The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 48, November 26, 2006, Article 15

BERLIN DISAPPOINTED IN ATTEMPT TO VISIT ITALIAN NUMISMATIC MUSEUMS

Dr. Howard Berlin writes: "I just returned from my trip to Rome and
the Vatican.  I'm sorry to say that, from a numismatic view, it was
a bust. I had planned to visit the Vatican?s Coin and Stamp Museum
and the Numismatic Museum of the Italian Mint. I had received a
letter from the Papal Nuncio (Ambassador) to the United States
giving me the name of the director of the Vatican?s museums. I had
e-mailed him, and he had returned with a message saying that the
museum was closed at this time.

I was at the Vatican twice, roaming around in St. Peter?s Basilica
? a fantastic building no matter what your religion is. Once outside
I tried to get to see the building, which is in part of the Vatican?s
railway station (so I?m told), but I was told by police in their
limited English and my limited Italian that either (1) I was not
allowed in that area (behind St. Peter?s Basilica), or (2) I since
I was currently at the ?Southern? entrance to the Vatican, I had
to go to the entrance for the Vatican museum ? and join the mile-long
line that extended around the block for a building that was closed.

The Numismatic Museum of the Italian Mint was a slightly different
story. A web site gives the address as Via 20 September 97 which is
a few blocks from Republic Square and its metro station. The building
(i.e., 97) is the Banca d?Italia. I asked the guard at the bank about
the museum and he said that there was none. Since my simple Italian
is confined to ordering in restaurants, getting metro tickets, and
getting my face slapped, there was a person there who spoke English
well enough to ask the security personnel again if there was a
numismatic museum. However the answer was the same? No.  Is there
is an E-Sylum reader familiar with either of these two museums?

My bags are being packed again as I?m off to Berlin this week to
revisit the German Historical Museum and Bodesmuseum after their
multi-year renovations. Ciao and wiederhoeren."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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