Network
MONEY & MEDALS
Harrogate Museums and Arts
The Royal Pump Room Museum/Harrogate Museums and Arts
The Mercer Art Gallery
Swan Road
Harrogate
HG1 2SA
tel: +44 (0)1423 556188
website: www.harrogate.gov.uk/royalpumproommuseum
email: museums@harrogate.gov.uk
Contact details: Nicola Baxter
Date of visit: 9 August 2016
Nature and extent of collection
535 pieces. Relatively small numismatic collection comprised mainly of coins. The bulk of the coins are British and European and the collection also features some interesting paranumismatica and associated numismatic objects such as money boxes.
All numbers below are estimated
Roman coins: 1
British coins: 111
British tokens: 2
European coins: 143
Asian coins: 12
American coins: 29
Oceania: 1
Medals (commemorative or military): 80
Paranumismatica: Maundy money: 20 coins; Mother of pearl gaming counters: 75
Trade tokens: 2
Other: Toy money: 48; Money boxes: 8; Enamelled brooches, in form of miniature banknotes: 3
Specific strengths: British and European coins, medals and paranumismatica.
Library: N/A
Databases
Database used: Modes
Proportion of collection on database: Approximately 90%
How much detail in database entries? Database entries contant mostly basic information.
Are images incorporated? 58 numismatic records include an image.
Is the database accessible to the public? No.
Is the database publicly accessible online? No.
Display
Are there permanent numismatic displays? No.
Is numismatic material incorporated into more general displays? At Knaresborough Castle there are two trade tokens on display. Otherwise, some numismatic material is sometimes incorporated in general temporary displays.
Is there a facility for temporary exhibitions? Yes.
Have there been numismatic exhibitions in the past? If so, what? We once borrowed the Vale of York Hoard from the British Museum for exhibition in the Mercer Art Gallery, this included a large number of coins.
Access to the collection
Is there a study facility? Yes.
Is equipment (balances, magnifying glasses, etc.) provided? Gloves, electronic scales and magnifying glasses can be provided.
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? Yes, we respond to all public enquiries that we receive.
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? We have had contact with the curator of numismatics at York Museums Trust in the past.
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? N/A
