Department of Coins and Medals

Our aim is to make available online information and images of the entire Coins and Medals collection of around 800,000 objects. We have an ongoing programme to achieve this – but it will take time.

In the meantime you can find information on almost 600,000 of our objects on Collection online. In total the database holds information on more than four million objects in the British Museum collection.

• You can make an appointment to view objects from the Coins and Medals collection in our study room. Please complete our Study room application form and email it to: cmstudyroom@britishmuseum.org 
• To ensure the safety of all visitors and staff, face coverings are strongly recommended when entering and leaving the study rooms, but can be removed when seated. Please wash your hands before and after your study sessions using the facilities provided. Hand sanitiser is located throughout spaces where washing facilities are not readily available. Please do not visit if you feel unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms. Group visits are now possible.
• The study rooms may close at short notice due to staff illness or isolation requirements. We apologise in advance should this be necessary.
• The Department of Coins and Medals Study Room is located on the third floor off Room 69a on the south (Great Russell Street) side of the Museum – view on map.
• It's open from 10.30–13.00 and 14.00–16.00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 
• It's closed in January every year.
• Photography is allowed for personal use only.
• Visit our Study rooms page for general information. 

About the library: 

• The library of the Department of Coins and Medals is one of the world’s leading numismatic libraries, reflecting the department’s comprehensive collections and interests. These range from the history of numismatics and its origins in antiquarianism, to contemporary art medals and badges.
• The library contains over 20,000 books, nearly 600 journals and many pamphlets and sales catalogues.
• It provides global coverage of numismatics and economics – many of which are unavailable elsewhere.

Using the library:

• Records of items held by the Department of Coins and Medals library may be accessed using the British Museum library catalogue – at present, not all items are available online.
• Library items can be viewed in the Coins and Medals Study Room, by appointment only. 
• Please contact the library service at library@britishmuseum.org to make an appointment to consult library materials, allowing 10 working days for a reply. 

Main galleries:

• Room 68 – The Money Gallery: the history of money around the world, from prehistory to the present day. 
• Room 69a – a rotating programme of free, temporary Coins and Medals exhibitions are shown in this gallery. Please see the Events and exhibitions section for details about its current display.

Items from the Department of Coins and Medals can also be seen in the following galleries.

Ground floor:

• Room 1 – Enlightenment
• Room 2 – Collecting the world
• Room 13 – Greece 1050–520BC
• Room 15 – Athens and Lycia
• Room 22 –The world of Alexander
• Room 33 – China, South Asia and Southeast Asia (The Joseph E Hotung Gallery)
• Room 42-43 – The Islamic world (The Albukhary Foundation Gallery)
• Room 67 – Korea (The Korea Foundation Gallery)

Upper floor:

• Room 40 – Medieval Europe AD 1050–1500
• Room 41 – Sutton Hoo and Europe AD 300–1100
• Room 46 – Europe 1400–1800
• Room 47 – Europe 1800–1900
• Room 48 – Europe 1900 to the present
• Room 49 – Roman Britain 
• Room 54 – Anatolia and Urartu 7000–300 BC
• Room 65 – Sudan, Egypt and Nubia
• Room 69 – Greek and Roman Life
• Room 70 – Roman Empire (The Wolfson Gallery)
• Room 71 – Etruscan world 
• Room 72 – Ancient Cyprus (The A G Leventis Gallery)
• Room 73 – Greeks in Italy

• You can search for images on Collection online which has information about more than four million objects in the British Museum collection. Most of these images are available free of charge for non-commercial purposes. 
• High-resolution digital images of most of the objects in the collection are available for purchase from BM Images.
• If you can't find the object you require, please contact the department at coins@britishmuseum.org

If you're interested in helping us make information and images of a particular part of our collection publicly available, please contact development@britishmuseum.org.

The Department of Coins and Medals offers an object identification service, covering coins, tokens, coin-weights, paper money and commemorative and art medals.

Please email the department at coins@britishmuseum.org in advance of your visit to make an appointment with the relevant member of staff.

Please don't send coins or other objects in the post.

Please also note:

• We can't provide valuations or certificates of authentication – if you require this advice, please consult a dealer or auctioneer.
• Neither the Trustees of the British Museum nor members of staff can accept liability for opinions given on objects submitted for examinations, or for information provided.
• The British Museum supports international efforts aimed at preventing damage to archaeological sites and the illicit trade in cultural objects.
• We can't, therefore, give an opinion on ancient coins made and/or found outside the UK where the provenance is uncertain or contrary to national or international law.

Read more about the Object identification service. 

• The object identification service is available by appointment only. Please email coinsid@britishmuseum.org to arrange an appointment. 
• The service is free, but no more than 10 objects can be shown at one time.

• If requests are made electronically, digital images should be sent to coinsid@britishmuseum.org.
• All images should be clear enough that any lettering and detail is legible, but individual emails should not exceed 2MB.
• Please indicate when and how the objects came into your possession.

Anyone seeking advice on valuations, or on buying and selling coins, medals or banknotes, should consult a dealer or auctioneer. For details of dealers and auctioneers, please contact:

British Numismatic Trade Association
PO Box 2
Rye
East Sussex
TN31 7SB

International Association of Professional Numismatists
14, Rue de la Bourse
BE-1000 Bruxelles
Belgium

The nationwide Money and Medals Network is run from the Coins and Medals Department. The Network aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding of coins, medals, tokens and paper money in British collections.

Funded by the British Museum, Arts Council England and The Vivmar Foundation, the Network aims to facilitate dialogue and debate around research methodologies, interpretation, display, storage and learning programmes.

For more information, consult www.moneyandmedals.org.uk.

In most years the Department of Coins and Medals hosts a two-week summer school, which covers Classical numismatics in the first week and Medieval numismatics in the second week.

• There will be no Summer School in 2022, but we expect to resume in the future. This page will be updated as further information becomes available.
• This course is for newcomers to the subject or for those with a basic knowledge.
• It aims to give students the tools to apply numismatics to their studies.
• The Summer School is open to all undergraduate and graduate students.
• We can only host 10 students per week, so places are limited.
• Each course is free of charge and includes free accommodation and breakfast at a local UCL hall of residence.

Course outline

• The Classical week gives a thorough introduction to Greek and Roman numismatics from the archaic to late Roman periods.
• The Medieval week covers early Medieval Europe and the successors of the Roman Empire through to the High and later Middle Ages (c. 600–1550).
• Both weeks offer lectures and practical sessions, a visit to another institution and the chance to see a British Museum special exhibition.
• Students will get to handle objects and gain insights into how the Museum cares for and displays its collection.

How to apply

Please send the following to coins@britishmuseum.org:

• Your CV
• A covering letter explaining why you'd like to attend Summer School and which week you're interested in attending 
• A reference from your tutor

Applicants are responsible for organising their own travel arrangements and documentation (such as visas), but will be entitled to claim a bursary of up to £100 for these expenses.

References

References can be sent:

• Directly to coins@britishmuseum.org (specifying the name of the applicant)
• Or via the applicant

Please make sure references arrive before the application deadline.