Network
MONEY & MEDALS
Southampton Cultural Services
(incorporating Sea City Museum, Tudor House Museum and Garden and Southampton City Art Gallery)
Collections Management Centre
Unit 31
City Industrial Park
Southampton
SO15 1HA
tel: +44 (0)2380 237584 or +44 (0)2380 212048
website: www.seacitymuseum.co.uk and www.tudorhouseandgarden.com
email: gill.woolrich@southampton.gov.uk
Contact details: Gill Woolrich
Date of visit: 24 April 2019
Nature and extent of collection - this page refers to archaeology collections only
7,800 pieces. The archaeology collection comprises records and artefacts from excavation work in the city, beginning with casual work in the 19th century and continuing with more structured work to the present day. The museum is the repository for all excavated coins found in the city. The collection also includes casual finds from the city, including a late 3rd century Roman coin hoard, and largely unprovinanced Roman coins from the museum’s historic collections.
All numbers below are estimated
Greek coins: 79
Iron Age coins: 2
Roman coins: 6769 (4426 from single hoard)
British coins: 646
British tokens: 66
European coins: 70
Asian coins: 3
American coins: 2
Medals: 4
Paranumismatica: 91 jettons, British and European
Other: 3 coin weights, 1 token die
Specific strengths: Stratified Saxon and medieval coins from excavations in Southampton.
Library: Small collection of around 30 basic reference books.
Databases
Database used: Modes Plus.
Proportion of collection on database: 95%
How much detail in database entries? Basic information transferred from previous systems – number, name, material, description, date, status, location. For some objects also Xray numbers, conservation details, publication references and images.
Are images incorporated? Approximately 40% of records have images.
Is the database accessible to the public? No.
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, we have two spaces for temporary exhibitions, one at SeaCity and one in Tudor House.
Have there been numismatic exhibitions in the past? If so, what? No, but numismatics have featured in various archaeology themed exhibitions.
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? No.
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? No.
ID and public enquiries
Does the museum offer a service for identifying objects and other public enquiries? We no longer provide an identification service. Archaeology identifications are referred to PAS and we deal with research enquiries as best we can.
Curatorial knowledge
Is there any numismatic expertise in-house? If so, who, and in what areas? No.
Is there access to external expertise? If so, who and in what areas? Yes, through PAS or visiting researchers.
If there is expertise in-house, is there a willingness/capacity to share that with other museums? N/A
Radiate of Gallienus from the Millbrook Hoard
Image © Southampton Cultural Services
Saxon sceatta minted at Hamwic
Image © Southampton Cultural Services
Obverse die for a 17th century Southampton farthing token
Image © Southampton Cultural Services