Holiday guide - museums

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NOTE

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HOLIDAY GUIDE - MUSEUMS

This is a clickable table listing the museums discussed below. Is your favourite numismatic museum not in this list? Just post a topic on it and it will be added.

Peter

Country	City	Museum
Australia	Sydney	Masonic Museum
Austria	Vienna	Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
Bangladesh	Dhaka	Currency Museum (to be established)
Bangladesh	Rajshahi	Varendra Research Museum
Belgium	Brussels	Museum of the National Bank
Belgium	Brussels	ECFIN, euro coins
Belgium	Brussels	Royal Coin Cabinet
Belize	Corozal	House of culture
Bulgaria	Sofia	National History Museum
China	Beijing	Beijing Ancient Coin Museum
China	Shanghai	Nanmatou Community Center
China	Shanghai	Shanghai Museum
Colombia	Bogotá	Casa de la Moneda
Costa Rica	San José	Numismatic Museum
Croatia	Split	A G Leventis gallery
Cyprus	Nicosia	Archeological Museum
Denmark	Copenhagen	Danmarks Nationalbank
Dubai	Dubai	Coin House
Egypt	Cairo	Egyptian Museum
Estonia	Tallin	Museum of the Eesti Pank
Finland	Helsinki	Bank of Finland Museum
Finland	Helsinki	Bank of Finland Museum
France	Paris	Monnaie de Paris
Georgia	Tbilisi	Simon Janashia Museum
Germany	Berlin	Münzkabinett Berlin
Germany	Frankfurt/M	Museum of the Deutsche Bundesbank
Germany	Frankfurt/M	Museum of the Deutsche Bundesbank
Germany	Frankfurt/M	Goldkammer
Germany	Trier	Rheinisches Landesmuseum
Greece	Athens	National Bank of Greece
Greece	Athens	Numismatic Museum
Greece	Athens	Numismatic Museum
Greece	Athens	Numismatic Museum
Hungary	Budapest	Hadtorteneti Muzeum
Hungary	Gyöngyös	Huszár Lajos Éremtár
Iceland	Reykjavik	Icelandic Central Bank
India	Ahmedabad	Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum
India	Ahmedabad	Paldi Museum
India	Chennai	Government Museum
India	Chennai	Government Museum
India	Chennai	City Museum
India	Delhi	National Museum
India	Egmore	Government Museum
India	Hyderabad	Coin Museum
India	Lucknow	Lucknow Museum
India	Kolkata	Money Museum
India	Mumbai	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Museum
India	Mumbai	RBI Monetary Museum
India	Mumbai	Dinesh Mody Museum
India	Nagapattinam	Nagapattinam archeological Museum
India	Nizamabad	Nizamabad Museum
India	Pune	archaeology museum
India	Pune	Yashlaxmi numismatic museum
India	Udupi	Museum of Corporation bank
Indonesia	Jakarta	Bank Indonesia Museum
Iran	Mashhad	Astan-e Qods Razavi Museum
Israel	Jerusalem	Israel Museum
Israel	Tel Aviv	Eretz Israel Museum
Italy	Rome	Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
Italy	Rome	Museo della Zecca di Roma
Italy	Venice	Museo Correr
Japan	Tokyo	Currency Museum
Korea (South)	Seoul	Bank of Korea Museum
Lithuania	Trakai	Trakai castle
Lithuania	Vilnius	Lithuanian Money Museum
Lithuania	Vilnius	Lithuanian Money Museum
Lithuania	Vilnius	palace of the grand dukes of Lithuania
Malaysia	Kuala Lumpur	Bank Negara Malaysia
Malta	Valetta	Bank of Valetta Museum
Mongolia	Ulan Bator	National Historical Museum
Mongolia	Ulan Bator	State Ceremony and Honour's Hall
Montenegro	Cetinje	Money museum
Netherlands	Haarlem	Joh. Enschedé museum (closed)
Netherlands	Amsterdam	Rijksmuseum
Netherlands	Haarlem	Teyler's Museum
Netherlands	Utrecht	Money Museum (closed)
Oman	Oman	Central Bank of Oman Museum
Oman	Oman	Central Bank of Oman Museum
Pakistan	Karachi	State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Museum & Art Gallery
Pakistan	Karachi	State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Museum & Art Gallery
Pakistan	Lahore	Lahore museum
Poland	Warsaw	Central Bank Money Center
Poland	Warsaw	Mennica Polska
Poland	Cracow	National Museum
Poland	Cracow	Emeryk Hutten-Czapski Museum
Portugal	Lisbon	Museu do Dinheiro
Qatar	Doha	Museum of Islamic Art
Romania	Bucarest	Palace of the National Bank
Romania	Bucarest	National history museum
Russia	Moscow	Money museum
Russia	Novosibirsk	Suzunsky Smeltery and Mint
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	King Abdul Aziz General Library
Singapore	Singapore	Coins and Notes museum
Singapore	Singapore	Singapore Notes and Coins Museum
Slovakia	Kremniça	Museum of Coins and Medals
Spain	Madrid	Fábrica Nacional de Moneda
Sri Lanka	Colombo	Currency museum
Sweden	Stockholm	Myntkabinettet
Sweden	Visby	Gotlands museum
Syria	Daraa	Daraa National Museum
Trinidad & Tobago	Port-of-Spain	Central Bank Money Museum
Turkey	İstanbul	Vedat Nedim Tör Museum
UK	Accrington	Haworth Art Gallery
UK	Cirencester	Corinium museum
UK	London	British Museum
UK	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Great North Museum
UK	Oxford	Ashmolean Museum
UK	St. Neots	St. Neots Museum
UK	Truro	Royal Cornwall Museum
UK	Watford	Three Rivers Museum
Ukraine	Feodosia	Feodosia Money Museum
United Arab Emir.	Abu Dhabi City	Central Bank Museum of Coins and Notes
USA	Boston	Museum of Fine Arts
USA	Boston	Museum of Fine Arts
USA	Chicago	Federal Reserve Money Museum
USA	Chicago	National Hellenic Museum
USA	New York	Museum of American Finance
USA	Princeton	Numismatic Collection
USA	Washington	Museum of American History
USA	Williamsburg	DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
Uzbekistan	Tashkent	Art Gallery of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan	Samarqand	Regional Museum of Local Lore
Uzbekistan	Bukhara	The Ark
Uzbekistan	Khiva	The Ark

