Nomikou abstract 2008
Numismatic Museum Collections in the context of contemporary museology
Transformations in the museum world are notable in many aspects today. In implementing the directions of contemporary museology, interplay between innovation and traditional museum practice takes place. The reconfiguration of the museum-visitor relationship, the impact of new technologies and role of the museum professional are some of the factors that drive change. Numismatic collections and exhibitions, with long-established tradition in museum history, are challenged by such developments. Numismatic exhibitions, by focusing almost exclusively on historical aspects and technical terms, have been criticised about the type of museum experience they offer to non-specialist audiences. Being essentially small scale meaning-rich objects, coins are arguably a ‘difficult’ subject for the non-specialist visitor.
The reaction to such criticisms and to changing standards of best practice in museums internationally, is the appearance of new Money Galleries as opposed to traditional Coin Cabinets. These developments occur within a context of increasing professional awareness of the issues that numismatic museum collections share around the world. The International Committee of Money and Banking Museums is set up as a forum of discussion around such issues ranging from conservation and collections management to presentation, display and education. ICOMON has been active in promoting the common grounds of a ‘Money Museology’. By presenting and promoting examples of best practice, the members of the network have the opportunity to exchange ideas and share advice on professional standards. The emergence of Money Galleries and ‘Money Museology’ seems to signpost a shift in the philosophy of numismatic exhibitions from a specialist, historical to a more thematic approach. Under this core, individual issues - like knowledge and innovation management, the role of the numismatic professional, the future of coin collections in museums, and the engagement of non-specialist audiences- emerge and reflect upon current museological debates. This paper aims to engage the audience of numismatic professionals into these debates, in order to stimulate an insightful and constructive discussion.