DIGICLASS PROJECT

About the research project

The Greek and Roman coin collections housed in the Ashmolean Museum are considered among the most important in the world. Both have their origins in the 17th century but owe their status to the more recent incorporation of important collections belonging to the Colleges of the University of Oxford and to scholar-collectors. Most notably J. G. Milne, Sir Arthur Evans, J. M. F. May, and Sir Edward (Stanley) Robinson.

The Greek coin collection contains approximately 50,000 coins and covers all areas of the Greek world, from the Iberian Peninsula through to ancient Bactria. It includes Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman Provincial specimens.

The Roman collection comprises approximately 110,000 coins. The collection is very rich in all periods, from the Roman Republic to the fall of the Roman Empire. A particular strength is the exceptional coverage of the 3rd and 4th centuries CE.

Digitisation at the Heberden Coin Room started over a decade ago and resulted in the development of the HCR WebApp and a specialised smart capture system for coin photography. Thanks to a generous gift to the Museum, a dedicated team is building on the existing infrastructure and digitising all objects in the Greek and Roman coin collections.

Research aims

The Heberden Coin Room is already an established partner in many national and international research projects. The DigiClass will transform future collaborations, making the Ashmolean an even more important partner for the global research community. The digitisation project is a lasting investment in the security of the collection. It will also facilitate all future audits. At the same time, the improved accessibility will democratise access for the general public as much as for individual researchers and students. The project aims to highlight unpublished and lesser-known types, and disseminate knowledge of the collection’s provenance.