Department of Money and Medals

Our aim is to make available online information and images of the entire Money 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 Money and Medals collection in our study room. Please complete our Study room application form and email it to: [email protected] 
• 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 Money 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 Money 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 Money 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 Money and Medals Study Room, by appointment only. 
• Please contact the library service at [email protected] 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. 

Items from the Department of Money 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 [email protected]

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

Please email the department at [email protected] 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 do not 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.
• Consequently, we do not give opinions 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].
• 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