Virtual Money Museums

Tour America's favorite financial museums online with this guide to the latest exhibits.

April 28, 2004

Embrace your inner capitalist this summer. Even if you can't get away to see first-hand the financial exhibits detailed in the June issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance, you can tour some of America's favorite money museums online.

Show me the money

The National Numismatic Collection
The Smithsonian allows you to view a sample of the largest collection of coins in the country. Among the featured coins are a rare 1933 double eagle coin and some of the first known coins from ancient Greece.

American Numismatic Association Money Museum
Recently on virtual display was a history of how precious metals were discovered in the Rocky Mountains, plus images of rare notes, such as currencies of imperial Russia.

The Currency Gallery
The Currency Gallery and Research Foundation, a group that aims to encourage people to collect U.S. paper currency, manages this virtual collection. On display are images of rare and unusual U.S. paper money.

Exhibits to bank on

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Learn about the history of money, from the early days of bartering to today's Federal Reserve Bank system.

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Get an abridged version of the lessons displayed in the bank's lobby, which is located off Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Among the exhibits are information on how the economy works and the basics of monetary circulation.

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Instead of visiting this bank's headquarters in downtown Richmond, Va., visit its Web site for virtual exhibits. This tour emphasizes primitive forms of money, early American currency and the history of the Federal Reserve Bank System.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
The headquarters of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C., has been closed to tourists for the past few years. Take a peak inside by viewing photos at this Web site. The images focus on the architecture and appearance of the Board's building.

The International Monetary Fund
View streaming video to learn more about the IMF's purpose and its focus on international economics, trade and financial history.

Miscellaneous treasures

The International Bond and Share Society
This so-called "Scripophily" site boasts an online gallery of images of rare stock and bond engraved certificates.

The United States Mint
Learn about the history of the mint and get an explanation of coin production.

The Tax History Foundation and Museum
This site has a (rather bizarre) online display of vintage tax forms and accounting history miscellany.

Wells Fargo History Museum
The online counterpart to the nation's nine Wells Fargo History Museums offers some history about the overland stagecoaches that made the bank chain famous.

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