MONEY & MEDALS
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NP
tel: +44 (0)2920573291
website: www.museumwales.ac.uk
email: edward.besly@museumwales.ac.uk
Contact details: Edward Besly
Date of visit: 6 March 2013
Nature and extent of collection
51,250 pieces. A large collection of coins, tokens and medals ranging from ancient to modern times with an emphasis on Wales and Great Britain.
All numbers below are estimated
Greek coins: 1,100
Iron Age coins: 350
Roman coins: 30,200 (including 420 Byz)
British coins: 7,000
British tokens: 4,500
European coins: 2,900
Asian coins: 2,100 (colonial and overseas)
Middle Eastern coins: Included above
African coins: Included above
American coins: Included above
Oceania: Included above
Modern and paper money: Modern included above; small collection of paper money
Medals: 1,400
Paranumismatica: 640
Specific strengths: Roman, late 3rd- early 4th c; English (Stephen; Civil War); Welsh tokens of all types; Welsh medals. Also (at St Fagans) Welsh educational and Eisteddfod medals
Library: A large collection of books with specific strengths in ancient and British coinage. Collection includes catalogues, monographs, journals (complete British Numismatic Journal; a comprehensive run of Numismatic Chronicle c.1880 – present, etc); complete run of SCBI; auction catalogues etc.
Databases
Database used: Mobydoc.
Proportion of collection on database: 96.1%
How much detail in database entries? This varies, but mot entries are to catalogue level.
Are images incorporated? Not at present.
Is the database accessible to the public? Not at present.
Is the database publicly accessible online? What is the URL if so? Not at present.
Display
Are there permanent numismatic displays? Yes, but as part of general archaeological displays.
Is numismatic material incorporated into more general displays? Yes.
Is there a facility for temporary exhibitions? No.
Have there been numismatic exhibitions in the past? If so, what? Yes: in addition to the former permanent numismatic galleries we have had numismatic exhibitions such as Celts, Single Currency, and a display of medals from the British Art Medal Society.
Access to the collection
Is there a study facility? Yes.
Is equipment (balances, magnifying glasses, etc.) provided? Yes.
Public engagement with numismatic collection
Is there a handling collection? Yes, there is a small handling collection.
Are numismatic collections used in Education sessions? Yes.
Do numismatic collections feature in gallery talks, lectures? Yes.
Are there other engagement activities based around numismatic collections? Occasionally, yes.
ID and public enquiries
Does the museum offer a service for identifying objects and other public enquiries? Yes.
Curatorial knowledge
Is there any numismatic expertise in-house? If so, who, and in what areas? Yes: there is currently one dedicated numismatic post.
Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? Yes, we have professional contacts at places like the British Museum, Ashmolean, Fitzwilliam, etc.
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? Yes, knowledge and expertise is already shared widely within the museum world and PAS.