MONEY & MEDALS
Freemasons’ Hall
60 Great Queen Street
London
WC2B 5AZ
tel: +44 (0)20 7395 9257
website: www.freemasonry.london.museum
email: libmus @ freemasonry.london.museum
Contact details: Diane Clements
Date of visit: 27 September 2013
Nature and extent of collection
12,000 pieces. The Library and Museum holds regalia, jewels (medals) and artefacts associated with Freemasonry together with archive records and printed material.
All numbers below are estimated
Medals (commemorative or military): 2000
Other: 10,000 masonic medals for individual lodges and masonic organisations
Specific strengths: Masonic medals.
Databases
Database used: EOS.
Proportion of collection on database: All commemorative medals will be catalogued by the end of 2013.
How much detail in database entries? Full details.
Are images incorporated? Yes, on all records.
Is the database accessible to the public? Yes, via the website.
Is the database publicly accessible online? What is the URL if so? Yes: www.freemasonry.london.museum/catalogue.php
Display
Are there permanent numismatic displays? Selected material is displayed within themed displays.
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? Some equipment is provided, yes.
Public engagement with numismatic collection
Is there a handling collection? Not yet, but this may be a future development.
Are numismatic collections used in Education sessions? Not at present.
Do numismatic collections feature in gallery talks, lectures? Yes, but on a limited basis .
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? There is considerable in-house expertise on masonic aspects of the collection.
Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? Yes.
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? Yes.