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This museum has some very rare collections of coins that have
their origins dating from the treasuries of past French Kings, plus there are rare
antiques that even go back to the Middle Ages.
Although numerous exhibits were originally personally owned by the Kings of France, they
eventually became National property and this was when other collectors decided to bequest
their own collections, so they would be accessible to scholars.
The Cabinet des Médailles is considered to be one of the oldest museums in France and is situated in the 2nd arrondissement
of Paris and being small you can quite comfortably
see the collection of antiquities within only an hour or two, but is worth the visit for
the exquisite selection on display.
Within the collection, not only will you be able to view lots of coins such as one of the
largest and heaviest gold coins in the world, along with medals, but also jewellery,
plates, vases, sculptures and more, that have been found from archaeological digs.
In fact, there is a significant display called The Treasure of Gourdon which was found in
1845 near Gourdon in the Saône-et-Loire area of France. This treasure has been
dated back to the 6th century and includes a chalice and around 100 gold coins that are
dated from the reigns of the Byzantine emperors.
There is also a documentation centre on the site and the Cabinet des Médailles also has a
bookshop and gift shop.
The museum is only open in the afternoons from 1pm through to 5pm but this is every day of
the week except on national holidays and days such as Remembrance Day and Bastille Day,
yet you will also be pleased to know that like with lots of museums in Paris, you are allowed to use a camera.
Address & Contact Details:
Cabinet des Médailles et Antiquités
Bibliothèque Nationale de France
58 Rue de Richelieu
75002
Paris
France
Telephone: 1 47 03 83 30
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