Research and Museums

[TomGoodheart 373]

I know there are those who are more than critical of numismatists and collectors. Who believe that archaeologists and museums are the place that the past should be researched and preserved and that amateurs such as ourselves should stay out of it. That we destroy evidence, historical connections and valuable information.

However I have to say that I am (yet again) none too impressed with the supposed guardians of culture.

I have taken an interest in the Ryhall hoard, a coin find from the Civil War period. The hoard was not only the largest the last century, but also of remarkable consistency in the types of coins it contained.

An article in the BNJ indicates that the British Museum acquired twenty-four coins from the hoard, principally examples of the predominant dies and the Leicestershire Museums Service eighty-nine. It also states that a full photographic record of the hoard exists in the BM Department of Coins and Medals.

Well I searched the BM records and found ... four coins. None of them shillings of Charles I that make up the bulk of the hoard (around 2000 such coins). Department of Coins and Medals? No trace of how you would search to find what they hold in their collection other than a general record search. As to photographic records ... no I dea how you'd access those.

And although Cornucopia (an online database of information about more than 6,000 collections in the UK's museums, galleries, archives and libraries) indicates that the Leicestershire Museums coins reside in the numismatic collection of the Newarke House Museum there is no suggestion of this on the Leicestershire website. Nor any indication that one can visit to inspect the collections. In fact there's no sign Leicestershire even has a numismatic collection.

OK, so it's a specialised area. But time and time again my father-in-Law has said "You're interested in coins. Why don't you visit the British Museum. Surely they must have one of the best collections in the word?" It's not an unreasonable expectation. Such collections are surely held for the Nation? So how come it's almost impossible to find out what there is, where it's kept, let alone actually see the stuff?

I don't expect everything to be on display. That would be impossible. But I would hope to be able to confirm the existence of something that is supposedly in a collection. And contact someone to ask questions.

Or am I being unreasonable?

Edited September 26, 2014 by TomGoodheart

[Rob 2,996]

As I have said on many occasions. Museums save coins from the nation, not for the nation. Unless you are good buddies with someone inside the museum, the chances are requests for info will be ignored. The BM is less than helpful. My 1/60000000th share in it counts for nothing.

[sound 25]

Tom/Rob,

I don't think anyone can reasonably disagree with the sentiment of your posts.

I think it's a hangover of an educational system that has held the view that the professional is respected and the amateur is tolerated.

I was reading 'studies in early medieval coinage' earlier today. The language is so often couched to be 'impressive', but I can't think for whom it is meant. They are just coins that have been found in the ground for goodness sake.

I was at a meeting of the Ipswich numismatic society where a talk was given this week on recent finds in Norfolk. It was refreshingly in plain English by someone who was a master of his subject but didn't feel the need to speak down to his audience.

Tom I appreciate I may have appeared to wonder off your original topic but actually think it's all part of the same problem.

Regards

Mark

[Peter 615]

How often I've pointed out errors in the description of coins in museums.

But hey I'm Mr Grumpy.

[Mr T 169]

Or am I being unreasonable?

I don't think so, but I guess that's just how it is. A while ago I made enquiries about viewing Australia's national coin collection, held by the Royal Australian Mint. The public aren't allowed to view it, though apparently dribs and drabs of the interesting stuff are displayed from time to time.

Strangely though, Museum Victoria seems to have publicly available photos of its entire coin collection - a fairly comprehensive collection of British Empire coins (including the Sydney Mint and Melbourne Mint collections).

[TomGoodheart 373]

Or am I being unreasonable?

I don't think so, but I guess that's just how it is. A while ago I made enquiries about viewing Australia's national coin collection, held by the Royal Australian Mint. The public aren't allowed to view it, though apparently dribs and drabs of the interesting stuff are displayed from time to time.

Strangely though, Museum Victoria seems to have publicly available photos of its entire coin collection - a fairly comprehensive collection of British Empire coins (including the Sydney Mint and Melbourne Mint collections).

Yes, I discovered the MV online collection a while back. Sadly, for what I collect, the quality is not brilliant. Though this is probably a reflection of the coins available to collectors at the time (1880s) But at least they have succeeded in getting images of everything, unlike the BM's rather slow efforts.

http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/themes/2860/numismatics-philately-collection for anyone interested.

Also previously when I tried to make comments these did not post. I am pleased to see that this appears to have been corrected now. Now I just need to remember which coin it was where the reverse image was from a different item!

Edited October 5, 2014 by TomGoodheart