The American Numismatic Association’s Edward C. Rochette Numismatic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, received the Mountain Plains Museum Association’s 2023 Museum Technology Award.
The MPMA Technology Competition recognizes museums that use technology innovatively and effectively to meet the needs of their audiences. This is a juried competition with at least three judges selected from among museum and media professionals with expertise in media and technology programming, production, and content development.
The Numismatic Museum is created by the team of ANA Museum Curator Douglas Mudd, ANA Creative Services Manager Ben Scott, ANA Photography Director Rob Kelly, and ANA Digital Content Director Pete Gentzler. The “History of Money” exhibition “360 Virtual Tour” was selected to receive the award. . This award was presented to him on September 29th at his MPMA annual conference held this year in Corpus Christi.
The History of Money Exhibit 360 virtual tour shows how money has evolved over the past 10,000 years, from the earliest forms of money to the present day. Anyone with internet access can access the exhibit by visiting money.org/hom-vrtour/.
The exhibit explains: “The earliest forms of money were used to create a system of value so that people could compare the goods they wanted to exchange. It became a characteristic that money still has today.
The exhibit adds: “Eventually, someone came up with the idea of using precious metals (gold, silver, or their alloys) as money. Starting in Mesopotamia and Egypt about 4,500 years ago, gold and silver were made from metal bars or wires. The next big step was when small round blocks of electrum (a natural alloy of gold and silver) were issued to fit standard sets of weights and marked by the issuer. These became the first coins.
“Paper money was the next big step in the evolution of money. Banknotes, which appeared in China sometime in the 8th century, became the most common form of currency in use today. Possible exceptions to this is electronic money, the latest innovation in currency.”
This exhibit describes the first coins and banknotes, traditional uses of money, and includes the following sections:
➤ History of Money Virtual Exhibition
➤ History of Money 360° VR Tour
➤ Ancient: The world’s first coin
➤ Traditional: Money exists in all forms
➤ Middle Ages: Aftermath of the Fall of Rome
➤ Modern times: The rise of the press
➤ Paper money: a convenient medium
➤ Alternative: Money in a pinch
➤ US Paper Money: Economic Expansion
The Numismatic Museum is operated by the nonprofit American Numismatic Association and is dedicated to promoting the study and collection of numismatics and related items.
ANA helps members and the public discover and explore the world of money through a vast educational program that includes museums, libraries, publications, conventions, and webinars. For more information, call (719) 632-2646 or visit money.org.
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