MMN Training
Practical approaches to conserving, interpreting, and exhibiting coins (18 June 2026)
How do we care for, display, and interpret coins in ways that make them both accessible and engaging? This Training Day focuses on the practical side of working with numismatic collections, offering hands-on experience alongside insights from curators and specialists.
Join colleagues from across the sector for a day of workshops, demonstrations, and behind-the-scenes perspectives. From conservation techniques and exhibition design to object handling and photography, the sessions are designed to give you skills and ideas you can apply directly in your own work. Whether you are new to working with coins or looking to expand your practice, this event offers valuable opportunities to learn, experiment, and share experiences.
We have a small number of bursaries available to support reasonable travel costs within the UK to enable museum/heritage staff, museum/heritage volunteers, or education staff to attend.
Programme
Thursday 18 June, University of Leeds
10.30–10.45– Arrival and coffee (Shepherd Room)
10.45–11.00– Welcome and introduction
11.00–12.00 – Practical conservation workshop
This hands-on session introduces methods for safely housing and displaying coins. Participants will be split into two groups to rotate between activities:
- Creating a protective sink mount for damaged or vulnerable coins (Ellen)
- Shaping vivak to form custom exhibition enclosures (Rosie)
12.00–12.30 – Exhibiting money
- Money Talks: a behind-the-scenes talk on a 2022 exhibition (Kat Baxter, Leeds Museums)
- Who am I to you?: introduction to the coin display in the Treasures Gallery (Lucy Moore)
12.30–13.15– Lunch (Shepherd Room)
Afternoon sessions (Research Centre, Brotherton Library)
13.15–14.15 – Coin handling and identification session(Lucy Moore & Campbell Orchard)
14.15–14.45 – Coin photography workshop
Practical tips for capturing well-balanced images of coins of different sizes using a simple axial lighting setup, along with discussion of common challenges (Eddie)
14.45–15.45 – Pinning workshop(TBC)
15.45–16.30 – Wrap-up and informal discussion
16.30– Close
Refreshments and drinks will be provided, only limited spaces are available.