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American museum aims to teach lessons of finance

By Kenneth Barry, Wed Jan 9, 2008 3:32pm

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Some top U.S. chief executives may have held on to their jobs if only they had learned the lessons of American financial history.

A place for such learning will be the Museum of American Finance, which reopens this week after a $9 million make-over and move to the heart of the financial district in lower Manhattan.

The museum located at 48 Wall Street will display gold bars, numismatic treasures, interactive exhibits on entrepreneurship and more.

With its 30,000 square feet of space in a landmark building, the museum will also serve as the de facto visitors' gallery for the New York Stock Exchange, Lee Kjelleren, the museum's president, said.

"Our purpose is to bring Wall Street to Main Street and to show the importance and richness of our financial markets and promote a deeper understanding," he told reporters at a preview.

Increased security after 9/11 has meant the Big Board is off limits to the public, but at the museum a short distance away visitors will be able to see the action from the world's largest stock exchange on large video screens, he said.

As for the lessons from busts, Richard Sylla, a New York University professor and museum curator, said the exhibits cover the major crashes and turmoil in U.S. economic history.

He said a typical investment banker will experience at least two or three financial upheavals in his or her career, such as the current subprime mortgage and credit crisis that have roiled world markets and led to the ousters of CEOs at Merrill and Citigroup.

"Goldman Sachs made a lot of money because they used their brains to anticipate a crisis. Citibank, Merrill Lynch and some others weren't so fortunate," Sylla said.

But the museum isn't all numbers-crunching or the "dismal science." Displays include coins salvaged from Spanish treasure ships to the New World, a gold ingot weighing 60 pounds, ticker tape from the Great Crash of 1929 and a Treasury bond bearing the first use of a dollar sign.

