MONEY & MEDALS
79 (Majority acquired from two collectors, early 20th century)Royal Pump Rooms
The Parade
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV32 4AA
tel: +44 (0)1926 742700
website: www.warwickdc.gov.uk/royalpumprooms
email: [email protected]
Contact details: Vicki Slade
Date of visit: 1st March 2013
Nature and extent of collection
Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum has a small numismatics collection of just over 1,200 objects. The Collections Development Policy 2012-17 states that “Coins and tokens will be collected as an aspect of local life and industry. Collections compiled by local residents will be considered.”
All numbers below are estimated
Greek coins: 2 (Part of two large coin collections donated in 1926)
Iron Age coins: 1 (Part of two large coin collections donated in 1926)
Roman coins: 79 (Majority acquired from two collectors, early 20th century)
British coins: 388 (including Isle of Man and Channel Islands)
British tokens: 144 (Majority acquired from one collection donated in 1926)
European coins: 387 (Many from 19th century France)
Asian coins: 49 (Including coins from countries in the British Empire)
Middle Eastern coins: 22
African coins: 8 (Including Sierra Leone Company token)
American coins: 61 (Including 36 from USA and others from Canada, Barbados, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina)
Oceania: 1
Modern and paper money: 18
Medals: 162 (Including commemorative, war and local)
Other: 55 Including 9 from East India Company, others unidentified, also cowries and badges.
Library: 4 books: ‘Seaby Coins of England’, 1976 and 1995; Edward Junger, ‘The Seaby Coin Encyclopaedia’, 1994; Chester L. Krauser and Clifford Mishler, ‘1995 Standard Catalogue of World Coins, 22nd edition.
Databases
Database used: Modes Complete
Proportion of collection on database: 100%
How much detail in database entries? Most of the entries contain basic descriptions, dimensions and notes on damage.
Are images incorporated? 47% of collection has been digitised. Images are stored on collections website and computer system.
Is the database accessible to the public? Whole database transferred to Windows on Warwickshire website. Computers available in galleries to access the collection this way.
Is the database publicly accessible online? What is the URL if so? www.lsagmcollections.org.uk www.windowsonwarwickshire.org.uk
Display
Are there permanent numismatic displays? No.
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? Rooms available for supervised visits.
Is equipment (balances, magnifying glasses, etc.) provided? No.
Public engagement with numismatic collection
Is there a handling collection? No.
Are numismatic collections used in Education sessions? Rarely.
Do numismatic collections feature in gallery talks, lectures? Rarely.
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? No.
Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? Only through networks such as SHCG.
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? N/A.