BGuthrie Photos: DC -- Natl Museum of American History -- Exhibit: Really BIG Money

DC -- Natl Museum of American History -- Exhibit: Really BIG Money:

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Description of Pictures: Really BIG Money
April 8, 2022 – TBA
This exhibition presents young visitors with really big money; that is, money that is large in size, quantity, or denomination. It features striking objects from the National Numismatic Collection, such as Swedish plate money, German billion-mark banknotes, a Roman coin hoard, and the long tail feathers of the quetzal bird as well as a range of interactive activities. These artifacts and activities help young visitors understand that money can be a powerful and memorable way learn about the natural environment, community and cultural identity, political leadership, and the process of exchange.
Aligned to social studies learning standards for elementary-aged learners, Really BIG Money teaches about world cultures and financial literacy and promotes creative thinking through a blend of object investigations and interactive experiences throughout the gallery. Check out the gallery’s game “Match the Money” online or while visiting the museum. Match all of the objects and unlock a magical animation showing a flying quetzal bird traveling the world through banknotes!

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. BIGMON_220410_001.JPG: Really Big Money
2. BIGMON_220410_007.JPG: Really Big Money What can really big money teach us about our world? Money is anything a community agrees to use to make payments and purchases. Most money we use today fits in our pockets. But money has come in many sizes and shapes throughout history. The pieces of money in this exhibition are really big. Some are big in size. Some are big in quantity. And some have big numbers printed on them. Each piece can teach us about a community and culture, the environment, political leaders, and the process of exchange. Through this exhibition you will discover the stories behind some of the world’s biggest pieces of money.
3. BIGMON_220410_014.JPG: Communities and Cultures Aligned to elementary social studies learning standards, Really BIG Money teaches children about world cultures and supports the development of financial literacy. How big is this money? The longest tail feather of this male quetzal (KET-sahl) bird is 21 inches long. Communities in Mexico and Central America once used quetzal tail feathers to make payments and also for special clothing. Who used this bird’s tail feathers as money? Communities in Mexico and Central America used quetzal tail feathers to pay taxes to Aztec rulers. The feathers were also made into headdresses and clothing for royalty and religious leaders. To get the feathers, people caught the quetzal and pulled out its tail feathers. But they let it fly away, and the quetzal’s tail feathers grew back. Aztec rulers made people pay taxes. This image shows two bundles of green quetzal tail feathers, ceremonial clothing and shields made from feathers, and beads. It made up part of the community’s payment. In the early 1500s, one community gathered 10,000 feathers each year.
4. BIGMON_220410_019.JPG: Resplendent Quetzal bird, Guatemala, collected around 1923 Gift of The Honorable Charles E. Hughes
5. BIGMON_220410_021.JPG: How big is this money? The longest tail feather of this male quetzal (KET-sahl) bird is 21 inches long. Communities in Mexico and Central America once used quetzal tail feathers to make payments and also for special clothing.
6. BIGMON_220410_023.JPG: Who used this bird’s tail feathers as money? Communities in Mexico and Central America used quetzal tail feathers to pay taxes to Aztec rulers. The feathers were also made into headdresses and clothing for royalty and religious leaders. To get the feathers, people caught the quetzal and pulled out its tail feathers. But they let it fly away, and the quetzal’s tail feathers grew back. The quetzal has been the name of Guatemala’s currency since 1925. This coin shows a quetzal bird and its long tail feathers. 20 quetzales coin, Guatemala, 1926 Gift of Robert Leon Hughes
7. BIGMON_220410_025.JPG: Codex Mendoza, mid-1500s Courtesy of Bodleian Library, Oxford University Aztec rulers made people pay taxes. This image shows two bundles of green quetzal tail feathers, ceremonial clothing and shields made from feathers, and beads. It made up part of the community’s payment. In the early 1500s, one community gathered 10,000 feathers each year. Codex Mendoza, mid-1500s
8. BIGMON_220410_030.JPG: The Environment Aligned to elementary social studies learning standards, Really BIG Money teaches children about world cultures and supports the development of financial literacy. 8 daler plate money, Sweden, 1663 Gift of The Chase Manhattan Bank How big is this money? This plate money weighs 31 pounds. People in Sweden used heavy copper plates as well as smaller silver coins as money around 350 years ago. What is this plate money made of? This Swedish plate money is made of copper metal. When it was made in 1663, Sweden had a lot of copper in its mines, but very little silver metal. This made silver much more valuable than copper. This huge copper plate was worth about the same amount as the three smaller silver coins below. The design at the center of the plate shows it was worth about 8 Swedish dollars, called dalers. In 1663 this plate could buy four pigs. Sweden’s biggest copper mine is called the Falun (FA-loon) mine. People mined copper there for over 1,000 years (until 1992). It produced more copper than any other mine in Europe.
