American Express Credit Card, United States, 1970

National Museum of American History

Object Details

unknown
Description
American Express was founded in 1850 in order to transport goods the US Postal Service would not deliver. By the end of the Civil War, there were over 900 American Express offices in 10 states. In the 1880s, the company expanded into financial services with money orders, and in the 1890s, they began offering Traveler’s Cheques. The financial services offered by the company eventually became its mainstay, and American Express offered its first charge card in 1958 in order to compete with Diner’s Club.
Credit Line
Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli
1970
ID Number
NU.69.235.53
catalog number
69.235.53
accession number
287686
serial number
00AX
Object Name
credit card
Physical Description
plastic (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 5.5 cm x 8.5 cm; 2 5/32 in x 3 11/32 in
place made
United States
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
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_1444289
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-e5a5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
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