APPENDIX E.
Reading edition
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.