Athens Numismatic Museum

Location: Panepistimiou Ave
Don't miss: Museums guide (free admission dates and other useful info)

The Numismatic Museum of Athens was founded in 1829 and is one of the oldest Greek museums. It is quite unique for its kind, with a collection of more than 60,000 rare coins, dating from the period of Greek antiquity, the Roman and Byzantine eras, the Middle Ages of Western Europe and Modern times.

The Numismatic Museum is housed in a 19th-century Neoclassical building called Iliou Melathron (which means the Palace of Ilion), designed by the famous German architect Ernst Ziller. This building used to be the home of the renowned archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, who discovered the ancient city of Troy and proved that the poems of Homer are true. The permanent exhibition of the museum is displayed on the first floor of the building while the second floor hosts additional exhibitions.

Furthermore, the museum provides some other facilities, including a conservation laboratory, an extensive library of about 12,000 volumes, a hall for temporary exhibitions and a gift shop. As a special department of the Ministry of Culture, the museum is also involved in the publication of books and papers as well as in the organization of scientific conferences.

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Collection

The Numismatic Museum of Greece boasts around 500,000 (!) items, including coins, obols, seals and medals, among others.

The main departments of the museum are:
• The Department of Ancient Coins (6th century BC-5th century AD), presenting ancient coins of city-states, rulers and kings of Ancient Greece and the Hellenistic era and the Roman Republic, its emperors and provinces
The Department of Byzantine and Medieval Coins and Stamps (6th century AD-15th century AD), with coins depicting emperors and mints, states, rulers, and issues of the Western states that were founded from the 13th century AD onwards
The Department of Modern Coins and Medals (15th century AD-20th century AD), exhibiting coins from several countries, especially those that were used in Greece during these centuries (Ottoman coins, banknotes of the newly-formed Greek State, and coins of other European states and kingdoms/empires
The Department of Weights and Minor Art

The Numismatic Museum is open Thursday to Monday. On Thursdays, it is open from 08:30 to 19:00, while on the rest of the working days from 08:30 to 15:30.

Official website: www.nummus.gr

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Numismatic Museum from any location in Athens.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: (0030) 18288, (0030) 18222, (0030) 18180. You can also book your taxi online.

On foot: As the Numismatic Museum is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Syntagma Square in less than 5 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro station is Panepistimio (Red Line). Note that the Numismatic Museum is located within a 5-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is “Nomismatiko Mouseio”. Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.

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