Network
MONEY & MEDALS
Hastings Museum and Art Gallery
Bohemia Road
Hastings
TN34 1ET
tel: +44 (0)1424 451052
website: www.hmag.org.uk
email: museum@hastings.gov.uk
Contact details: Cathy Walling
Date of visit: 1 October 2013
Nature and extent of collection
3608 pieces. Mission Statement:
We will fulfil the Museum’s core role in the preservation, collection, documentation and interpretation of the collections associated with the history and natural history of the area, the fine arts and from a wider cultural context. Visitors and other users will be at the heart of what we do and we believe that our collections have the power to educate and inspire people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, and the local communities we serve.
Numismatics:
Roman coins, including the coin hoard found on the outskirts of Hastings in 1989 consisting of 53 silver denarii and 92 bronze coins dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries, an important collection of silver pennies from the Hastings Saxon Mint (approximately 6 examples) and other Sussex mints of the period such as Chichester, Lewes and Steyning, a large collection of local hop tokens (over 700) and other local trade tokens, gold, silver and base metal English coinage from the Medieval period to 1953, an album of Chinese cash, miscellaneous commemorative and civic medallions and a collection of approximately 200 campaign medals dating from the late 18th to early 20th century and including the George Cross awarded to local nurse, Dorothy Gardiner and the medals of Sir Henry Webster of Battle Abbey whose portrait hangs in the Museum.
The Roman coin hoard and examples of the Saxon and Norman mint are on display at the Old Town Hall Museum.
Further acquisition will be restricted to examples from the Hastings Mint or coins found in the Hastings area.
All numbers below are estimated
Greek coins: 10
Iron Age coins: 6
Roman coins: 500
British coins: 1200
British tokens: 800
European coins: 150
Asian coins: 50
Middle Eastern coins: 25
American coins: 5
Modern and paper money: 300
Medals (commemorative or military): 500
Paranumismatica: 50
Other: 12
Specific strengths: Roman coins, British coins and tokens, medals.
Library: Around 10 books.
Databases
Database used: MODES
Proportion of collection on database: 80%
How much detail in database entries? Minimal.
Are images incorporated? No.
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? No.
Access to the collection
Is there a study facility? Yes
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? 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.
Curatorial knowledge
Is there any numismatic expertise in-house? If so, who, and in what areas? Curator has some general knowledge gained through working with the collection.
Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? N/A
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? N/A
