Treasures from the Vault
January 18 - February 16, 2005

On an everyday basis, paper money and coins serve as a medium of exchange. As time passes, these objects become relics rich in historical meaning.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has unsealed its cash vault to compile four panels that display coins and paper money from its collection. These pieces of U.S. history date from the early days of our nation through the twentieth century.

Two panels cover “Liberty” and “The American Eagle,” the two chief symbols on our early coinage. The other two panels, “History at Your Fingertips,” and “Spirit of the Nation,” focus on themes depicted on our paper currency.

Among the intriguing artifacts:

• An 1853 gold $1 coin from the California Gold Rush.
• An 1853 $3 note, issued at a time when 30,000 banks printed their own money.
• A 1907 $20 gold piece, considered by many to be the most beautiful U.S. coin ever minted.

For more information about the exhibit, you may wish to view the Boston Fed's free publications, including

• Liberty and the American Eagle
• History at your Fingertips and Spirit of the Nation
• History of Colonial Money, and
• Coins and Currency