Network
MONEY & MEDALS
Bank of England Museum
Bank of England
Threadneedle Street
London
EC2R 8AH
tel: +44 (0)20 7601 5545
website: www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
email: museum @ bankofengland.co.uk
Contact details: Jennifer Adam
Date of visit: 8 April 2013
Nature and extent of collection
15,000 pieces. The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom. The Bank’s core functions are to maintain stable prices and confidence in the currency, and to promote financial stability by maintaining a sound financial system. The Bank of England is also the main issuer of the United Kingdom’s banknotes.
The Bank of England Museum is located in the Bank’s main building on Threadneedle Street. It opened in 1988 to provide a place for visitors to learn about the history and functions of the Bank, with face-to-face interaction with Bank staff. As a part of this, the Museum exhibits and interprets the Bank’s historical collections, which include fine and decorative arts, social history, archaeological and numismatic material.
The Museum is an integral part of the Bank of England’s governance structure, and is managed as part of the Bank’s Communications Directorate (Public and Internal Communications Division).
The Aims of the Museum: vision and objectives
The Bank of England Museum exists to further public interest in and understanding of the Bank of England, in relation to both its historical context and modern role as the United Kingdom’s central Bank:
• The Museum supports and encourages public understanding of the Banks’ operations through its education programme and other activities in the Museum.
• The Museum houses, preserves and makes available the Bank’s historical collections through its displays and exhibitions.
All numbers below are estimated
Roman coins: around 50
British coins: around 1,500. A representative collection of UK regnal coinage since the establishment of the Bank in 1694
British tokens: around 600. Including Bank of England dollars and tokens and local trade tokens
European coins: Foreign coins (worldwide): c.2,700. These are largely specimens of 20th Century circulating coinage which were once used as reference samples by the Banking department (but now obsolete), as well as presentation pieces sent by other central banks
Modern and Paper Money: around10,000, GB and overseas banknotes
This number also includes design materials for Bank of England notes – sketches, draft designs, test prints, watermarked paper, moulds, forgeries and flash notes etc
Medals: around 200, plus around 30 badges
Paranumismatica: around 20 items of traditional money.
We have a sizable range of items relating to the management of coins, banknotes and bullion within the Bank – scales, weights, counting machines, etc
Other: The Bank of England’s collections also include prints, drawings, paintings, silver, photographs, and a social history collection relating more generally to the functions of the Bank
Specific strengths: Items relating to the history and development of Bank of England banknotes.
Library: N/A. For a numismatic library we would refer enquirers to the services offered by the British Museum's Department of Coins & Medals.
Databases
Database used: Adlib Museum
Proportion of collection on database: 100%
How much detail in database entries? All accessioned (registered) items are on the database, though information may be skeletal in some cases.
Are images incorporated? Images can be incorporated but not every record has them yet.
Is the database accessible to the public? No.
Is the database publicly accessible online? What is the URL if so? No.
Display
Are there permanent numismatic displays? Yes.
Is numismatic material incorporated into more general displays? Yes.
Is there a facility for temporary exhibitions? Yes.
Have there been numismatic exhibitions in the past? If so, what? Yes:
Feb – May 2013: The Huguenot Legacy
June 2012 – Jan 2013: Gold and the Bank of England
March – June 2012: The Bank and the Monarch: a celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Nov 2011 – March 2012: Secure by Design: the Boulton and Watt £50 note
Dec 2010 – May 2011: La Caisse Centrale de la France Libre: de Gaulle’s Bank in London
For further information about past exhibitions please see: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/Pages/museum/exhibitions/past.aspx
Access to the collection
Is there a study facility? We do not have the facilities to offer study access to the historical collections. However the Bank of England’s Archive is accessible by appointment (www.bankofengland.co.uk/archive)
Is equipment (balances, magnifying glasses, etc.) provided? N/A
Public engagement with numismatic collection
Is there a handling collection? No.
Are numismatic collections used in Education sessions? No.
Do numismatic collections feature in gallery talks, lectures? Talks and presentation may discuss the development of money within a general historical context and in the context of the Bank’s activities, but these presentations do not have a specifically numismatic focus. For information about our talks and presentations offered to groups, please see the Museum’s website: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/Pages/museum/visiting/talks.aspx
Are there other engagement activities based around numismatic collections? No.
ID and public enquiries
Does the museum offer a service for identifying objects and other public enquiries? Yes. Enquiries can be directed to museum@bankofengland.co.uk
Curatorial knowledge
Is there any numismatic expertise in-house? If so, who, and in what areas? Yes. Curator Jennifer Adam has experise in: storage and documentation of numismatic collections; banknotes.
Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? We have good links with other numismatic collections, particularly the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum.
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? Staff resources permitting, we are always willing to help other museums who might have enquiries about their numismatic collections