CCNB Newsletter No. 39 November 2006 The Newsletter of the Coordinating Committee for Numismatics in Britain

The CCNB Newsletter is supported by the British Museum, CONTENTS the Royal Numismatic Society and the British Numismatic Society. The Newsletter appears triannually, and is received FOCUS ON ORIENTAL NUMISMATICS by those members of the RNS and BNS resident in the United The History of the Oriental Numismatic Society Kingdom, and by others with an interest in numismatics and The Michael Broome collection of Islamic related fields. The Muslim World on your Doorstep Contributions and information will be gratefully received. Sikh Heritage Items for the next issue should be sent to Richard Abdy or NEWS Richard Kelleher, Department of Coins and Medals, Roman Provincial Coinage Online British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, BANS Autumn Lecture Course tel: 020 7323 8255/8640 fax: 020 7323 8171, Subject Specialist Network for Numismatics e-mail: [email protected] or Double Florin on loan at the Fitzwilliam [email protected]. Anyone in the UK wishing to be added to the CCNB BNS NEWS Newsletter mailing list should send their name and address to EXHIBITIONS Richard Kelleher at the above address, or alternatively e-mail him at [email protected]. DIARY

FOCUS ON ORIENTAL chosen, and by April 1970 the Society comprised 21 members with Michael at the helm. A newsletter was started, more of NUMISMATICS which below, and there were plans to start publishing information sheets and occasional papers on various Oriental THE ORIENTAL NUMISMATIC SOCIETY: series. It has to be borne in mind that, at that time, there was very little modern published material on Oriental coinages. A BRIEF HISTORY There were various museum catalogues, mostly written It was back in 1970 that the late Michael Broome wrote a decades earlier and a number of other works, mostly out of letter that was published in Seaby’s & Medal Bulletin. print and hard to find - plus, of course, such general works as He wrote: Craig and Yeoman. During the early years, the membership grew as news of the Society spread. Everything was done on It seems possible that there is an increase of interest in the a voluntary basis (as it still is); the organisation was loose and coinages of the Near and Far East. The article by Rev. R J informal, and a system of Regional Secretaries was set up to Plant and Dr. M L Smith’s letter (in previous Bulletins) are look after members in various parts of the world. Right from encouraging signs, as is the impending reprint of W H the start, membership was not limited to those resident in the Valentine’s “Catalogue of Modern Copper Coins of the UK but was open to anyone anywhere in the world with a Muhammedan States”. genuine interest in Oriental coinage. A small subscription was As a beginner struggling in this field, I have been very charged to cover costs. conscious of my isolation from other students and from In the London area, meetings began to be held at the homes comprehensible books and it is possible that others share the of certain collectors. At these, coins would be shown and same problems. I wonder, therefore, if it would be worthwhile discussed and exchanges of duplicates or unwanted items setting up a list of students of the various Oriental series who made. It was not too long, however, before the number of would be willing and interested to correspond with each other people attending the meetings outgrew the ability of and with beginners wishing to learn. individual collectors to accommodate them, so the then UK A small group of people with a like interest could provide a Regional Secretary, the late Ken Wiggins, took to hiring a focus for such work as, for example, a listing of museums church hall in the Bayswater area for the meetings. By this whose collections contain Oriental coins or a note of the time, meetings had become more formalised with a small various sources where standard reference books can be number of talks being arranged each time. In due course, the obtained on loan. London meetings were transferred to the British Museum, While in no way qualified to the role, should no other first in the Department of Conservation then from 1985 in the volunteer appear, I would be prepared to act as temporary Department of Coins & Medals, with whom the Society has secretary to such a group if it would fulfil a need. I should be always had a cordial relationship. Ever since then, meetings interested in the opinions of those of your readers who have have taken place at this venue 3 or 4 times a year and the studied, or have wished to study this field. Society is very grateful to Joe Cribb, the present Keeper of Coins & Medals for allowing this arrangement to continue. Twelve people responded to this letter, nine of whom agreed Elsewhere in the UK, meetings have been held at the to join a loosely knit group and to state their interests. A short Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, the Ashmolean Museum, while later the name “Oriental Numismatic Society” was Oxford and, once, at the Blackburn Museum. Such meetings