9. BIGMON_220410_033.JPG: 8 daler plate money, Sweden, 1663 Gift of The Chase Manhattan Bank The design at the center of the plate shows it was worth about 8 Swedish dollars, called dalers. In 1663 this plate could buy four pigs.
10. BIGMON_220410_035.JPG: (2) 1 riksdaler coin, Sweden, 1640 (3) 1 Riksdaler, Sweden, 1643 Gift of Paul A. Straub (4) Half riksdaler coin, Sweden, 1642 Gift of Paul A. Straub
11. BIGMON_220410_036.JPG: How big is this money? This plate money weighs 31 pounds. People in Sweden used heavy copper plates as well as smaller silver coins as money around 350 years ago.
12. BIGMON_220410_038.JPG: The design at the center of the plate shows it was worth about 8 Swedish dollars, called dalers. In 1663 this plate could buy four pigs. What is this plate money made of? This Swedish plate money is made of copper metal. When it was made in 1663, Sweden had a lot of copper in its mines, but very little silver metal. This made silver much more valuable than copper. This huge copper plate was worth about the same amount as the three smaller silver coins below.
13. BIGMON_220410_041.JPG: Sweden’s biggest copper mine is called the Falun (FA-loon) mine. People mined copper there for over 1,000 years (until 1992). It produced more copper than any other mine in Europe.
14. BIGMON_220410_045.JPG: Political Leaders Aligned to elementary social studies learning standards, Really BIG Money teaches children about world cultures and supports the development of financial literacy. Follis coins, Ancient Rome, around 1,700 years ago (294 to 312 CE) Gift of Abraham A. Rosen How big is this money? This head is made up of 165 ancient Roman coins. Someone buried these in a large group of 563 coins underground around 1,700 years ago. Why are there faces on these coins? Ancient Roman people made these bronze coins. They show portraits of Roman leaders called emperors. These emperors were among the first people in the world to put their own faces on coins. When the coins moved around the Roman Empire, people would see who was in charge of their government and economy. The Roman emperor Diocletian (Di-oh-KLEE-shin) is on this coin. Faces of 10 Roman leaders are on the coins in this exhibit. 1 Follis, Diocletian, Cyzicus mint, ca 295 - 296 Follis coin, Ancient Rome, around 1,700 years ago (294 CE) 1 Follis, Galeria Valeria, Thessalonica mint, 308 - 310 1 Follis, Constantius I, Ticinum mint, ca 300 - 303 1 Follis, Severus II, Heraclea mint, 305 - 306 1 Follis, Maximinus II, Heraclea mint, ca 308 - 309 1 Follis, Licinius I, Cyzicus mint, ca 311 1 Follis, Constantine I, Nicomedia, ca 307 1 Follis, Maxentius, Ostia mint, 309 - 312 1 Follis, Maximianus, Carthage mint, ca 298 - 299 1 Follis, Diocletian, Rome mint, ca 296 - 297 1 Follis, Galerius, Thessalonica mint, ca 302 - 303 1 Follis, Galeria Valeria, Thessalonica mint, 308 - 310 1 Follis, Constantius I, Ticinum mint, ca 300 - 303 1 Follis, Severus II, Heraclea mint, 305 - 306 1 Follis, Maximinus II, Heraclea mint, ca 308 - 309 1 Follis, Licinius I, Cyzicus mint, ca 311 1 Follis, Constantine I, Nicomedia, ca 307 1 Follis, Maxentius, Ostia mint, 309 - 312 1 Follis, Maximianus, Carthage mint, ca 298 - 299 1 Follis, Diocletian, Rome mint, ca 296 - 297 1 Follis, Galerius, Thessalonica mint, ca 302 - 303 Ancient Romans buried large numbers of coins underground. They did this at religious ceremonies or for safekeeping. This archaeologist is excavating a Roman coin hoard of 52,503 coins found in Frome, England, in 2010. The coins are from around 1,700 years ago, when England was part of the Roman Empire.
