BnF Museum, Numismatic museum at Site Richelieu-Louvois, Paris, France
The Cabinet des Médailles is a numismatic collection within the French National Library, holding over 500,000 objects from different eras and cultures. The display includes ancient coins, medals, and archaeological finds arranged in exhibition rooms.
The collection began in 1560 from royal holdings, documenting an early French passion for coin collecting. It moved to the former Cardinal Mazarin's palace in 1721, where it remains today.
The collection displays coins and medals from different cultures and times, showing how people conducted trade and honored their rulers. You can see how the images on coins changed over centuries and which symbols mattered to different societies.
Allow time to explore the rooms, as the collection is large with many details to examine. The museum spaces are open on regular days, and signs guide you through the galleries.
Works in the main gallery rotate every four months for conservation, meaning you see different pieces on each visit. This rotation system protects valuable objects from light exposure and wear.
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