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[[underlined]] House Appropriations Committee Investigation [[/underlined]]

Mr. Ripley reported that the two-man team from the Surveys and Investigations Staff of the House Appropriations Committee, Messrs. Michael Glynn and Jack Desipio, are continuing their review of Smithsonian operations. Other than their report last summer on the proposed library and research addition to the History and Technology Building, no additional reports have been issued.  It is expected that a report covering all other aspects of their examination will be submitted to the Appropriations Committee prior to the hearing on the Smithsonian's fiscal year 1979 budget request.  Although the Institution will not be given an opportunity to review that report prior to its submission, it was learned that the Committee will send it to us for prior review and possible response.

[[underlined]] Gift of 1913 Liberty Head Nickel [[/underlined]]

Mr. Ripley reported that among the most noteworthy additions to the National Numismatic Collections in 1977 was the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. Over the years this piece has been featured in many nationwide news stories and TV features.  Recently the 1913 Liberty Nickel "starred" in the TV series "Hawaii Five-O."

There are five similar pieces known, all of them up to now in private hands. Recently, the Honorable and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb from Cleveland presented the 1913 Liberty Nickel to the Smithsonian in commemoration of the celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Norweb (Emery May) felt that it was fitting that the coin would become part of the National Numismatic Collections since her husband "served over thirty years in the United States Diplomatic Service and retired with the permanent title of Ambassador." This donation is a most significant step toward making our collection of United States coins of the twentieth century virtually complete.