Ever wonder who is pictured on the $10,000 bill? Lincoln's Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase. But eventually the museum hopes to display a $100,000 bill. That features President Woodrow Wilson.

The museum will open to the public on Friday, with admission charges of $8 for adults and $5 for children and seniors.

Source: Reuters Canada

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Museums expose treasures of the past
Ani Suswantoro, Contributor, Jakarta

Museums, perhaps spots that are not very popular to hang out these days, are actually important places to observe the journey of a nation. By visiting our museums, we will recognize and appreciate our nation's history, and hopefully continue the spirit of our forefathers.

Jakarta has more than 50 museums, from the National Museum to thematic museums for traditional puppetry, stamps, textiles, transportation, energy and science, and even to a museum dedicated entirely to insects.

Museum Nasional, or the National Museum, is the most complete site to look back on Indonesia's history. Located at Jl. Merdeka Barat No. 12, Central Jakarta, its birth dates back to 1778, when Dutch scientists and collectors established an organization to promote art and science.

To accommodate this purpose, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles erected in the early 19the century a building at Jl. Majapahit No. 3. In 1862, the Dutch government decided to build a permanent facility, later known as Gedung Gadjah, or the Elephant Building, due to the bronze statue of an elephant at its front. The statue was a gift from Thailand's King Chulalongkorn.

In 1979, the building was dedicated as the National Museum by the Indonesian government.

"The collection is really extensive. You need a whole day to observe it thoroughly," commented Rita, a visitor on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007.

The museum houses more than 109,000 pieces consisting of prehistoric relics such as the Yupa Inscription, a sample of the first recorded writing in the 5th century from Kutai, East Kalimantan.

The collection also holds archaeological, ethnographic, numismatic/heraldic and historical items. Many archaeological artefacts, such as statues of Hindu deities and temple reliefs, were influenced by Indian culture and found in East and Central Java. The 8th-century Durga Mahesasuramardhini and the 9th-century Shiva Mahadewa -- the supreme god of Shivaite-Hinduism -- and the famous 9th-century Ganesha, god of science, are a few examples.

The numismatic and heraldic collections feature coins and currencies from old Indonesian kingdoms to the colonial era and up to the independence era. Ceramics that date as far back as 206 BCE from China, as well as terracotta pieces, household utensils, ethnic houses, accessories, old weapons and textiles, complete the museum collection.

Source: Jakarta Post

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Coin museum in Heritage District
XPRESS Published: August 31, 2008, 16:16

A new museum dedicated to ancient coins will open soon in Dubai's Al Bastakiya Heritage District.

Dubai Municipality will open the Coins House, featuring nearly 500 ancient coins dating back to the time of the Islamic caliphates, in a building dating back to 1918.

It has been restored to its former glory by the Architectural Heritage Department (AHD) of Dubai Municipality in as part of a renovation plan for the heritage districts of Al Shindagha, Al Ras and Al Bastakiya.

Rashad Bukhash, Director, AHD, said the Coins House comprises several sections. One provides information on the history of the coins, while another room displays 16 ancient coins from the Sassanid Empire belonging to era of the four prominent caliphs (Al Khulafaau Ar-Rashidin) and the Amawi Caliphate.

A third room consists of 64 dinars and dirhams from Amawi Caliphate, while a fourth has 115 dinars and dirhams from the Abbasid Caliphate.

Yet another room holds 45 coins fragments from ancient Egypt, the region previously known as Belad Al Sham, and Turkey during the rein of the Tulunids - the first independent dynasty in Islamic Egypt (868–905 AD), the Fatimid Caliphate, the Mamluks, and Othamia Caliphate.

A sixth room consists of 91 coins from Iraq, the Mashreq, the Bahai, Saljouk and various other dynasties. Two other rooms consist of a total of 124 coins from North Africa, Spain, the Arabian Peninsula, the UAE and other countries.

