FORGING A NATION EXHIBIT OPENS AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

The exhibit Forging a Nation: The Founding of the U.S. Mint, 1792 is now open at Washington University in St. Louis and will run through the end of June 2025. With documents loaned by Dan Hamelberg, the exhibit conveys the legislative evolution of the U.S. Mint from its conception under the Articles of Confederation through the 1792 Mint Act passed by the second Congress. The highlight of the exhibit is the Thomas Jefferson-signed copy of the April 2, 1792 Mint Act (ex. Swann Galleries, April 8, 2014), which is, as far as we know, the only such signed copy.

This exhibit is located in the Declaration chamber on the first floor of Olin Library on the Washington University main campus. This space also hosts the Eric P. Newman copy of the Declaration of Independence, an early broadside copy produced by Solomon Southwick in Rhode Island, shortly after receiving the first printed (Dunlap) version. This is one of seven known examples of the Southwick broadside.

Image: Forging a Nation exhibit case in Olin Library at Washington University

Link to Forging a Nation landing page:
https://library.wustl.edu/exhibitions/forging-a-nation/

Link to Southwick Broadside landing page:
https://library.wustl.edu/exhibitions/declaration-of-independence/