Beaver Pelt
Object Details
- Description (Brief)
- One (1) beaver pelt
- United States, mid 1800s
- Front Image: N/A
- Front Text: N/A
- Reverse Image: A shield and words printed in red and black ink.
- Reverse Text: MASTER / STERN FUR DRESSES / MS 2042 F-29 / UNION / A3172
- Description
- In the mid 1800s, after being cleaned and stretched, beaver skins were transformed into beaver pelts such as this one. Dark brown in color, this beaver pelt is rather large—almost two feet in diameter. Prized for their water repellent fur, pelts traded at a premium. In the early 1800s, “Made Beaver” was a unit of trade. Twelve pelts purchased a four foot gun; one, a one pound kettle.
- Credit Line
- The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- date made
- mid 1800s
- ID Number
- 1979.1263.00755
- catalog number
- 1979.1263.00755
- accession number
- 1979.1263
- catalog number
- 79.112.OC7A
- collector/donor number
- OC7A
- Object Name
- alternative currency
- Other Terms
- alternative currency; North America; United States
- Physical Description
- skin, beaver (overall material)
- brown (overall color)
- light brown (overall color)
- natural (overall production method/technique)
- Measurements
- average spatial: 1/2 in x 26 in x 22 in; 1.27 cm x 66.04 cm x 55.88 cm
- place made
- United States
- Related Publication
- Sewer, Andy; Allison, David; Liebhold, Peter; Davis, Nancy; Franz, Kathleen G.. American Enterprise: A History of Business in America
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
- American Enterprise
- Coins, Currency and Medals
- Exhibition
- American Enterprise
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_1066107