1 make it easier for members living in other parts of the country the issues were of four pages but could be as much as eight, to attend and get to know each other. with a good use of illustrations. From June 1985 the Elsewhere, a regular series of meetings has been taking editorship was in the hands of the present writer and Howard place in the Netherlands and Germany. The former, arranged Simmons. This arrangement lasted for just over a year, when by Jan Lingen, the Regional Secretary for Continental Howard had to bow out for pressure of other work. It is then Europe, have for some years taken place, in collaboration with that the present editor took over the job single-handed and has the Royal Coin Cabinet, at the Museum of Antiquities in the continued in that role ever since, for many years with the delightful university town of Leiden. From next year the production assistance of Paul and Bente Withers at Galata venue will be Utrecht, at the newly formed Money and Bank Print, and latterly, of Pardy & Son Printers of Ringwood. Museum. In Germany there have been an annual series of During that 20 year period, the newsletter developed meetings in Cologne, arranged by Nikolaus Ganske, for considerably, aided by the advances in computer technology. collectors of Indian coins, while in Tübingen and Jena, a It became a quarterly publication, one where articles could be series of meetings, under the aegis of Lutz Ilisch and Stefan published quickly. As a result it grew both in size and in Heidemann, was inaugurated several years ago for those stature, with issues of up to 48 pages. Whereas previously, interested in Islamic coinage, the meeting venue alternating lengthier articles had been published as occasional papers or each year. In the USA, there have been annual ONS information sheets, these could now be published as separate gatherings at the ANA convention in New York. Some years supplements to the newsletter. Because of the authoritative ago, a successful meeting also took place in . From time nature of the growing number of articles, the newsletter to time, other meetings and symposia take place in became a publication of academic importance, so that recently collaboration with the Society. a decision was taken to change its name to the Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society.

Formalising Things In 1997, Michael Broome, who had been the Society’s The Future Secretary General for 27 years, passed away. During this Information technology, the Internet, and easy world-wide period, the ONS had published some 150 newsletters and communication are making the dissemination of knowledge more than 60 other publications in the form of Occasional and discussion easier and faster. The ONS has a website Papers and Information Sheets. The Society’s membership giving information about its activities and a cumulative index had grown to around 500, in many countries. Yet, the of all articles and other matters of interest published in the Society’s organisation had continued on a very informal basis newsletters/journals (http://www.onsnumis.org/). There are without a written constitution. At a meeting of a number of active newsgroups on the Internet for South Asian and Islamic Society officers and members, it was decided that the time had coins these are not operated by the ONS but its members are come to put the Society on a more formal footing, with a active in them. Various members have their own websites governing council and a written constitution. This was dedicated to their collections or collecting interests. It would achieved with the approval of the membership. Officers were be good to be able to re-publish all the newsletters and other elected to the various council positions and a copy of the publications on CD at some stage for reference. There is still constitution sent to all members. From then on, there was to much to publish. Whereas in the past twenty years or so there be an Annual General Meeting in London and the election or has been great progress in the publishing of literature on the re-election of officers every three years. Nicholas Rhodes, the coinage of and the Far East, there are still vast well known authority on the coinage of , Nepal and swathes of Islamic coinage that are waiting to be studied and north-east India, was elected Secretary General, a position he published. It is to be hoped that ONS members will contribute continues to hold. Peter Smith was elected as Secretary of the in this field as well as continuing to work in other areas. Society. It was also decided to inaugurate a memorial lecture Anyone in the UK wishing to join the ONS or find out in honour of Michael Broome at future AGMs, preferably more about it can contact the Secretary, Peter Smith, whose related to an Islamic coin series. A few years later, another details are to be found in the contacts section of this memorial lecture was added in memory of Ken Wiggins, who newsletter. passed away in 2000. Stan Goran

