Inspect lots of cash and learn about the history of money at the ANA Money Museum. See gold coins, discover how money was made for 300 hundred years and view prototypes of 200-year-old coins.
The ANA Money Museum is run by the American Numismatic Association, hence the acronym. The organization promotes the study of money, known as numismatics.
Go to the Harry W. Bass Gallery to see the collection of patterned coins. These are prototypes of coins that the U.S. Mint considered putting into circulation but didn’t during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Study their artistic designs and see the five cent piece from 1866 that features a bust of President George Washington. This was met with a lot of opposition at the time because it was considered improper to feature the likeness of a person on a coin. The gallery also has a collection of gold coins from 1834-1933.
Visit the Mini-Mint to see how coins were made between the early 15th century and the early 18th centuries. The machines are copies of much older equipment, but the process is the same. You can watch demonstrations on the third Saturday of every month and take home some commemorative coins.
Check out the museum’s temporary exhibitions. In the past they have covered such topics as the effect of war on coin manufacture and shipwreck treasures.
Take any children in your party over to the Kids Zone. There are interactive exhibits and games that are designed to teach children about monetary systems.
The museum is open every day except Sunday and Monday and there is a small fee for admission. There are discounts for students and for seniors who are 55 years and over. There is free admission for children under the age of 12. If you are in a group, you might want to call ahead to book a guided tour. They are available from Tuesday to Friday.
The ANA Money Museum is about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) north of downtown Colorado Springs. The museum has a small free parking lot and a bus stop is a short walk away.
