Numismatic Collections
Scope and Contents
The Bartlett Collection is an assortment of Confederacy legal tender including 78 notes, 20 facsimiles, 23 bonds, certificates, checks, loans, one military permit, one letter and envelope. Many bonds are illustrated with interesting engraved vignettes of a Southern theme. The military pass issued following the Battle of Stones River/Murfreesboro, Tennessee is believed to be in the hand of Jonas M. Withers, one of the Confederate generals. The time span is 1861-1864. The Kotz Collection of foreign currency represents an assortment of currency that seems to represent the various tumultuous time periods of France, Germany, Italy and Mexico. The time span is from 1790 to 1923. The Peleg Peck Collection of fractional U.S. currency notes represents issues of the U.S. Federal government during and post- Civil War. The time span is from 1862 to 1876.
Revolutionary events in France, Germany, Italy, Mexico.
- 1790-1923
The Confederate States of America and the Civil War.
- 1861-1864
The U.S. Federal Government issues of fractional paper currency and postage
- 1862-1876
Dates
- Creation: 1790-1923
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1861-1876
Creator
- Bartlett, John Russell, 1805-1886 (Person)
- Kotz, Theodore Franklin (Person)
- Peck, Peleg (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection housed remotely. Users need to contact 24 hours in advance.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
This currency collection’s common theme appears to be that most of the currency was issued by respective governments during tumultuous times. The earliest is the 1790 louis d’argent coin issued in France just before the French Revolution. The Confederate States of America currency represents the issue of the South during the Civil War as well as “fac-similes” (counterfeit) currencies issued in the North to weaken the South’s economic base. The fractional currency was issued by the North during and after the Civil War. The Italian currency represents the period of the unification of the Italian States during the reigns of King Umberto and Vittorio Emmauele. The German currency represents the Weimar Republic’s severe inflation between World War I and II. The Mexican currency represents the early 20th century struggles of Huerta, Pancho Villa and Bonito Juarez in Mexico to overthrow its foreign rulers and become the United States of Mexico.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet ([1] box; 23 oversize bonds filed separately)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
A collection of historical examples of coinage and currency primarily from the Confederate States of America, U. S. Federal government fractional currency from before and post- Civil War and foreign currency representing economic times in turmoil. The largest example of currency and bonds is from the Confederate States of America.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by creators and within that designation chronologically according to issue date when possible. Oversize bonds and certificates filed flat in a map case.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Some of the Confederate States of America currency seems to have been acquired by way of the John Russell Bartlett’s Civil War collection purchase to Lehigh University in the 1880s. The cancelled CSA currency appears to have been acquired June 27, 1912 from the U.S. Treasury at request by Lehigh University’s librarian for educational and historical purposes. The source of the foreign currency is uncertain but seems to be attributed to the Kotz Family. A member of the Kotz family, Theodore Franklin Kotz, LU BA1908, is considered the possible donor of the foreign currency. The collection is attributed to the Kotz Estate as of April 9, 1959. It is uncertain who Peleg Peck was in relationship to Lehigh University but he came from Sylvania, Bradford County, Pennsylvania and somehow his collection of U. S. Federal government fractional currency collection came to Lehigh and compliments the Confederate States of America currency collection.
Subject
- Bartlett, John Russell, 1805-1886 (Person)
- Kotz, Theodore Franklin (Person)
- Upham, Samuel Curtis, 1819-1885 (Person)
- Withers, Jonas Mitchell, 1814-1890 (Person)
- Archer & Daly, Engravers (Organization)
- Hoyer & Ludwig, Lithographers (Organization)
- Keatinge & Ball, Engravers (Organization)
- Noyer & Ludwig (Organization)
- Title
- Numismatic Collections
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Ilhan Citak and Eleanor Nothelfer
- Date
- 2012-08-15
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- 2012-08: Finding aid draft
- 2012-12: Finding aid final, MARC record, published online
Repository Details
Part of the Lehigh University Special Collections Repository
Lehigh University
Linderman Library
30 Library Drive
Bethlehem PA 18045 USA
610-758-4506
610-758-6091 (Fax)
inspc@lehigh.edu