Publications The first newsletter of the Society was published by Michael Broome in March 1970, typewritten on one page. After a while this increased to both sides of a page, with information MICHAEL BROOME’S ISLAMIC COINS TO GO TO about books on oriental numismatics, events, members and THE FITZWILLIAM the first meetings. This state of affairs continued until the beginning of 1976, when Michael Mitchiner took over the The Michael Broome Collection of 3,600 Oriental Coins, has editorship of the newsletter. Michael had purchased a “new- been accepted in lieu of Inheritance Tax by the Treasury and, fangled” electronic typewriter which did all sorts of things by in accordance with the family’s wishes, allocated to the comparison with the traditional typewriter that we all knew Fitzwilliam Museum. Michael Broome (1927-97), who was a and loved. He was producing his own publications on it and leading figure in Islamic numismatics, founded the Oriental used it to give a more professional look to the newsletter, Numismatic Society in 1970 and acted as its Secretary- expanding it in the process to include short articles. Michael General until his death. He was author of A Handbook of Mitchiner edited the newsletter for almost 10 years. Most of Islamic Coins (1985), and at the time of his death he was

2 completing a major study of the Coinage of the Seljuqs, which will shortly be published by the Royal Numismatic Society. The collection is broadly representative of Islamic coinage from the 7th to 20th centuries, from Muslim Spain to India. It has an outstanding and systematic series of coins of the Seljuqs of Rum (many of which will be illustrated in his book). Other areas of strength include the Abbasids, Ilkhanids, Safavids and other Iranian dynasties and Ottomans, but the collection also contains some non-Islamic Oriental coins, notably punch-marked and other Indian coins and Sasanian drachms.

The ‘Offa dinar’, imitating an Islamic issue

Some of the earliest evidence for contact between Britain and the Muslim World comes in the form of coinage, and this is reflected in the exhibition. Probably the most famous example of this contact is a gold coin issued in the name of Offa, King of Mercia (reigned 757-796 C.E.). This is an imitation of a dinar of the caliph al-Mansur, ruler of the Islamic Abbasid dynasty, with the inscription OFFA REX superimposed across the Arabic text. Although the Arabic inscription is not copied Abbasid gold dinar of al-Muti‘ (946-974), struck at Zabid (in perfectly, it is close enough that it is clear that the original Yemen), in 952/3 (AH 340). From the Broome Collection. from which it was copied was struck in the Islamic year AH Mark Blackburn 157 (773-74 C.E.). It seems that the engraver had no understanding of the Arabic script: Offa’s name and title have been inserted upside down in relation to the Arabic The Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) scheme enables taxpayers to inscription. The coin was first recorded in Rome, and is transfer works of art and important heritage objects into normally on display in the British Museum, which has loaned public ownership while paying Inheritance Tax. For further it to this exhibition. Various interpretations have been placed information see www.mla.gov.uk. on the coin, but what does seem beyond doubt is that the design reflects the dominant influence of Islamic gold dinars in the circulating currency of western Europe in the eighth century. Other possible Anglo-Saxon imitations of Islamic coins are also recorded, and a number of single finds of silver THE MUSLIM WORLD ON YOUR DOORSTEP dirhams from Britain also suggest trading contacts. The exhibition also contains silver dirhams from the tenth- century Bangor hoard found in 1894, which has been lent by National Museum Cardiff, 24 October 2006 – 4 February Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery. The hoard contained four 2007 dirhams of the Samanid dynasty, together with a Over the last two years the National Museum of Wales has contemporary imitation, as well as three pennies of Edward been working with a variety of groups and individuals to the Elder and five from the Danelaw, including three St Peter create a programme of activity which celebrates the cultural Sword types, a Sihtric Sword type and an Anonymous Sword life of the Muslim communities in Wales and beyond, as part type. The hoard also contained two pieces of hack-silver, and of the UK-wide Festival of Muslim Cultures 2006-7. The was probably deposited c. 925 C.E. This hoard represents a programme includes two exhibitions, ‘The Muslim World on less direct source of contact with the Islamic world, since your Doorstep’ at the National Museum, and the touring contact here came via the Vikings, with dirhams making their exhibition ‘1001 Inventions’, which explores the story of way through the Russian river system to Scandinavia, and international Muslim contributions to science and invention. from there to Britain. Dirhams and dirham fragments are ‘The Muslim World on your Doorstep’ uses items from known from a number of Viking hoards from Britain and the National Museum collections alongside items loaned by Ireland, as well as from excavated and metal-detected others. Its selection of cultural artefacts is associated with settlements. This is the only hoard recorded from Wales to the Muslim world in Britain generally, and south Wales in contain dirhams, but a dirham fragment was found during particular. The exhibition is intended to give those who are recent excavations of the Viking site at Llanbedrgoch on not from a Muslim background the opportunity to consider Anglesey. These two finds are clear reminders that North some of the ways in which Muslim cultures can be Wales was very much part of the Irish Sea zone in the Viking appreciated and understood. At the same time, the Age, with all that that entailed for wider monetary contacts. exhibition is an exciting opportunity for people of Muslim background to see at first hand a few of the many special Edward Besly & Gareth Williams objects and images which reflect their diversity and identity.

