_Numismatic Collection._
The collection of Coins and Medals was commenced by the gift from
Archbishop Laud of five cabinets of coins, in 1636[390], to which he
subsequently made some additions. These were accompanied by a very full
MS. catalogue, which is now preserved among Laud's MSS., No. 554. In
1657 a large addition was made by Mr. Ralph Freke (see p. 88), and
numerous small gifts came from many donors in following years. A
catalogue, upon which Francis Wise had been engaged for a long period,
was published by him in a folio volume, in 1750, entitled, _Nummorum
antiquorum scriniis Bodleianis reconditorum catalogus, cum commentario,
tabulis æneis et appendice_. Wise remarks in his Preface, that no
donation, however trifling, was rejected, and that, consequently, there
was (as there is still) a very large quantity of Middle and Third brass
coins of little or no value. From Rawlinson there came, in 1755, besides
coins, a collection of Italian medals (Popes, Medici family, &c.), and
numerous matrices of seals, chiefly foreign. Browne Willis contributed
the most valuable portion of the whole collection, in his series of gold
and silver English coins[391].
Subsequent benefactors have been C. Godwyn, in 1770; Douce, whose
collection included those of Calder, Moore, and Keate, and from whom
came a series of Tradesmen's Tokens; Dr. Ingram, in 1850, whose bequest
included some British specimens; the Queen, who gave, in 1841, a portion
of the treasure found at Cuerdale (see p. 264); Mackie, Roberts,
Elliott, whose valuable series of Indo-Bactrian coins was presented in
1860 (see p. 291), and Dr. Caulfield of Cork, who presented in 1866 a
large collection of the Gun-money struck by James II in Ireland. The
Ashmole coins were transferred from the Museum, together with Ashmole's
library, in 1861. There is also a cabinet of Napoleon medals.
No catalogue of any portion of the contents of this room (excepting a
brief description of the Cuerdale coins) has been issued since the
publication of Wise's volume. For some short time past, however, W. S.
Vaux, Esq., of the British Museum, has occasionally afforded his
valuable services in arrangement and description; and it is hoped that
before long the whole of the collection may be reduced to order and
properly indexed.
By the statutes of the Library, the Librarian, or one of the
Sub-librarians, must always be present when any coins are exhibited; nor
may they be shown to more than two persons at a time, unless two
officers of the Library, or a Curator, are present. No examination of
coins for the purpose of comparison with other specimens is permitted.
[390] Amongst these are several rare Hebrew specimens. Laud's letter of
gift, dated June 16, is printed at p. 94, vol. ii., of his _Remains_,
edited by H. Wharton. A curious collection of Roman weights came among
early benefactions; they are entered in Wise's catalogue.
[391] The special gems are a gold Allectus, and the famous _Reddite_ and
_Petition_ crowns of Thomas Simon, the latter of which was struck in
1663. The Petition crown is probably the one which was sold in Dr.
Mead's sale in February, 1755 (_Cat._ p. 186), and which is noted by
Rawlinson in his copy of the sale catalogue as having been purchased
by -- Hodsall for £12. A gold Allectus was sold at the same sale to the
Duke of Devonshire for £21 5_s._