Tales from the Vault Blog
Tales from the Vault is a series of articles designed to highlight the lesser-known parts of the ANA collection.
These columns feature interesting and informative stories about individual objects or groups of objects that do not often (or ever) get to see the light of day.
The collection within the ANA vault holds approximately 275,000 objects ; however, we only have space to show a tiny fraction of these hidden gems. Check back regularly for an inside look at the ANA vault and the marvelous collection we are excited to share with you.
Tales From the Vault – Swedish Plate Money: Too Heavy to Steal!
Sweden’s large copper lumps or “plates” ranged in weight from 378g (just under a pound)…
Tales From the Vault – The Markoff Collection
In 1979, the Money Museum received an incredible donation combining numismatic and presidential history. The…
Tales From the Vault – Bryan Money
Objects from the Money Museum highlight the politics of a bygone era “You shall not…
Tales From the Vault – Child’s Play
A “Play Money” collection details a fun, ongoing series for young and young at heart…
Tales From the Vault – Golden State Gold
A need for small-denomination coinage spawns a fascinating collector series The California Gold Rush created…
Tales From the Vault: The Joy of Jetons
King Louis XV struck tokens to popularize France’s American colonies and encourage emigration. A little-known…
Tales From the Vault: The Multiple Thalers of Brunswick
Far from pocket change, these large silver coins helped fund the defense of kingdoms Thalers…
Tales From the Vault: Celebrating Women in Numismatics
This year marks the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote…
Tales From the Vault: Royal Portraits
Monarchs have appeared on English coinage since the kingdom’s establishment in AD 927 Many objects…
Tales from the Vault: Face of a Place
A recent donation highlights cityscapes from one of Europe’s most interesting placesCoins were the first…
Tales From the Vault: Sealskin Notes of the Russian-American Company
During the first half of the 19th century, the imperial Russian-American Company (RAC) – chartered…
Tales From the Vault: Founding Father of Finance
The Money Museum’s collection honors treasurer and patriot Robert MorrisThe Edward C. Rochette Money Museum’s…
Tales from the Vault: John Fitzgerald Kennedy
The ANA’s collection celebrates an amazing life and careerWhen Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy was…
Tales From the Vault: The Moritz Wormser Memorial Collection
The ANA collection was conceived thanks to a numismatic giantThe ANA’s Edward C. Rochette Money…
Tales From the Vault: War of 1812 Treasury Notes
Although popular in circulation, few of these notes exist today In June 1812, the United…
Tales from the Vault: The Notes of George Cruikshank
A famous satirical bank note lampoons the Bank of EnglandWhat follows is a fascinating story…
Tales From the Vault: The Sacagawea Dollar
The Edward C. Rochette Money Museum received an exciting donation in late 2017: items related…
Tales from the Vault: First Charter National Bank Notes
The first National Bank Act was signed 155 years agoEven before the Civil War, our…
Tales From the Vault: Martin Luther
Halloween 2017 marked the 500th anniversary of the start of the ReformationIt was October 31st,…
Tales From the Vault: Saint Nicholas Bank Notes
As busy as he is during the holiday season, how did Santa Claus ever find…
Tales from the Vault: Medals Matter
An ANA Life Member furthers the ANA’s mission with a substantial donationThe vault’s collection of…
Tales From the Vault: Tokens of the Cocos Islands
The ANA Money Museum is fortunate to possess a complete set of rare tokens of…
Tales From The Vault: Red Cross Medals of World War I
World War I inspired a fascinating array of medallic art and popular subject was the…
Tales From the Vault: Medallic Remembrances of World War I
World War I (1914-1918), also called “The Great War,” or “the War to End all…
Tales From the Vault: High-Flying Collection
Pieces assembled by an aviation pioneer find a home at the ANA Money Museum.“Men become…
Tales From the Vault: Windy City Scrip
The city of Chicago has played a significant role in the ANA’s history. The organization…
Tales From the Vault: The 1928 Auto Dollar
A Chinese warlord celebrates his automotive accomplishments on a famous coinEach of the objects in…
Tales From the Vault: The 1792 Half Disme
The United States Launches a New National CoinageEven before the end of the American Revolution,…
Tales From the Vault: Money, Great and Small
Money as we know it was first conceived largely because its size and weight made…
Tales From the Vault: American Classics
1804 Dollar The King of United States Coins The 1804 dollar is among the most…