3 SIKH HERITAGE: A NEW DISPLAY AT THE BRITISH as a devotee in the presence of . The word ‘Sikh’ MUSEUM means disciple and this token suggests wanted to portray himself as a servant or disciple of the Guru. Although A new display of Sikh Heritage featuring a selection of the was king, he was convinced that God was the magnificent coins from the British Museum’s Sikh coin ultimate ruler. Tokens of this type are a rarity as Ranjit Singh collection is currently exhibited in the HSBC money gallery preferred to stay anonymous in accordance with his humble of the British Museum. The Sikh was established in nature and his respect for the Sikh faith. 1801 and Ranjit Singh was declared Maharaja (sovereign) of The majority of coins were inscribed with religious phrases the Sikh state of the in 1809 by the British mentioning Guru Nanak and (the 10th Government. , a monotheistic faith, was founded by Guru of the ) with the reverse side bearing the name of Guru Nanak who was born in AD 1469 in . After the city where it was minted and the word Akaal meaning struggling against the in the late 18th century ‘immortal Lord’. In terms of it can be said that Sikh the Sikhs managed to establish their own autonomous coins were modelled on Islamic issues. The elaborate kingdom. Maharaja Ranjit Singh reigned successfully for calligraphy of the inscriptions and grand symbols such as nearly 40 years and his included some of the most leaves and flowers reflect the magnificence and prosperity of important cities in the Punjab including (the holy the Empire. city of the Sikhs), , , and Lahore. Coins were issued in all of these cities, but the vast majority were minted in Amritsar and Lahore. The highest denomination coin in circulation was the Gold Mohur which weighed approximately 12 grams with silver rupees as the most common form of currency in use. Copper coins were produced in different shapes and sizes and were the lowest denomination, known as ‘paise’. Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s distinctive and successful rule can be partly attributed to the fact that he was without religious prejudice and commanded the loyalties of , and Sikhs. On his coinage this is evident from inscriptions in Silver rupee from the Sikh period the various languages in use in the region at the time, with the coins inscribed in Persian, (a script invented by the ) and Sanskrit. The Maharaja wanted to encourage Some of the oldest Sikh coins in the British Museum citizens from different cultural backgrounds to feel a part of collection are the silver rupees dating to AD 1777. These the empire and once remarked “God intended me to look upon coins were issued in the Sikh Misl period (pre Ranjit Singh) all religions with one eye- that’s why he took the light from when the Punjab was governed by twelve separate groups the other” (referring to his partial blindness) as a means of known as . It is believed that the coins of the Sikh ruling his subjects with religious equality and tolerance. empire reflect a period of affluence, strong cultural values and religious tolerance. The Sikhs continued to rule successfully until the annexation of the Punjab by British forces in AD 1849.

