MONEY & MEDALS
The Mound
Edinburgh
EH1 1YZ
tel: +44 (0)131 243 5464
website: www.museumonthemound.com
email: [email protected]
Contact details: Doug Macbeath, Seonaid McDonald
Date of visit: 26 June 2014
Nature and extent of collection
104,632 pieces. Very comprehensive collection of coins, banknotes and associated objects such as prinitng plates that tells the story of money. Collection also includes commemorative medals.
All numbers below are estimated
Greek coins: 6
Iron Age coins: 5
Roman coins: 24
British coins: 612
British tokens: 63
European coins: 37
Asian coins: 147
Middle Eastern coins: 2
African coins: 9
American coiins: 5
Oceania: 11
Modern and paper money: 103,000 (including 100,000 £20 notes making up our two £1 million displays)
Medals: 38
Paranumismatica: 3
Other: 670 items, mostly banknote printing plates, relating to the manufacture/storage of money
Specific strengths: Representative collection of Scottish/UK coins. Very strong collection of Scottish banknotes (including Scotland’s oldest surviving note from 1716) and printing plates (1731 – 2013)
Library: N/A
Databases
Database used: DS CALM
Proportion of collection on database: 100%
How much detail in database entries? Title, basic description, dimensions, material, provenance and location.
Are images incorporated? Yes, the majority of non-banknote entries include images.
Is the database accessible to the public? Yes, but only to researchers who have made an appointment.
Is the database publicly accessible online? 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? Yes – exhibitions on banknotes, forgeries and keeping money safe.
Access to the collection
Is there a study facility? Yes – for banknotes.
Is equipment (balances, magnifying glasses, etc.) provided? Yes.
Public engagement with numismatic collection
Is there a handling collection? Yes.
Are numismatic collections used in Education sessions? Yes.
Do numismatic collections feature in gallery talks, lectures? Yes.
Are there other engagement activities based around numismatic collections? Yes – coin striking.
ID and public enquiries
Does the museum offer a service for identifying objects and other public enquiries? Yes, but this services is mostly limited to banknotes.
Curatorial knowledge
Is there any numismatic expertise in-house? If so, who, and in what areas? We have some banknote expertise, but less so for coins.
Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? Yes – we have had contact with Nick Holmes at the National Museum of Scotland, and he has also put us in touch with knowledgeable local collectors.
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? N/A, but we are willing to share our numismatics education programme with other museums.