Fig. 25. — Coin Cabinet of the time of Louis XV, preserved at the Cabinet des Medailles, 

 Paris (photo courtesy BibUotheque Nationaie). 



the collections in a courteous manner, without asking 

 for any remunerations, to all strangers who can view 

 them profitably; he should also entertain them with 

 helpful lectures and bring forward everything which 

 he knows is in Our intention and what he might 

 consider of interest to the public." '* 



It is interesting to note that already at this time 

 Germans were anxious to give general directives to 

 collectors. In 1762 Johann David Kohler published, 

 for travelers and scientists, instructions on profitaljly 

 viewing coin cabinets, galleries, etc.: Amveisung Jiir 

 Reisende . . . Mmz-Cabinette . . . mit Xulzen zu besehen 

 (1762). Neickel in his handbook on museums also 



»* Pick, "Die Miinzkabinctte' 

 nerzoglichf .\funzkahim-ll (1933) 



(1920); sec also his Das 



tried to define a triple scope in coin collecting. He 

 advLsed collectors to gather only "genuine originals," 

 avoiding copies, to select specimens of perfect striking, 

 and, as the ultimate goal, to a.sseml)le coins and medals 

 in such a manner that they could tell a story."' 



Across the Channel, the first catalog of the British 

 Museum's collection was published by an Italian, 

 Nicola Francesco Haym, under the title Del tesoro 

 britannico (1719-1720). This two-volume work 

 appeared at the same time in Latin and English, as 

 well as Italian. 



A few decades later the British cabinet was enlarged 

 considerably by the addition of the collection of Sir 

 Hans Sloane, an Irish physician to Queen Anne and 

 King George I. The collection of over 32,000 pieces 



»* Nfk:ki:i.io, M useographia, p. 3. ^ 



32 



BULLETIN 229: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISIORY .A.ND TECHNOLOGY 