Paramdip Khera

NEWS

ROMAN PROVINCIAL COINAGE ONLINE http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/ Pilgrim token depicting Guru Nanak Roman Provincial Coinage Online has just become available to all free on the web. It potentially comprises one of the An important feature within this display is a pilgrim token largest collections of images and related inscriptions from the (illustrated above) which features an image of Guru Nanak ancient world which is searchable by iconography, place, and (the founder of the Sikh faith), with his fellow companions on time. The guided searches, integrated images, interactive either side, Bhai Bala (a Hindu) and Bhai Mardana (a maps and linked tutorials put the site a generation ahead of Muslim). Tokens such as this would be purchased by pilgrims most other web-based numismatic publications. It is an visiting the holy city of Amritsar. The issue of these tokens exciting development for those interested in ancient coins, in suggest that the Maharaja wanted to promote the idea (as classical archaeology, and in Roman history. taught by Guru Nanak) that his citizens live in harmony with The website is built around a substantial database of their fellow people regardless of race or religion. Another rare Roman Provincial Coinage in the Antonine Period (AD 138- token displayed as part of the collection depicts the Maharaja 192), which was put together as a result of a research project

4 undertaken at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. It contains Worcester. This was our third visit to the college which information on 13,730 different coin types from 386 cities, provides adequate and economic accommodation in a and is based on 46,725 individual specimens. Roman reasonably central location and which also has the advantage Provincial Coinage Online has been designed as a model for of being within easy reach of the bookshops of Hay on Wye putting the rest of provincial coinage online in the future, which attracted many numismatic bibliophiles. After from its beginning in 44 BC to its end in AD 296/7. registration and dinner we got straight on to the main business It was decided to publish online in order to make this of the weekend and Ted Buttrey opened proceedings with a extensive body of information and images about the Roman talk entitled variously Lost (or Lust!) in the dust: Antony and world available in the most flexible and user-friendly way Cleopatra. Ted covered both the history of the period and the possible. It is hoped that the result will be an increase in the coins on which either or both appeared. use of the material within a wide variety of classical and On Saturday after breakfast Chris Comber spoke on the archaeological studies. The facility to search material online Trade Coinage of Queen Elizabeth I. Chris also covered the by a variety of criteria is intended to encourage more history and the thoughts behind the issue of the testerns which extensive use than would conventional publication alone. It were intended to provide a coinage for the East India was also hoped to encourage feedback of new material from Company to match the Spanish denominations of 8, 4, 2 and museums, collectors, and dealers, and thus to make the 1 reales. However, the issue of these attractive coins was not conventional publication more complete, and to allow further successful. Chris illustrated his talk with slides and with updating of the website. examples of the coins from his own collection. Chris was followed by Marion Archibald whose paper was entitled The Perkin Warbeck Jeton: a case of mistaken identity. Marion presented a case suggesting that these rare pieces which appear to have come from perhaps just one source were made from punches which emanate from the Tower workshops and were quite likely official or semi-official jetons. After coffee we enjoyed the Royal Lecture, a witty and informative presentation by Robert Turner, senior master and Queen's remembrancer who presides over the trials of the Pyx. Robert covered the origins of and the reasons for this event and illustrated his talk with readings from original documents and with exhibits of facsimile medieval trial plates and bullion bars etc. Saturday afternoon was free for delegates to "do their own thing" and after dinner David Goodall spoke on Currency under the Germans, 1871-2001: symbols of modern German History. David took us through the complex in this period and its coinage and paper money. Screen shot showing an example of search results from the new We had two lectures on Sunday. Firstly Andrew Wager website gave a talk entitled The mystery of Henry Morgan's silver token 1811-13. Andrew took us through the various tokens attributed to this infamous character about whom so few facts For those interested in reading more about the coinage a were known and he then gave an account of his own volume with chapters by sixteen leading international researches which proved that such a person did exist. The full scholars was published by Oxford University Press in 2005: story is to be revealed in a book due for publication shortly. C. Howgego, V. Heuchert and A. Burnett (eds.), Coinage and After a coffee break Vicky Georganteli concluded Identity in the Roman Provinces. proceedings by delivering the RNS Lecture comprising a Roman Provincial Coinage Online has been developed by paper which had more of an esoteric theme and which covered the Academic Computing Development Team (ACDT) of the the representation of celestial bodies on coins. Graham Dyer University of Oxford. Funding for the underlying research then bought matters to a formal close with votes of thanks to project was provided jointly by the Arts & Humanities the speakers and Joe Bispham and his helpers. It was agreed Research Council (AHRC) and by the University of Oxford. we had been treated to a splendid programme and that the weekend, despite its low attendance, was a great success. Chris Howgego Bob Thomas

THE BANS AUTUMN LECTURE COURSE HELD AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WORCESTER 1ST TO 3RD SUBJECT SPECIALIST NETWORK FOR SEPTEMBER 2006 NUMISMATICS REACHES EXPLORATORY STAGE.

Owing to a clash of dates and a number of holiday On 5th October, the government’s strategic agency for commitments etc a smaller group than normal, some 33 Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) announced the delegates, assembled for this year's Autumn Lecture Course at award of £4,000 to coordinate a specialist subject network

5 (SSN) for numismatics throughout relevant English regional promote good practice. Alongside the Hubs, Regional museums (but with links possible throughout the UK). This is Agencies and Museum Development Officers are providing the second round for such exploratory funding and on this advice and support, while established Subject Specialist occasion MLA has allocated more than £50,000 to thirteen Networks enables national museums to share their skills and museum networks. The purpose of SSNs were defined by collections. MLA Renaissance Manager Alison Hems who said “SSNs Working closely with the Museums Association and MDA were mechanisms for sharing scholarship, collections and (formally the Museums Documentation Association), MLA is collections expertise, research and interpretation skills, in keen for the thirteen prospective networks to progress with order to improve the way museums understand and use their plans and is currently developing the criteria for a new collections, for the benefit of their audiences”. round of implementation grants. In addition to Numismatics, the other twelve budding SSNs The SSN: Numismatics will be led from the British are: Museum (dept. of Coins & Medals) and it is hoped that the CCNB as an existing communication tool for numismatics in Archives in Museums Britain will play a major role in the foundation of the network. Chinese Collections Ideas and suggestions from readers on how this network Contemporary Art should take shape will be most welcome (contacts as for Folk Art CCNB). Fraternal and Friendly Societies and Associations For information on MLA’s Renaissance programme visit: Human Remains http://www.mla.gov.uk/website/programmes/renaissance Inland Waterways Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Heritage Richard Abdy Motoring Collections Musical Instrument Collections Plastics Understanding British Portraiture. DOUBLE FLORIN ON DISPLAY IN CAMBRIDGE These twelve, together with SSN: Numismatics, are at the preliminary part of a two stage process. In the case of the The gold Double Florin of Edward III recently found and numismatics network, groups of museums with collections featured in the last issue of the Newsletter has been lent to the relating to coins and medals, banknotes, tokens and other so- Fitzwilliam Museum, and will form part of the display of called ‘paranumismatica’ will be meeting over the next few medieval gold coins in their Medieval and Renaissance months to discuss how they might be able to work together Gallery. more effectively in the future. In the New Year, successful networks will then access larger, ‘implementation’ grants. So far, according to Ms Hems, MLA has allocated nearly £300,000 to establish and further develop 36 Subject Specialist Networks throughout the UK. “Once the networks are established, it is envisaged they will work together on a broad range of activities, such as identifying gaps in collecting, planning temporary exhibitions, creating learning resources and offering training or short courses to other museum professionals,” Ms Hems said. “By strengthening the sector’s capacity to understand existing holdings, these networks represent a major initiative to improve access, The recently discovered double florin of Edward III consolidate knowledge, rationalise collections and collecting policies, and extend these benefits to related collections outside the networks themselves. The Subject Specialist Networks already funded through Renaissance have highlighted the real possibilities and potential for working UK NUMISMATIC TRUST across collections and between institutions.” Achievements from previous funding rounds include the Readers will probably be aware that the UK Numismatic first published audit of sport and sport-related collections by Trust, established in 1985, encourages and supports the Sports Heritage Network and the integration of numismatics in the United Kingdom through the award of information on 161 Ancient Egyptian collections held by small research grants to individuals. Less well known is its institutions across the country. These networks form support for numismatic conferences, colloquia and seminars established parts of a programme known as ‘Renaissance’, – in the UK, and it is particularly keen to hear from the a national scheme, led by the MLA, to transform England’s organisers of such events. regional museums. By 2008, £150 million will have been Please request a grant application form from the secretary, allocated to help regional museums across the country to raise Keith Sugden, at the following address: Department of standards and support education, learning, community Numismatics, Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, development and economic regeneration. Renaissance affects Manchester, M13 9PL. the entire museums sector. A network of 'Hubs' has been set up in each English region to act as flagship museums and

