Accession policy for the coin collection
Uppsala University's coin cabinet's collections contain coins, means of payment and other objects related to payment systems throughout history, as well as medals and similar art objects. The collections today comprise roughly 40,000 objects. Particularly important can be mentioned the collections of older Swedish coins and medals, as well as collections of Viking Age, early medieval European and Islamic coins. There is also a significant collection of ancient Greek and Roman coins.
The activity is focused on supporting research and education at Uppsala University. UUM therefore primarily acquires objects that can be useful within the framework of this activity.
Acquisition Policy
The following criteria apply to acquisitions, which refer to purchases as well as gifts and donations.
1) Purchase proposals from the departments at Uppsala University. Institutions and researchers are encouraged to submit purchase proposals that relate to their teaching and research. Objects that are missing from Uppsala University's coin cabinet's collection and are judged to be of great value in the university's teaching and research activities are prioritized for purchase.
2) Objects that relate to Uppsala University or of other university historical interest.
3) Objects with particularly interesting provenances, for example medals that have been received by Uppsala University employees, or objects that are in significantly better condition than existing specimens in UUM's collections.
4) Other objects of numismatic-historical interest (for example ration cards, credit card etc.)
Gifts and donations
Unreserved donations to Uppsala University's coin cabinet can be accepted if they fall within the scope of the acquisition criteria set out above. Gifts and donations can only be received without reservation, for example regarding the placement or exhibition of objects.
Uppsala University's coin cabinet does not accept deposits.
Other reservations
When purchasing, the seller must comply with the Code of ethics developed by the International Association of Professional Numismatists. This means, among other things, that the seller must be able to guarantee the object's authenticity in a scientifically reliable way.
The object's provenance must also be known.
Institutions or departments within the university that acquire coins or medals themselves, either through purchases or gifts, are themselves responsible for the registration, security and care of these items. Only acquisitions that take place in consultation with UUM/Gustavianum fall within UUM's area of responsibility.
Decisions about collection and purchases rest with UUM/Gustavianum.