News from the Vienna Numismatic Summer School
There are now many academic institutions that offer students an introduction to the field of numismatics through summer schools. The classics are the American Numismatic Society and the Vienna Institute for Numismatics and Monetary History. But other institutions have also embraced this format. Spring, summer, or fall schools are now organized by Koç University in Antalya, the University of Sofia, Martin Luther University in Halle, and the Institute for Classical Archaeology in Münster, to name just a few that come to mind.
Who are these academic summer schools intended for?
Unlike, for example, the American Numismatic Association’s annual Summer Seminar, these short but intensive courses are aimed exclusively at students who, while not majoring in numismatics, may need to draw on numismatics for their fields of research. Historians, art historians, archaeologists, and museum studies students often have their first encounter with numismatics here and learn the basics.
No prior knowledge of numismatics is required. On the contrary: any student from any discipline in the humanities can apply to become a participant in the summer school. After all, it is the goal of many numismatic institutes to show other disciplines how enriching knowledge of numismatics can be.
Vienna as a Numismatic Hub
Vienna is a hub for scholarly numismatics that is unique in Europe. It is home to the world’s only institute where numismatics is not taught as part of another discipline, but where students can pursue a degree in “Numismatics and Monetary History.” In addition, Vienna boasts a unique collection in the Coin Cabinet of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which plays a central role in research. Other coin collections, such as those of the Austrian National Bank and the many surrounding monasteries, are numismatic highlights, as is the Austrian Coin Mint, which operates its production facility right in the heart of downtown Vienna.
For this event, the Institute for Numismatics and Monetary History is also collaborating with the Numismatics Section of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Austrian Numismatic Institute.
New Language Policy
Until now, the Institute for Numismatics and Monetary History has conducted the Numismatic Summer School in English. Its 13th emission will be held exclusively in English for the first time. This change is not solely due to the visiting scholar. With this language change, the Institute for Numismatics and Monetary History is also responding to the new flexibility of students who wish to study in various countries during their academic careers.
Unfortunately, it is not the norm today for students to learn a new language when changing universities. Instead, students rely on courses being conducted in the academic lingua franca, English, in every country. So, anyone wishing to attract an international audience must adapt accordingly.
Kevin Butcher as Visiting Scholar
In 2026, the Vienna Summer School will be quite dedicated to ancient numismatics. “What’s in a Coin?” The Many Faces of Coins as Historical Documents is the theme for 2026. Students will have the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s leading numismatists. The entire team at the Institute for Numismatics and Monetary History, led by Bernhard Woytek, is involved in the preparations.
Kevin Butcher from the University of Warwick (UK), where numismatics is also a major focus, has been appointed as Visiting Scholar.
Scholarships Thanks to Support from the Coin Trade
The Numismatic Summer School in Vienna is free of charge. In addition, travel and living expenses are subsidized with up to 700 euros. This is possible because the coin trade also regularly supports the summer schools. Once again this year, the Künker and Schoeller Institute for Numismatics and Monetary History is among its sponsors.
You can find more information about the summer seminar and past events via this link.
Text by Ursula Kampmann
