"Riot penny" charred during the 1921 Tulsa race riot

Created by

United States Mint, American, founded 1792

Owned by

Monroe, George, American, 1916 - 2001

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)

Type

coins

Place collected

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, North and Central America

Date

1909-1921

Description

A charred penny from the Tulsa riot in 1921. The penny is black. The embossing on the front of the penny is no longer visible. The back side of the coin is melted with only the words "ONE / CENT / UNITED" visible.

Topic

African American

Communities

Race discrimination

United States--History--1919-1933

Violence

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Scott Ellsworth

Object number

2012.96.5

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Coins and Currency

Exhibition

Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture