MONEY & MEDALS
Mapleton Road
Westerham
Kent
TN16 1PS
tel: +44 (0)1732 868381
website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
email: [email protected]
Contact details: Beatrice Prosser-Snelling; Zoe Colbeck
Date of visit: 11 November 2015
Nature and extent of collection
150 pieces. Chartwell was the much-loved Churchill family home and the place from which Sir Winston drew inspiration from 1924 until the end of his life. The rooms remain much as they were when he lived here, with pictures, books and personal mementoes evoking the career and wide-ranging interests of a great statesman, writer, painter and family man. The contents of the house include the collection of coins and medals that belonged to Winston Churchill.
All numbers below are estimated
British coins: 3 x Elizabethan (2 x groats; 1 x sixpence, bent, love token)
European coins: 1 x Italian 20 lire coin, 1928
African coins: 1 x South African 2 shilling coin, 1896
Modern money: George VI silver crown from 1937
Set of commemorative medals ‘chiefs in the Second World War 1939-45’
Presentation set of 3 gold coins presented on Churchill’s birthday
Medals: Around 125 commemorative medals mostly given as gifts to Churchill
Specific strengths: Commemorative medals.
Library: We do not have any numismatic books.
Databases
Database used: National Trust Collections Management System
Proportion of collection on database: 100%
How much detail in database entries? This varies but details such as registration number, description and provenance are included.
Are images incorporated? Yes, most records include images.
Is the database accessible to the public? Our Collections Management System is not accessible but there is a publicly accessible version.
Is the database publicly accessible online? Yes: Nationaltrustcollections.org.uk
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? No.
Access to the collection
Is there a study facility? Yes, informally, requests are accommodated if appropriate.
Is equipment (balances, magnifying glasses, etc.) provided? Yes.
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? No.
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? Informally – yes.
Curatorial knowledge
Is there any numismatic expertise in-house? If so, who, and in what areas? No.
Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? Regional curators and conservators, and centrally based team.
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? N/A
Copyright J Primmer
Copyright Ciaran McCrickard