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"Riot penny" charred during the 1921 Tulsa race riot

Created by
United States Mint, American, founded 1792
Owned by
Monroe, George, American, 1916 - 2001
Date
1917
On View
Community/Third Floor, 3 051
Museum MapsObjects in this Location
Exhibition
Power of Place
Medium
copper alloy
Dimensions
Diameter: 3/4 in. (1.9 cm)
3/4 x 3/4 x 1/16 in. (1.9 x 1.9 x 0.2 cm)
Description
A charred penny from the Tulsa riot in 1921. The penny is red and brown. The embossing on the front of the penny is still visible. The word "Liberty" is on the left side next to a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln in profile. "1917" appears next to Lincoln on the right side. The back side of the coin is completely melted and nothing is visible.
Place collected
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Coins and Currency
Type
coins
Topic
Communities
Race discrimination
Race riots
U.S. History, 1919-1933
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Scott Ellsworth
Object number
2012.96.2
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Usage
CC0
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5566e0968-f39e-4ba4-800c-5b0ec598cd51
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NOTE: Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu.