000 and $10,000 bills.
“I am excited and honored to showcase
my collection of American currency at
the Museum of American Finance,” said
Mark Shenkman. “Visitors of all ages will
now be able to enjoy the beautiful engravings of hundreds of notes spanning three
centuries, and to view and explore them
as never before through an engaging use
of technology.”
“America in Circulation” will be on
view through March 2018 in the Museum’s
money gallery. An online version of the
exhibition is available at www.moaf.org/
money.
Collection of Mark R. Shenkman
On April 15, the Museum opened “America in Circulation: A History of US Currency Featuring the Collection of Mark R.
Shenkman.” The exhibit provides visitors
with the opportunity to view hundreds
of beautiful and rare examples of American paper money and to explore them in
more depth through large interactive touch
screen displays.
From Colonial times, American money
has told a fascinating and detailed story
of the country’s struggles and successes.
Pivotal moments in history have led to
changes in the nation’s money, as crises
have brought about innovation. Often
local and national currencies competed
and coexisted with each other, while economic depression, war and counterfeiting
Clockwise from top left: $50 Continental Note, 1779; $20 Gold Certificate, series of 1905;
$2 Educational Series Silver Certificate, 1896; $5 Legal Tender Note, N