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Museum object · Coins and Currency

"Riot penny" charred during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

1909-1921

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A charred penny from the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921. The penny is red and brown. The front of the penny is melted with only the word "Liberty" visible. Some embossing on the back side of the coin is still visible the words "ONE / CENT / UNITED STATES / OF AMERICA" still readable at center. Wheat is on either side of the embossed words.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2012.96.3

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