Library
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November 14, 2016
Huguenots were French Protestants who were frequently persecuted in majority-Catholic France in the 16th and 17th centuries. After decades of oppression and failed rebellions in the 1620s, many Huguenots fleeing persecution emigrated from Europe to destinations around the world. The ship Nieuw Nederlandt landed in what is now New York in May 1624, carrying Huguenots primarily from Wallonia (now part of Belgium). Famous Huguenots include Peter Minuit, who “purchased” Manhattan Island in 1626, and Huguenot settlers were influential in the early development of the colony.
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November 07, 2016
Just as the California Gold Rush resulted in the San Francisco Mint’s creation, the discovery of Nevada silver precipitated the Carson City Mint. In particular, the massive Comstock Lode created immense fortunes for prospectors in Nevada. It was first identified by two veterans of the California Gold Rush in 1857, but a miner named Henry Comstock was one of the first to lay claim to the area. Word of the massive discovery spread quickly and Northern Nevada exploded in population. The town of Virginia City NV, for instance, had over 10,000 residents in 1880 but now has fewer than 1,000 today.
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October 31, 2016
The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago took place in an era of progress in women’s rights. The Chicago Fair was authorized by an 1890 Act of Congress, which established and funded Board of Lady Managers to help oversee the administration of the Fair and ensure women were represented. The Board of Lady Managers, chaired by wealthy socialite Berth Palmer, was given considerable resources. A specially designated Women’s Building, designed by a female architect, hosted a large conference on women’s issues during the Fair. Palmer and the other Lady Managers were determined to show that women could actively contribute to the Fair’s success.
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October 24, 2016
Though there is some debate among historians, Texans themselves generally cite 1836 as the year of Texas’ independence. In the early 1930s, large celebrations were planned throughout Texas to mark the centennial of this date.
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October 17, 2016
The American Gold Eagle is one of the world’s most popular bullion coins. First introduced in 1986, it has become one of the most recognized and frequently traded forms of gold. What some investors may not realize is that Gold Eagles have been struck in a proof format too. In fact, since 1986, the United States Mint has issued collector-edition proof Gold Eagles for collectors too.
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October 03, 2016
When the $20 “Saint” was first introduced in 1907, the United States Mint struggled to perfect the coin’s design. In its original form, the coin’s design was extremely complicated and difficult to execute. Augustus Saint-Gaudens intended for the coin to be struck in extremely high relief, but doing so required an excessive amount of minting pressure and force. After numerous revisions, in late 1907, the Mint switched to a lower-relief version that was much easier to mass-produce. By that point, however, much of the year had already passed.
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September 26, 2016
The Morgan silver dollar, for a number of reasons, is arguably the most popular of all United States coins. For one, they are big, beautiful coins. Their substantial size and beautiful design make them extremely impressive when viewed in the flesh. While attractive in all grades, they are especially pleasing to the eye in Uncirculated. Furthermore, they have a rich and fascinating backstory. The coins exist due to an intriguing combination of silver discoveries in the West and political maneuvering. Despite their allure and charm, Morgan dollars remain extremely affordable. They are gorgeous, rare and steeped in history—yet remain accessible to the average collector.
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September 19, 2016
Of all American coin collections, perhaps the most famous – and complete – was the cabinet assembled by Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. Built during the 1940s and 1950s, Eliasberg’s holdings represented the most comprehensive numismatic collection. It was 100% complete save for the 1870-S Half Dime, which was not discovered until the late 1970s after Eliasberg passed away.
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September 12, 2016
Numismatics is often referred to as the hobby of kings. This was especially true for King Farouk of Egypt; he assembled one of the largest and most valuable collections ever assembled in the 20th century. However, his collection is not only famous for its size or value. Farouk’s holdings are well-known for having been disbursed and sold in a highly unusual fashion.
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September 05, 2016
In 1866, as the United States was reeling from the effects of the Civil War, Congress authorized using the motto “In God We Trust” on America’s coinage. It was a reflection of the country’s mood and tone; the atrocities of the war deeply affected the American psyche. The United States became more religiously-minded – and our coinage mirrored this fact.