MONEY & MEDALS
Tankerness House
Broad Street
Kirkwall
Orkney
KW15 1DH
tel: +44 (0)1856 873535
website: https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/orkney-museum.htm
email: [email protected]
Contact details: Gail Drinkall
Date of visit: 6 December 2018
Nature and extent of collection
50,000 pieces. Archaeological excavations and chance finds from within Orkney.
All numbers below are estimated
Roman coins:
1 x denarius of Trajan
1 x denarius of Hadrian
British coins:
1 x silver medieval, not identified
1 x silver half penny Edward I or II
1 x coin of Burgred of Mercia 9th C from excavations at Saevar Howe (on display)
1 x coin of Edmund, 10th C, excavations at Buckquoy (on display)
Medieval (not specified) from excavations at Quoygrew
Cut half penny, Bury St Edmonds mint from Knowe of Midgarth (on display)
2 x Penny of Edward I from Wyre and Kirkwall (both on display)
Groat of James I from Kirkwall (on display)
Coin of Edgar from Brough of Deerness (on display)
Scottish coins:
9 x Turners (James VI, Charles I, William and Mary)
1 x Billon 1588
1 x Bawbee Charles II
2 x Silver coin James VI
1 x James I groat
4 x silver 17th C
1 x copper 1626
1 x copper coin 1556
European coins:
Louis XIII 1640
Irish Half Penny 1694
Dutch 1627
Asian coins:
6
Modern and paper money:
23 x George III
5 x 19th C
1 x 18th C? Scottish coin
1 x illegible modern
5 x Kroner 1975
Paranumismatica:
1 x French token
Specific strengths: British and Scottish medieval coinage.
Library: N/A
Databases
Database used: CALM
Proportion of collection on database: 100%
How much detail in database entries? This varies – most of the excavation assemblages are bulk accessioned so individual items, such as coins, are not always individually itemised.
Are images incorporated? No.
Is the database accessible to the public? The database is accessible to researchers on request.
Is the database publicly accessible online? No.
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? Yes.
Is equipment (balances, magnifying glasses, etc.) provided? No.
Public engagement with numismatic collection
Is there a handling collection? Loan boxes are managed by Libraries and Archives, not the museum. There is a small archaeology handling collection.
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? Gail Drinkall has some expertise in her capacity as an archaeological finds specialist.
Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? We have contact with Richard Brickstock who has expertise in Roman coins.
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? N/A