visting British Museum numismatic collection, suggestions?

I'll be visiting the British Museum and will hopefully have the opportunity to see some of the non-displayed Roman coins in their archives.

I'm using their online identification system

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=coin&agent=Marcus%20Aurelius&object=coin&material_culture=Roman&denomination=sestertius&display=true&view=list&sort=object_name__asc&page=1

My main areas of study are:
Early Roman Republican, Aes Grave Asses & a Dupondius
Imperatorial Era, I was particularly hoping to see an ID MAR denarius if they had one.
The Military Crisis of the 3rd Century
unusual Roman Provincials

Any suggestions on specific coin: item #'s that I can request viewing?

I don't own the BMC Roman Book series although I understand that it's online. The BMC ID system doesn't have any way to segregate according to condition, so no way to see conditionally or stylistically superior coins without some sort of knowledge.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

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I was in the British Museum last May. The main coin gallery is on the second floor (rm 68). However, many of the regional and epochal galleries have coins of the region and epoch on display. There are about 20 of these which are spread all over the 1st and 2nd floors. So, it will take some time and walking to see all the coins. There is also a coin study room, but you have to make an appointment in advance to gain access.

The Coincraft store is across the street from the museum. They have mostly British coins but worth a visit. I spent some time talking with Richard, the owner. Interesting man who moved from Boston 50 years ago and started a very successful dealership. CNG also is across the street, but their London office is administrative only.

A picture I took of a Syracuse decadrachm in the coin gallery is below. Couldn’t resist taking a pic of folks on the steps ignoring the sign.

While you’re in England try Shropshire blue cheese. Amazingly good and very difficult to find in the U.S.

Cal

 

Have a great time and enjoy your visit. Please pay more attention to the coins than the sign on the left with the people sitting on the steps. Lol

 

Send pictures

 

One of the most memorable items I saw at the British Museum a few years ago was their aes signatum currency bars. They have several on display which are complete/whole. But they have some not currently on display, wish I would have thought to make an appointment at the archives to see those!

 

One suggestion: get a copy of Sear's Greek Coins & Their Values &/or some of the popular Greek books by G.F. Hill & other authors (like Head or Gardner, or more recent ones like Carradice & Price) who used the British Museum collection to illustrate an overview of Greek coins (or other ancient areas).

It's much more rewarding when you can recognize the individual famous specimens on display from your reading, and/or have in mind which specific coins & types to seek out.

One moment I remember from when I was about 8 or 10 years old was seeing the Athens Dekadrachm on display & recognizing it as the "plate coin" illustrated in Sear. I spent so much time looking at it, that 35 years later it still opened to the exact page!



I would bring a few of those books along on my visit.

Also, out of curiosity: Why do you want to go to the extra trouble of arranging to see stuff that's NOT on public display? Do you have a specific research question to address?

Unless I had unlimited time AND something specific I "needed" to see, I would just spend my time looking at all the public ancient coin exhibits. I haven't been there in a very long time, but as I recall, there was enough to keep one busy for hours or days without necessarily even seeing everything. From what I've heard more recently, that seems unchanged.