author
Barclay V. (Barclay Vincent) Head
1844–1914
Best known for bringing order and depth to the study of ancient coins, this British scholar helped shape modern numismatics through landmark reference works and decades at the British Museum. His writing remains especially important for readers interested in Greek coinage and the history behind it.
1 Audiobook
English Coins and Tokens, with a Chapter on Greek and Roman Coins
by Llewellynn Frederick William Jewitt, Barclay V. (Barclay Vincent) Head
About the author
Born in Ipswich in 1844, Barclay Vincent Head became one of Britain’s leading numismatists. He joined the British Museum’s Department of Coins and Medals in 1864 and spent much of his career there, eventually serving as Keeper from 1893 to 1906.
Head is most closely associated with the study of ancient Greek coinage. He wrote and edited major catalogues and reference works, including Historia Numorum, a book that became a standard resource for the classification and interpretation of Greek coins.
Alongside his museum work, he was active for many years in the Royal Numismatic Society and helped shape scholarly publishing in the field. He died in 1914, but his careful research and clear organization gave later historians and collectors a foundation they still rely on.