Keith Rutter bequest of numismatics publications
On 18 July 2025, the British School at Athens received the personal library of the acclaimed numismatist Professor Keith Rutter, as a generous bequest to the BSA Library. This remarkable collection of books and pamphlets, covering Greek, Roman, and Byzantine numismatics, has found a permanent home at the BSA, accompanied by dedicated funding to ensure full and timely processing and cataloguing of these valuable materials.
With the support of the considerate donation, which covered also shipping and processing costs, the BSA’s Digital Humanities Assistant, Ian Knight, is currently working on the collection once a week, systematically cataloguing, stamping, and classifying each item to make it accessible to readers.
Among the works now being catalogued are several notable publications that were not previously held in the union catalog, including:
- Rowan, Clare. From Caesar to Augustus (c. 49 BC-AD 14): using coins as sources. Cambridge, 2019.
- Schultz, Sabine. Die Münzprägung von Magnesia am Mäander in der römischen Kaiserzeit. Berlin, 1975.
- Spring, John. Ancient coin auction catalogues, 1880-1980. London, 2009.
- Robertson, Anne S. An inventory of Romano-British coin hoards. London, 2000.
- Magalhaes, Marici M. Sylloge nummorum graecorum. Brasil I. Museu Histórico Nacional: Moedas gregas e provinciais romanas. Rio de Janeiro, 2011.
- Loÿe, Georges de.Monnaies en or de l’antiquité, byzantines et du haut Moyen Age. Avignon, 1987.
These additions represent significant gaps now filled in the BSA’s numismatic holdings. The cataloguing process is ongoing, and readers can expect many more important titles to appear in the system in the coming weeks as Ian continues his systematic work through this extensive collection.
The BSA extended sincere thanks to Dr Simon Glenn for his invaluable assistance throughout this process and offered warmest gratitude to Professor Rutter’s family for their generosity and support in facilitating this remarkable bequest.