Source: Gulf News

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BOV buys rare coins of the Knights
Monday, 13th October 2008 - 15:57CET

Bank of Valletta has bought rare coins of the Knights of Malta which were on sale at an auction in London.
The coins are an outstanding example of fine 16th, 17th and 18th century coinage that will enhance the local numismatic collection, the bank said.

They will initially be on display at Bank of Valletta's head office in Sta Venera and will later be displayed at the BOV Museum at St. John's Square, where they can be admired by the public.

"Bank of Valletta believes that through the acquisition of these coins it is giving back to society something that is truly significant to the people of these islands. These coins have more than just historical importance for us, they also have significant value as they form part of our common heritage," Tonio Depasquale, CEO of Bank of Valletta said.

Source: Times of Malta

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In the Netherlands, there are a large number of museums with a small numismatic collection. The national numismatic collection (the Money Museum) is in the same complex as the Utrecht mint. It is now a vast, world class collection encompassing the collection of the royal house, the coin collection of the Utrecht mint and the banknote collection of the Dutch Central Bank. Unfortunately, this is the end of the good news.

The bad news is that even now that the collection is better housed than ever, it remains not on display for 99.9%. The previous management of the museum turned it into a playground for schoolchildren on the theme of money. While the idea in itself probably has merit, the exaggerated push of the collection into a scientific oubliette estranged the museum from the numismatic community.

The museum also lost quite a bit of money on cost overruns during the construction and restauration phase and agreed to a high rent for the building. Before the financial situation could be rebalanced, the government announced deep cuts in its subsidies. As a result, staff is now scarce and possibilities narrow. The library is closed. The only remaining member of the scientific staff cannot help. There is currently no point for coin collectors to visit this museum.

Peter

Updated for recent developments

Update: The Geldmuseum in Utrecht will close its doors on 31 Oct 2013, see here. - C.

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Undoubtedly, Italy has many eye-popping coin collections, but the one I value is in the cellar of the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, near Rome's Termini station. The exhibition covers Italian coinage of all ages, coin production techniques and items having to do with coins. The early coins are in huge display cases with moveable magnifying glasses that don't work. The last 200 years or so are covered by the collection of the last Italian king. It contains coin designs that were rejected or changed, pre-production con models and interesting documents. The collection is very accessible, both for casual and advanced collectors.

I find the rest of this museum stiflingly boring, but the restaurant has great coffee.

(Overviews and details of two cases with designs and dies of modern Italian coins. This is so beautiful...)

Peter

[chrisild]

As for the Money Museum in Utrecht (Geldmuseum), yes, I found that a bit disappointing too. I mean, the museum is right in the mint building, but where are the coins? I like that money floor where you have lots of coins underneath your feet, and it sure makes sense to teach young people about how money works. But there could be more pieces on display. (Then again, the museum's website has a great database and provides lots of interesting information.) From the central station you can walk along Leidsweweg - caution, huge coins on the sidewalk. - Update: The museum is closed.

Another money museum with almost the same web "address" is in Frankfurt: http://www.geldmuseum.de/ That is the museum of the Deutsche Bundesbank. They have quite a few interesting exhibits, coins and notes, but also a section where visitors learn about money, what a central bank does, etc.  Admission is free; the museum also has a store. Free parking in front of the museum; the metro stop "Dornbusch" is the closest one (walk or take a bus from there). - Update: The museum is currently being renovated and plans to re-open in late 2016.

If you are interested in German coins, the Historisches Museum in Frankfurt's Old Town may be worth a visit. The museum has a coin collection that includes almost every coin minted in Frankfurt, and the Jaeger-Degussa Collection of nearly every German coin minted since the Deutsches Reich was founded in 1871. Nearest subway station is "Dom/Römer".

In Madrid the mint (pardon me, the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre - Real Casa de la Moneda) has a big Money Museum. Admission is free, but bring lots of time even if you skip the non-numismatic sections (stamps and security printing). Nice service: Every visitor can strike a medal on an old coin press. Nearest metro station is "O'Donnell".