15. BIGMON_220410_051.JPG: How big is this money? This head is made up of 165 ancient Roman coins. Someone buried these in a large group of 563 coins underground around 1,700 years ago.
16. BIGMON_220410_059.JPG: Why are there faces on these coins? Ancient Roman people made these bronze coins. They show portraits of Roman leaders called emperors. These emperors were among the first people in the world to put their own faces on coins. When the coins moved around the Roman Empire, people would see who was in charge of their government and economy. Ancient Romans buried large numbers of coins underground. They did this at religious ceremonies or for safekeeping. This archaeologist is excavating a Roman coin hoard of 52,503 coins found in Frome, England, in 2010. The coins are from around 1,700 years ago, when England was part of the Roman Empire
17. BIGMON_220410_061.JPG: Ancient Romans buried large numbers of coins underground. They did this at religious ceremonies or for safekeeping. This archaeologist is excavating a Roman coin hoard of 52,503 coins found in Frome, England, in 2010. The coins are from around 1,700 years ago, when England was part of the Roman Empire.
18. BIGMON_220410_064.JPG: Exchange Aligned to elementary social studies learning standards, Really BIG Money teaches children about world cultures and supports the development of financial literacy. Rai stone ring, island of Yap (Micronesia), 1900s Gift of Colonel William C. Moore How big is this money? This stone ring called a rai (ray) weighs 112 pounds. It’s from the island of Yap in the Pacific Ocean. Rai ranged in size from a couple inches to the size of a large car. This stone broke when it was moved from one location to another, before the Smithsonian received it. How does this stone ring work? This stone rai is from an island in the Pacific ocean called Yap. Rai don’t work like the money in your pocket does. Rai were only used for special kinds of payments, such as wedding gifts. Very heavy rai did not move around the island even after they changed owners. Rai are made of a stone found on the island of Palau, 280 miles away from Yap. For hundreds of years, people on the island of Yap have displayed the stone rai at their homes. They show a family’s importance in the island community.
19. BIGMON_220410_067.JPG: How big is this money? This stone ring called a rai (ray) weighs 112 pounds. It’s from the island of Yap in the Pacific Ocean. Rai ranged in size from a couple inches to the size of a large car. This stone broke when it was moved from one location to another, before the Smithsonian received it.
20. BIGMON_220410_070.JPG: Rai stone ring, island of Yap (Micronesia), 1900s Gift of Colonel William C. Moore
21. BIGMON_220410_074.JPG: How does this stone ring work? This stone rai is from an island in the Pacific ocean called Yap. Rai don’t work like the money in your pocket does. Rai were only used for special kinds of payments, such as wedding gifts. Very heavy rai did not move around the island even after they changed owners. Rai are made of a stone found on the island of Palau, 280 miles away from Yap. For hundreds of years, people on the island of Yap have displayed the stone rai at their homes. They show a family’s importance in the island community.
22. BIGMON_220410_076.JPG: Rai are made of a stone found on the island of Palau, 280 miles away from Yap. For hundreds of years, people on the island of Yap have displayed the stone rai at their homes. They show a family’s importance in the island community.
23. BIGMON_220410_078.JPG: Does having a really big banknote always mean you can buy a lot? Bread = 1 Euro, France, 2019 3 Dollars, the USA, 2018 13 Rand, South Africa, 2019 185 Yen, Japan, 2019 3,000,000 Bolivares, Venezuela, 2018 35,000,000 Dollars, Zimbabwe, 2008 500,000,000 Marks, Germany, 1923 How much you can buy with a banknote (a piece of paper money) depends on where and when you are using it. Banknotes with very big numbers on them can be clues that a country is suffering. Sometimes basic items like a loaf of bread cost millions, and then people go hungry because they can’t get enough banknotes to buy what they need. Countries that have experienced this include Germany (1923), Zimbabwe (2008), and Venezuela (2018).
