A to Z Index | Contact Us | Site Map | Subscribe | What's New
About the Fed Banking Information Services for Financial Institutions Community Development Consumer Information Economic Research & Data News & Events Publications
font size   smaller font icon   increase font size icon 
About the Fed
The Story of Money

A highlight of the Visitors Center and Monetary Museum is the story of money as told through an exhibit of artifacts, coins, and currency notes in sixteen display cases.

With gold nuggets and wampum and much more, you can trace the evolution of money from barter to modern currency along with the story of banking and money in America right up to the founding of the Federal Reserve System in 1913. Take a look at the unusual objects, rare coins, and beautifully detailed currency notes in our outstanding collection.

Just click on the sections below to learn the fascinating story of money.

Section 1: Before money: Barter
Section 2: Common products as money
Section 3: Value in use, value in exchange
Section 4: Money simplifies trade
Section 5: Money takes many shapes
Section 6: Early coins
Section 7: Paper money
Section 8: Banking evolves
Section 9: Commerce in the colonies
Section 10: Early American money
Section 11: After the Revolution
Section 12: U.S. banks and money
Section 13: The Civil War era
Section 14: Progress and problems
Section 15: The Fed and afterwards
Section 16: Price stability: Goal of the Fed

spacer image
Disclaimer and Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
spacer image
spacer image
| Home | About the Fed | Banking Information | Services for Financial Institutions | Community Development |
| Consumer Information | Economic Research & Data | News & Events | Publications | Archives | Podcast Icon Podcasts | RSS icon RSS Feeds |
spacer image
spacer image spacer image