Christian

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Sweden's national collection is in the Myntkabinettet in Stockholm, right across the royal palace. The collection is nicely presented. On the ground floor are exhibits on how coins developed through the ages, with a smashing collection of Swedish coins in the centre. The middle floor, on economics and trade, is a bit of a yawner. The top floor has an exquisite collection of medals of all ages, a superb collection of medals for Nobel prize winners and the largest Swedish coin: a copper 10 daler of almost 20 kilos (44 US pounds), about 60 by 45 cm (24 by 18 inch).

Although many texts are Swedish only, this is one fascinating exhibition.

0173: Sweden's first gold coin
0189: 1 daler plate coin plus others to get an idea of size
0198: detail of 1 daler plate coin
0199: 2 öre plate coin
0201: 10 daler plate coin
0205: 4 daler plate coin.

Peter

[Austrokiwi]

Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (Vienna).   This Museum houses an interesting collection that was started by the Hapsburgs.............The current display is interesting one room of medals and then one of Austrian Currency.  However clearly not all the collection is on display, I know of at least two major rarieties that are held by this Museum but they are not on display!     What is on Display is not overly inspiring:  and the descriptions of coins are a bit dry.  You really need to know what you are looking at to appreciate what is there ( eg:1938 BUNC 100 Schilling) http://www.khm.at/en/visit/collections/coin-collection/

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Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysia's Central Bank, is preparing to relaunch its numismatic museum and art gallery. The museum was set up in 1989 inside the Central Bank Building in Kuala Lumpur and was recently moved to a new location.

Peter

[chrisild]

Münzkabinett Berlin - The Staatliche Museen in Berlin (SMB) have a large collection of coins, the Münzkabinett. Some exhibits can be visited and viewed in SMB museums (primarily the Pergamon Museum and the Bode Museum), others are "hidden" in the Münzkabinett vaults. However, many coins and medals - currently 8000, with more to come - can be viewed online here: http://www.smb.museum/ikmk/

Christian

[izotz]

Oh, I forgot to mention it!!!! As Chrisild ever said in other post, do not miss the mint museum!!!! Please believe me, it is a must for any coin lover.

This is the Spanish Mint (FNMT) website (English version) :
http://www.fnmt.es/index.php?lan=en

This is the specific page for the museum (Casa de la Moneda):
http://www.fnmt.es/index.php?cha=citizen&scha=22
You may find a guided tour through the many rooms from the ancient Greece to the euro nowadays.

There is also a coin shop. Do not expect much more that the ones announced on the website : BU sets and conmemorative medals. And some numismatic books, in Spanish I'm afraid.

You can get there by public transport as there is a Metro station near the building. And the entrance is always free.

[thelawnet]

Has anybody been to the Joh. Enschedé museum?

Confusingly the English and Dutch sites have different addresses:

http://www.museumenschede.nl/?t=homepage&ss=Orange&id=8&nid=0&menu=0&div=0&l=EN
http://www.museumenschede.nl/?id=8

Regarding the Utrecht money museum, what exactly is on display?

I like 17th and 18th Century silver (and gold) coins the best. Do they have many truly historic coins on display? Coins of which only one or a few specimens survive? Do they have paper money, or only coins?

A sociological museum on money and its use is not really of interest to me.

We are flying to Amsterdam in order to get to Groningen in a few months, but might make a detoru to visit one of these places if it is worthwhile to do so.

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I live not too far from the Joh. Enschedé museum, but haven't been in there. The big problem in Haarlem is parking, but you can easily go there by train from the airport. It is very close to Haarlem Central station.

Don't waste your time on the Money Museum. It's useless for collectors. Depending on when you go, they may have an interesting special exhibit, in which case the coins you will see will be unforgettable, but there will be 8 cases max. You can make an appointment with the scientific staff, though and they are super. You can bring along your own pieces that you have questions on and/or ask to see pieces from the national collection (including the banknote collection that used to be that of the Dutch Central Bank. Very impressive!) and you can check out the library, which is really first class. The museum is easy to reach from Utrecht Central Station (about 15 minutes on foot). Parking is not too difficult if you know the area.

Beware of morning and evening traffic jams. I have seen worse, but not in Europe.

Peter

Edit: The Money Museum is now closed.