Zapiti abstract 2008
The museum of the History of Cypriot coinage and the introduction of the Euro in Cyprus
On January 2008 the euro became legal tender in Cyprus, replacing the Cyprus pound. The Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Cyprus (the state bank) and other private banks organized campaigns with the objective of informing Cypriots about the new currency.
The introduction of the euro in Cyprus opened a new chapter in the history of Cypriot coinage and, thus revived the public’s interest in the history of Cypriot coins. The Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage, being the only coinage museum in the island, became the center of interest for individuals, institutions and, mainly, for the media in Cyprus and abroad (i.e Euronews).
The Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage played a significant role in the effort to flow information with regard to the new currency. Since 2006, the Museum introduced as part of its educational programme a relevant project entitled From Ancient Coins to the Euro with the aim to inform young people about the importance and the evolution of common coinage.
In 2007 the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation expanded and developed the above educational programme beyond the boundaries of the Museum, with the preparation of an interactive timeline on the internet (www.boccf.org). It is entitled From the electrum to the euro and features a chronological and geographical exploration of the history of strong currencies from the earliest coins to the present day. The application includes interactive exercises, which also proved to be a precious tool for teachers.
The Museum’s activities and productions were highly appreciated by other institutions and are about to be further exploited, in an effort to sustain the informative campaigns related to the euro and the Cypriot coinage. For example the Pedagogical Institute of the Ministry of Education and Culture will use the application as a reference for its training sessions.