6 BNS NEWS LECTURES, SEMINARS, COLLO- The British Numismatic Society’s website has undergone QUIA AND CONFERENCES recent redevelopment by Shaun Osborne at the Fitzwilliam Museum. The restructured site is up and running at www.britnumsoc.org having had its content revised by Mark Blackburn and Elina Screen. LECTURE DIARY

November 21 RNS Seminar: Numismatics on the internet, Dan Pett, Sam Moorhead, Mark Blackburn & Andrew Meadows

28 BNS Anniversary Meeting and Presidential Address. Currency under the Vikings: 3. Ireland, Wales and Scotland in the 9th and 10th centuries. (Followed by the Anniversary Drinks Party for members and their guests)

December 19 RNS The Identification of the Nguyên Thông Coins Screenshot from the new BNS web pages in the Monetary Law of the 6th Year of Canh Hung (Vietnam 1745), François Thierry, Peter Woodhead has been awarded the Sanford Saltus medal (Followed by the Christmas party) to be held at for 2005. Peter was President of the Society from 1976-1980 the BM and was presented with his medal in recognition of his contribution to numismatics, most notably on 13th and 14th January century silver coinage and his two excellent Sylloge volumes 9 BAMS Taking an impression:William Dugood and the cataloguing the Herbert Schneider collection of English gold Farnese numismatic collections, David coins. Connell (Director, Burton Constable A generous donation from J.J. North has been received by Foundation) the Society which will be utilised to set up a North Fund to finance a book prize in his honour. The award will be made 16 RNS The legend of on Greek every two years to the author of the book deemed to have and Roman coins, Karsten Dahmen made the best contribution to British numismatics. The books short-listed for the inaugural award are: The Durham Mint by 23 BNS Anglo-Saxon Gold Coinage, Gareth Williams Martin Allen, Public House Tokens in England and Wales by Yolanda Courtney, The Iconography of Early Anglo-Saxon February Coinage Sixth to Eighth Centuries by Anna Gannon and The 13 BAMS Symbolism made metal: three centuries of Late Roman Gold and Silver Coins from the Hoxne Treasure masonic medals, Mark J.R. Dennis (curator by Peter Guest. Library and Museum of Freemasonry)

