Specific strengths: Modern world coinage, local commemorative medals and tokens

 

Library: 45 books, set of Roman Imperial Coinage, a few journals (Seaby’s Coins and Medals bulletin vols. 1951-1981; Transactions of Yorkshire Numismatics Society vols. I, II & III), 22 miscellaneous auction catalogues. Specific strengths in military and commemorative medals; Roman Imperial Coinage.

 

 

Databases

 

Database used: TMS (The Museum System)

 

Proportion of collection on database: 8%

 

How much detail in database entries? This varies, but the majority have full, detailed records.

 

Are images incorporated? This varies, but the majority of records have images.

 

Is the database accessible to the public? No.

 

Is the database publicly accessible online? A small number of records from the database are available online (http://collections.museums-sheffield.org.uk/view/objects/aslist/342?t:state:flow=9a10ec32-1ee5-4ab9-bccf-7786ab05f8f7). The great majority of the numismatic collection is not accessible in this way, for instance only one coin record is available.

 

 

Display

 

Are there permanent numismatic displays? No.

 

Is numismatic material incorporated into more general displays? Yes:

• Part of the High Street Hoard is displayed in the History Lab gallery.

• An Iron Age gold stater of Corieltauvi is in the History Lab – Timeline display.

• A gold guinea George III in Sheffield Life and Times gallery.  

• There is a penny of George II, 2 half pennies of Charles II and William III and a local trade token in our temporary exhibition on Sheffield Castle case in the History Lab (Oct 2013 – May 2014).

• Future plans include using medals in the Sheffield & the First World War major exhibition (Feb 2014 – Feb 2015) and Roman coins for the temporary display Traces of Empire (Oct 2014 – May 2015).

 

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? Yes.

 

 

Public engagement with numismatic collection

 

Is there a handling collection? Not currently, but we have plans to develop a handling collection which will include numismatic material.

 

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 will answer enquiries to the best of our ability but will pass on to the Portable Antiquities Scheme where appropriate. We cannot take objects in for identification but offer identification by photograph and/or follow up appointment.

 

 

Curatorial knowledge

 

Is there any numismatic expertise in-house? If so, who, and in what areas? The archaeology curatorial team have some experience with numismatics (mainly coins) but this is not extensive or specialist.

 

Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? Yes – our local FLO and the Curator of Numismatics at York Museums Trust.

 

If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? N/A