Monarchy, Money and Medals

The Royal Collection is famous as one of the finest art collections in the world, but little is known about its coins, medals and banknotes, which include many extremely rare pieces. This book, published by Spink in association with the Royal Collection Trust, describes and illustrates the most important items in the Collection, giving their historical background, how they came to be in the Collection, and their importance.

The repeated development and dispersal of the early Collections under the great royal collectors Prince Henry, Charles I, and George III are described. No monarch since then has been a devoted collector of coins or medals, but occasional important additions have been made to the Royal Collection, particularly by George V and Queen Mary. Other major items have been received as gifts from visiting Heads of State; coin finds on Duchy of Lancaster land (eg the Cuerdale Hoard of 1840) have also contributed to the Collection, as well as items presented by the Royal Mint.

Most of the items have never been exhibited before, and several are supported by descriptions and images of other relevant important objects from the Royal Collection.