The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 49, December 3, 2006, Article 11

YES, HOWARD, THERE IS A NUMISMATIC MUSEUM OF THE ITALIAN MINT

Responding to Howard Berlin's account of his unfortunate experience
in attempting to visit the Italian Mint's museum, Richard Margolis
writes: "Some 5-1/2 years ago, on June 11, 2001, to be specific,  my
wife and  I, having attended the IAPN Congress in Rome, and having
obtained details of the opening hours (9am-11am) beforehand, from the
Internet, went to  via XX Septembre 97, where, in an office of the
Ministry of the Treasury,  after showing our passports we were able
to purchase tickets admitting us to the Numismatic Museum.

It is my vague recollection that the museum had to be opened for us,
and I definitely recall that we were the only visitors in the museum.
It is a major museum, however, with thousands of Italian and other
European coins displayed in vitrines, as well as hundreds of
Benedetto Pistrucci's beautiful wax models also on view.

A flyer that I picked up that day gives an overview of the collection,
which it states consists of over 20,000 pieces, including 10,000 coins
from the middle ages to the present,  some 6,600 medals, and 404 of
Pistrucci's waxes. (Incidentally there isa handsome two-volume boxed
set, rather scarce,  describing and illustrating all of these Pistrucci
works).

A few days later, however, in Firenze, we had a more Berlin-like
experience. Having acquired all of the specific details beforehand
as to hours and days of opening, we took a long,  expensive taxi ride
to the suburbs in order to visit the Museo Ricardo Ginori of the Doccia
Porcelain Factory. (I collect 18th century ceramic portrait medallions
from as many different European factories as I can, and knew that
Doccia had made some, although I don't have any in my collection).

When we arrived and got out of the taxi we found that the entire factory
was locked up tighter than a drum. Fortunately the taxi hadn't left, so
we were able to take another long ride back to town. A nasty letter which
I subsequently sent to Doccia detailing our experience of course received
no reply."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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