HOWARD BERLIN VISITS BERLIN, STUTTGART, AND TÜBINGEN

In Berlin I was staying at the new Waldorf Astoria for three days, using some of my Hilton Hhonors points. Hardly a moment went by when I wasn’t asked by the hotel if everything was all right (essentially it was), and did I need anything (I didn’t). One of the calls was from the head concierge. After talking and telling him what I do, he mentioned that there is a new book in the hotel’s library which also includes a bar and lounge (don’t all hotels have a library?). He said the book was about $100 bills.

Curious, I went up two floors to the lounge and asked to see it. The lady had already been contacted by the concierge of my coming. This particular book (1,667 pages, printed in 2013) is titled, “One Million Dollar Book A Photographic Document,” and “powered” (whatever that means) by Sascha Hundorff. Besides the 10,000 images of the face of the notes, it also lists the 10,000 serial numbers. There were 100 numbered and signed books. Perhaps I have missed something but I don’t understand the utility of such a book. Apparently this person has too much time on her hands.

I then flew to Stuttgart, where I was last August. After settling in, I then made a day trip to the old university town of Tübingen. My purpose there was to see the numismatic exhibit of classical coins from the University’s Institute of Classical Archaeology. It was located in the Höhentübingen Castle, whose history goes back to 1078. I met with the museum’s numismatic curator, Dr. Stefan Krmnicek, after looking over the exhibits of approximately 1,000 coins and medals on display out of a collection of just more than 20,000. Not only are the coins on display to the general public, they are also a subject of research by students and faculty. There is “Schatz des Monats” (Treasure of the Month) whereby every month the museum highlights a piece from the permanent collection and clarifies its significance for culture.

Stefan told me the University has a large Islamic coin collection, but in another building about a 20 minute walk away. I went there to inquire about the collection, but I was told its curator was not in and that none of the collection is on public display. So much for that Idea.

Back in Stuttgart, the next day I visited the coin collection of the Landesmuseum Württemberg (Württemberg State Museum), which is also in an old castle (Alter Schloss) on Schillerplatz. Although I have been to Stuttgart several times, I only found out about the museum’s collection from Ursula Kampmann, CoinsWeekly’s top banana. Dr. Krmnicek was kind enough to provide me with the numismatic curator contact (Dr. Mattias Ohm) at the Stuttgart museum.

Among the numismatic items that were integrated among the other historical artifacts, was a display of 625 ancient Roman copper/bronze, silver, and gold coins. However the display lost its impact, especially to visitors not familiar with coins, as none of the coins were specifically identified by emperor or date.

Photo 1. A view of one of the 1,667 pages of “One Million Dollar Book A Photographic Document” available for “reading” in the library lounge of the Waldorf Astoria Berlin hotel.

Photo 2. The front entrance to the Höhentübingen Castle. A numismatic conference was held there in August 2013.

Photo 3. A display of coins (left) and medals (right) of Württemberg in the Höhentübingen Castle.

Photo 4. A gallery view of the exhibits in Höhentübingen Castle where about 1,000 coins and medals are on display.

Photo 5. Stuttgart’s Landesmuseum Württemberg, an archaeological history museum as seen from Schillerplatz.

Photo 6. A display of 625 ancient Roman copper/bronze, silver, and gold coins in the Landesmuseum Württemberg but without any information about each coin.

Photo 7. A hoard from Tamm (a city about 17 km north of Stuttgart) consisting of 813 silver coins buried in a copper urn in 1634 in the Landesmuseum Württemberg.

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