Money and Medals Network (MMN)

Description

The Money and Medals Network (MMN), a specialist subject network, seeks to augment the comprehension of coins, medals, tokens, and paper money held in British collections.

Sponsored by The Royal Numismatic Society and the British Numismatic Society, the MMN's goal is to foster discourse around research methodologies, interpretations, exhibitions, and learning initiatives. It functions as an information conduit for UK curators, nurturing knowledge and interaction in the domain of numismatic and economic history. MMN promotes best practices, recent research, and relevant news, with an emphasis on understanding, conserving, recording, and providing public access to collections. It encourages collaboration among curators, cultivates connections with non-museum individuals interested in related fields, and champions the potential and importance of these collections. Additionally, it endeavours to find innovative ways to showcase these collections to the public.

Instituted in 2008 by the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum, the MMN secured funding from Arts Council England’s Subject Specialist Network programme in 2011. This financial boost enabled the hiring of a project curator and set the Network on its mission to foster relationships among UK museums, public collections of numismatic objects, and individual enthusiasts and collectors nationwide.

The Network conducted assessment visits to collections across the UK to ascertain how MMN could bolster each collection and introduce them to a wider audience via its website. A notable 207 visits took place, greatly benefiting numerous collections through face-to-face meetings and practical advice. These visits spurred subsequent numismatic projects, including improvements to storage, identification, cataloguing, and other forms of public engagement. While museum collections were the primary focus, the MMN also included institutions not typically associated with numismatic collections.

A key part of MMN's remit was providing numismatic training for personnel in UK museums. The Money and Medals training programme commenced in 2013, reaching out to participants in all museum roles across the UK and offering practical skills and networking opportunities. Free training events ranged from large symposia at the British Museum to smaller, region-specific training days based on identified needs. As a lasting legacy, the MMN established regional networks following assessment visits and training days.

Offers funding

No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.

Founding year

2008

Contact details

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University affiliation(s)

University of Warwick, Coventry
Coventry