20 RNS Show and tell

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS 27 BNS Title to be confirmed, John Talbot Encounters: Travel & money in the Byzantine World British Museum, Gallery 69a, 8 June 2006 – 7 Jan 2007 March A book to accompany the exhibition by E. Georganteli and B. 20 RNS Galerius or Constantine I: Who Built the Cook has been published by D. Giles Ltd. It is priced at £6.99. Amphitheatre of Serdica? The Coin Evidence Evgeni Paunov

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS 23-25 BAMS Annual Weekend Conference, Canterbury

Greek Banknotes 1822-2002 from the collections of the 27 BNS Peter Skidmore: the man who never was. David Welfare Foundation for Social and Cultural Affairs and Dykes National Bank of Greece. Ethnikè Trapèza tès Ellados, Diomidis Building, Tritis Septemvriou 146, 11251 Athens.

7 14 Dix Noonan Webb, Auction of Trade Tokens, CONTACTS: Historical and Art Medals, including the collection of Gloucestershire and other West Country Tokens British Art Medal Society (BAMS) formed by the late Barry Greenaway Mr Philip Attwood, Department of Coins and Medals, British Museum, London WC1B 3DG, tel: 020 7323 8260. Unless otherwise stated, all meetings held at 5.30pm, Cutlers Hall, February Warwick Lane, London EC4. www.bams.org.uk 10 London Coin Fair, Holiday Inn, London Bloomsbury, Coram Street, WC1. British Association of Numismatic Societies (BANS) Mr P. H. Mernick, c/o 42 Campbell Road, London E3 4DT March British Numismatic Society (BNS) 14 Dix Noonan Webb, Auction of Ancient, British and Dr Elina Screen, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington World Coins, Numismatic Books, including the Street, Cambridge CB2 1RB, tel: 01223 332900. Fax: 01223 Collection of Short Cross Coins formed by the late 332923. E-mail: [email protected]. Membership Professor J.P. Mass (Part IV - Final). secretary, Lt Cdr Charles Farthing, c/o Warburg Institute, Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AB, tel: 01329 284 661. E- 15 Dix Noonan Webb, Auction of Important British and mail: [email protected]. World Banknotes. Unless otherwise stated all meetings held at 6.00pm at the Warburg Institute, Woburn Square, London WC1.

British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) BNTA British Numismatic Trade Association Rosemary Baldwin’s: Cooke, General Secretary, P.O. Box 2, Rye, East Sussex, 11 Adelphi Terrace, London, WC2N 6BJ. TN31 7WE, tel: 01797 229988; fax: 01797 229988; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.bnta.net. Spink & Son: 69 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4ET. Oriental Numismatic Society (ONS) Mr Peter Smith, 9 Grandison Road, London SW11 6LS, tel: Croydon Coin Auctions: 020 7228 2826. United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, East Croydon. Royal Numismatic Society (RNS) Dr Vesta Curtis, Department of Coins and Medals, British Linda Monk Fairs: Museum, London WC1 3DG, tel: 020 7323 8272. Unless Jury's Hotel, Great Russell St, London. otherwise stated all meetings held at 5.30pm at the Warburg Institute, Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AB. E-mail: Dix Noonan Webb: [email protected]. www.numismatics.org.uk Washington Hotel, 5 Curzon Street, Mayfair, London W1

Bonham’s: AUCTIONS AND FAIRS Montpelier Street, London, SW7 1HH Morton & Eden Ltd: Unless stated otherwise all auctions are held at the addresses 45 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PE. listed. Dates may be subject to alteration. Warwick & Warwick Ltd: Chalon House, Scar Bank, Millers Road, Warwick CV34 November 5DB. 28-29 Morton & Eden Ltd, Coins, Medals and Banknotes; War Medals, Orders and Decorations. Classical Numismatic Group: Electronic auctions on www.cngcoins.com

December 6 Dix Noonan Webb, Auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. 13 Dix Noonan Webb, Auction of Ancient, British and World Coins, Numismatic Books, including the an important collection of Primitive Money. And the Auction of Important British and World Banknotes, including the Godfrey Burr Collection (Part III - Final).

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