The numismatic collections of the Friedenstein Castle in Gotha form a unique, historically grown collection context consisting of original historical coin cabinets, coin collections, numismatic literature, and handwritten documents.

This context is hardly recognizable today as the various collection holdings have been distributed throughout the archives, library, and museum during its history. The historical coin cabinet and the historical numismatic literature are now found in the Gotha Research Library of University of Erfurt, the coin collection belongs to the Friedenstein Castle Foundation in Gotha, and the handwritten documents are preserved in the Thuringian State Archive – Gotha State Archive.

Today, both the coin collection and the numismatic library comprising manuscripts and printed works are among the largest collections of their kind in Germany. The Gotha Research Library and the Friedenstein Castle Foundation in Gotha are continuously expanding these collections and making them digitally accessible and usable. The Gotha Research Center of the University of Erfurt promotes research on numismatics in historical contexts and its significance in the history of knowledge.

Part of these activities is the storytelling web app “Rich History. The Gotha Coin Cabinet”. Starting with a 360° panorama, you can explore the historical coin cabinet online. Immerse yourself in the varied history of the coin cabinet, its coins, medals, and curators. Learn more about historical coin knowledge and modern methods of coin cataloging and digitization.