24. BIGMON_220410_082.JPG: Germany after World War I After World War I, the German government had very little money left. To pay its bills, Germany printed more money with really big numbers on it. This new money was almost worthless, though, because the prices of things went up too. In 1923 Germans needed a wheelbarrow full of this money to buy a loaf of bread. 10 billion mark note, Germany, 1923 Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer L. Neinken 20 trillion mark note, Germany, 1924 1 trillion mark coin, Germany, 1923 Gift of The Chase Manhattan Bank 10,000 Marks, Westphalia, Germany, 1923 10,000 mark coin, Germany, 1923 Gift of The Chase Manhattan Bank In 1923 German banknotes were worth so little that parents would let kids play with them. Venezuela in 2018 1,000 bol�var note, Venezuela, 2017 Since 2018 Venezuelans have suffered through an economic crisis. It has made their paper money nearly worthless. Many people have left the country to look for work. In their new homes, some artists reuse Venezuelan paper money to make artwork and crafts to sell. A Venezuelan artist living in Colombia made these colorful origami swans from banknotes. In Venezuela, everyday things like chicken or carrots cost millions of bol�vares. It would take a long time to count out enough Venezuelan banknotes, so many stores weigh them on a scale instead.
25. BIGMON_220410_085.JPG: In 1923 German banknotes were worth so little that parents would let kids play with them.
26. BIGMON_220410_086.JPG: In Venezuela, everyday things like chicken or carrots cost millions of bol�vares. It would take a long time to count out enough Venezuelan banknotes, so many stores weigh them on a scale instead.
27. BIGMON_220410_093.JPG: 1,000 bol�var note, Venezuela, 2017
28. BIGMON_220410_100.JPG: Germany after World War I After World War I, the German government had very little money left. To pay its bills, Germany printed more money with really big numbers on it. This new money was almost worthless, though, because the prices of things went up too. In 1923 Germans needed a wheelbarrow full of this money to buy a loaf of bread. 10 billion mark note, Germany, 1923 Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer L. Neinken 20 trillion mark note, Germany, 1924 1 Trillion Marks, Westphalia, Germany, 1923 Gift of The Chase Manhattan Bank 10,000 Marks, Westphalia, Germany, 1923 Gift of The Chase Manhattan Bank
29. BIGMON_220410_103.JPG: (1) 20 trillion mark note, Germany, 1924 (2) 10 billion mark note, Germany, 1923 Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer L. Neinken (3) 10,000 Marks, Westphalia, Germany, 1923 Gift of The Chase Manhattan Bank (4) 1 Trillion Marks, Westphalia, Germany, 1923 Gift of The Chase Manhattan Bank
30. BIGMON_220410_105.JPG: Venezuela in 2018 Since 2018 Venezuelans have suffered through an economic crisis. It has made their paper money nearly worthless. Many people have left the country to look for work. In their new homes, some artists reuse Venezuelan paper money to make artwork and crafts to sell. A Venezuelan artist living in Colombia made these colorful origami swans from banknotes.
31. BIGMON_220410_126.JPG: Why is this money shaped like a tool? Many communities have designed money in the shape of objects that are important to them, such as tools and weapons. They usually do not make them sharp, though. They were only supposed to be used to make payments.
32. BIGMON_220410_128.JPG: Why is this money shaped like a tool? Many communities have designed money in the shape of objects that are important to them, such as tools and weapons. They usually do not make them sharp, though. They were only supposed to be used to make payments.
33. BIGMON_220410_130.JPG: Three and Five Character Knife Money, China, about 5th to 1st Century BCE Gift of the Howard F. Bowker Family
34. BIGMON_220410_133.JPG: These pieces of money shaped like knives were used in China for a wide range of purchases. They are more than 2,000 years old, making them one of the first coins in world history. This tall blade was used by a Turumbu (too-ROOM-boo) community of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for wedding gifts and to purchase important items, such as a canoe.
35. BIGMON_220410_142.JPG: Iron blade (liganda), Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1800s Gift of Elvira Clain-Stefanelli
36. BIGMON_220410_170.JPG: All of the objects in this exhibition are from our national money collection, called the National Numismatic Collection (noo-miss-MAT-ick). The collection is really big and includes objects from around the globe spanning 3,000 years of history. Really BIG Money was made possible by Michael Chou, the Howard F. Bowker Numismatic Projects Endowment Fund, and Bill and Dianne Calderazzo, with additional support from Jeff Garrett, Robert L. Harwell II, and John F. McMullan.
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2022 photos: This website had its 20th anniversary in August, 2022. Overnight trips this year: (February) Asheville, NC to visit Dad and Dixie and some other members of my family, (July) A trip out west for the return of San Diego Comic-Con, and (October) A long weekend in New York to cover New York Comic-Con. Equipment this year: I continued to use my Fuji XS-1 cameras but, depending on the event, I also used a Nikon D7000. Number of photos taken this year: about 386,000, up 2020 and 2021 levels but still way below pre-pandemic levels.
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