Network
MONEY & MEDALS
Old Speech Room Gallery
Harrow School
The Bursary
5 High Street
Harrow on the Hill
Middlesex
HA1 3HP
tel: +44 (0)20 8872 8205
website: www.harrowschool.org.uk/Old-Speech-Room-Gallery
email: WaltonJ@harrowschool.org.uk
Contact details: Julia Walton; Paramdip Khera
Date of visit: 14 March 2017
Nature and extent of collection
Relatively small collection of coins, medals and banknotes based on 19th Century collections and subsequent acquisitions. The collection also contains some tokens and badges and a number of Harrow School-related objects, including a collection of Japanese Replica Coins.
All numbers below are estimated
Greek coins: 19, most likely electrotypes
Roman coins: A large collection mostly comprised of copper alloy radiates and nummi but with some sestertii and dupondii
British coins: Yes, a small collection
British tokens: Yes, a relatively small collection of mostly Georgian tokens
Eurpoean coins: Yes, a small collection of modern coins from countries such as Italy, Belgium and France
Asian coins: Yes, a large collection of Japanese Replica Coins produced by a company called ‘Kuhn and Komor’ as collectables for Western travellers
Middle Easterm coins: Yes, including a small collection of glass weights
American coins: Yes
Modern and paper money: Chinese banknotes, modern British banknotes, 3 commemorative coins of Winston Churchill, modern commemorative coins
Medals (commemorative or military): Yes, a small collection of commemorative medals depicting artists and architects, medals relating to Lord Byron, jubilee medals, 8 Harrow School-related prize medals in presentation boxes, the medals of Sir Ambrose Dundas Flux Dundas
Paranumismatica: 1 cowrie shell, 1 Harrow-related 2012 London Olympics badge
Specific strengths: Roman coins, medals
Library: There are currently no numismatic books in the museum library but we seek to acquire some in the future. We have access to some general coin identification books in the Harrow School library.
Databases
Database used: Adlib
Proportion of collection on database: N/A - we plan to sort and fully catalogue the numismatic collection in the future.
How much detail in database entries? N/A
Are images incorporated? N/A
Is the database accessible to the public? N/A
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? Yes, there is a display of Chinese currency in our current exhibition 'Japanese Prints and Chinese Ceramics' and we had a display of British Art Medal Society medals in the recent past.
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? Yes, but it does not currently feature any numismatic objects.
Are numismatic collections used in Education sessions? Yes, numismatic projects can form part of the education of some of the students at Harrow School.
Do numismatic collections feature in gallery talks, lectures? Not currently, but this is being factored into future plans for the museum.
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? No.
Curatorial knowledge
Is there any numismatic expertise in-house? If so, who, and in what areas? Yes, museum volunteer Paramdip Khera has numismatic expertise.
Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? Yes, we have links with the British Museum, the Ashmolean Museum and other intstitutions.
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? Yes.