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New Money Museum Exhibit, "A House Divided: Money of the Civil War," to Open Oct. 9

ANAThe American Civil War evokes many strong thoughts and emotions to this day – the end of slavery in our country, the great and terrible battles that saw more that 600,000 men perish, and the secession – and eventual reunion – of 11 states. Amid brilliant and incompetent generals, vast military campaigns and political turmoil, the impact of money on the war often gets overlooked.

"A House Divided: Money of the Civil War," a new exhibit opening Oct. 9 at the American Numismatic Association’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum, takes a unique look at this epic, bloody time in United States history, while showcasing the era’s coins, paper money, medals, and new ideas in war financing that helped lead to the North’s victory. Visitors will be immersed in the sights and sounds of the war and the era.

The Civil War changed the country forever, including its monetary and economic system: a system based on bullion coinage and privately issued paper money was replaced by a central system based on National Bank notes, and coins and paper money produced and backed by the federal government.

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Dwight Manley Donates World’s First Illustrated Numismatic Book to ANA

Prominent collector and benefactor Dwight N. Manley, of Newport Beach, California, donated an original edition of the world’s first illustrated numismatic book, Illustrium Imagines, published in 1517, to his namesake library at the American Numismatic Association’s headquarters in Colorado Springs. (Photo credit: Donn Pearlman.)(Colorado Springs, Colorado) — A rare, 490-year old original copy of the first illustrated, printed numismatic book, Illustrium Imagines (”Images of the Illustrious”), has been donated to the American Numismatic Association by well-known collector, sports agent and real estate developer, Dwight N. Manley, of Newport Beach, California. The book was printed in 1517 in Rome, Italy, and contains 204 ornate woodcut illustrations from ancient Roman coins and medallions.

The simple title page of the world’s first illustrated numismatic book, Illustrium Imagines, published in 1517 in Rome. (Photo credit: American Numismatic Association/Douglas A. Mudd.)Manley purchased it for $8,050 in the November 1, 2007, rare book auction conducted by George Frederick Kolbe of Crestline, California. In the catalog, Kolbe described the book as “… of unparalleled importance, being only the second numismatic book ever published, and the first printed book substantially illustrating coins and medals … A handsome publication, truly one of the greatest landmarks in the history of numismatic literature.”

“This generous gift is unquestionably one of the most treasured volumes in any numismatic library collection,” said ANA Acting Executive Director Ken Hallenbeck. “This becomes the oldest numismatic book in the world’s largest numismatic lending library. It is a terrific addition to the ANA’s Dwight N. Manley Library.”

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