Paired Currency Exhibits to Open in March

On March 17, the Museum will open two new student-curated exhibits that will share space in our largest exhibit gallery. Pocket Change: A Story of Coins through Time will showcase more than 100 coins from ancient China and the Mediterranean. Each coin is both an artifact and a historical document, allowing numismatists (or coin collectors) to trace their evolution from raw metals to standardized modern currency. In this exhibit, visitors will learn how numismatists decode the physical features of coins, including how they were made and their use in political propaganda. Visitors will also learn about how coins continue to change, and how they can start collecting coins today.

In Shelling Out: Traditional Currency from the Collection visitors will explore the Lam Museum’s diverse collection of non-coin currencies from shimmering shells to twisted textiles. Visitors will learn about how cultures imbue rare objects and materials with value to create money, as well as how these many different types of money are gifted, traded, and exchanged. Visitors will also reflect on how value is constructed in their own traditions.

Both exhibits will be on display through March 6, 2027.