Numismatische Kommission der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

The Numismatische Kommission der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Numismatic Commission of the Federal States in the Federal Republic of Germany, often abbreviated NK) is a scientific organisation of the German federal states. Founded in 1950 on the initiative of the Hamburg cultural authority, it was modelled on the Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder) and on the historical commissions that had emerged since the 19th century as early organs of scientific self-administration. Its original purpose was to coordinate the reconstruction of West German coin collections and research institutions that had been largely inaccessible or closed after the war, and to re-establish international contacts. The Commission is a federal body: its members and contributors are the federal states, represented by selected experts nominated by the science ministries. Since 2014, selected representatives of individual numismatic subfields have also been paying members. The NK has no full-time staff; coordination and advice are provided by its members. Its statutory tasks include the promotion of young scholars, for example support for the printing of academic theses such as master's dissertations and doctoral dissertations, and the recording of coin finds. A major project is the Münzfundkatalog Mittelalter/Neuzeit (Coin Find Catalogue Middle Ages/Modern Era), which currently records over 20,000 finds. Two foundations are affiliated with the Commission: the Stiftung zur Förderung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses, which awards the Walter-Hävernick-Preis for numismatics for outstanding academic theses, and the Gitta-Kastner-Forschungsstiftung, dedicated to research on the newer German art medal after 1871, including artists' biographies. The NK is distinct from collector-oriented associations such as the Deutsche Numismatische Gesellschaft (DNG) or the Gesellschaft für Internationale Geldgeschichte (GIG), and from the Verband der Deutschen Münzenhändler e.V., the national coin dealers' association. It cooperates with international bodies such as the International Numismatic Council (INC) and ICOMON, the International Committee of Money and Banking Museums. The Commission's chairs have included Walter Hävernick (1950–1974), Gert Hatz (until 1993), Bernd Kluge (1993–1999), Reiner Cunz (1999–2011), Dietrich Klose (2011–2021) and, since 2021, Bernhard Weisser. The second chair was Sebastian Steinbach (2021–2022), Ralf Wiechmann (2022–2024) and, since 2024, Claudia Klages. After 1990, the proportion of members who are professional numismatists declined in favour of representatives from archaeological heritage management. The NK reflects Germany's characteristic cultural federalism and the cultural sovereignty of the Länder.

The Numismatische Kommission der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland was founded in 1950 on the initiative of the Hamburg cultural authority. It was modelled on the Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder) and on the historical commissions that had emerged since the 19th century as early organs of scientific self-administration. The cross-state body was initially intended to initiate the reconstruction of West German coin collections and research institutions, which after the end of the war were still largely inaccessible or closed. Its long-term goal was coordination on fundamental questions such as the recording of coin finds and the gradually resumed contacts with foreign countries. The early years were shaped by the scientific-organisational ideas of the Hamburg professor and museum director Walter Hävernick, who chaired the Commission from 1950 to 1974. His student Gert Hatz continued to lead the Commission in Hävernick's spirit until 1993, when the chair passed to Bernd Kluge in Berlin (1993–1999). The integration of the new federal states after reunification was one of the concerns of Niklot Klüßendorf (Marburg) as Second Chairman. From 1999 to 2011 Reiner Cunz was chairman, from 2011 to 2021 Dietrich Klose, and since 2021 Bernhard Weisser has been chairman. The Second Chairman was Sebastian Steinbach from 2021 to 2022, Ralf Wiechmann from 2022 to 2024; since 2024 Claudia Klages has been Second Chairwoman. After 1990, the proportion of Commission members who could be classified as numismatists by training and official duties declined in favour of representatives from archaeological heritage management. The NK is a "Staatskommission", recently in the form of a legally capable registered association. Its members and contributors are the federal states, whose votes are cast by selected expert representatives. Since 2014, selected representatives of individual numismatic subfields have also been paying members. The science ministers nominate experts as their representatives. The appointment of state representatives varies according to the possibilities and priorities of the states (e.g. directors of coin cabinets, experts from state museums, state archaeologists). For the numismatic state offices, Peter Berghaus coined the term "Landesnumismatiker" (state numismatist) in analogy to state archaeologists, although this can raise false expectations because of the differing infrastructure and staffing. The NK has a pronounced federal basic structure. Besides the four large, better-staffed coin cabinets (Münzkabinett der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin, Münzkabinett der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Geldmuseum der Deutschen Bundesbank in Frankfurt/Main and Staatliche Münzsammlung München), in many states of the Federal Republic a single person represents the whole of numismatics, usually as their main occupation but sometimes as a secondary one. The traditional German regionality of money in the Middle Ages and modern era favoured emphases in regional history, at least for the post-antique periods. The NK thus reflects the cultural federalism characteristic of Germany and the cultural sovereignty of the Länder. Cross-cutting themes and tasks outside the state representations are represented by experts elected by the plenary. In setting priorities, fundamental themes and the role of numismatics as an interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary bridging discipline (Niklot Klüßendorf) are taken into account. The mere multidisciplinary coexistence is to be overcome and replaced by scientific integration. The embedding of numismatic work areas in larger multi-department museums, universities or research institutions has a fertilising effect. The numismatic societies and the coin dealers' association are represented in the NK as further interest groups with an advisory seat. The Numismatische Kommission der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland as a scientific institution differs conceptually from the Deutsche Numismatische Gesellschaft (DNG, association of German coin clubs) or the Gesellschaft für Internationale Geldgeschichte (GIG), which primarily represent the interests of collectors. The same applies to the Verband der Deutschen Münzenhändler e.V., the national coin dealers' association. Related scientific organisations or institutions are the International Numismatic Council (INC), the International Committee of Money and Banking Museums (ICOMON) as the international umbrella organisation of money and bank museums within the International Council of Museums ICOM, or the differently structured Numismatische Kommission of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The NK has no full-time staff. Coordination and advice are provided by the members. Research projects are undertaken by the Commission in precisely defined cases, usually in close cooperation with institutions of the Länder, sometimes also those of municipalities, universities and academies, which also publish the results on their own responsibility. Besides the coordinating function, which has earned the Commission the role of an interest representation of scientific numismatics, its central statutory tasks include the promotion of young scholars (e.g. support for the printing of academic theses such as master's dissertations and doctoral dissertations).

• 2024

  Claudia Klages becomes Second Chairwoman.

• 2022

  Ralf Wiechmann becomes Second Chairman (2022–2024).

• 2021

  Bernhard Weisser becomes chairman; Sebastian Steinbach becomes Second Chairman (2021–2022).

• 2014

  Selected representatives of individual numismatic subfields become paying members.

• 2011

  Dietrich Klose becomes chairman (2011–2021).

• 1999

  Reiner Cunz becomes chairman (1999–2011).

• 1993

  Gert Hatz hands over the chair to Bernd Kluge in Berlin (1993–1999).

• 1974

  End of Walter Hävernick's chairmanship (1950–1974).

• 1950

  Founded on the initiative of the Hamburg cultural authority, modelled on the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder.

A scientific organisation of the German federal states for the promotion and study of coin and monetary history and medal research, distinct from collector and dealer associations.

• Münzfundkatalog Mittelalter/Neuzeit

  A major project recording coin finds, with over 20,000 finds currently recorded.

• Walter-Hävernick-Preis für Numismatik

  Awarded by the Stiftung zur Förderung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses for outstanding academic theses in numismatics.

• Gitta-Kastner-Forschungsstiftung

  Dedicated to research on the newer German art medal after 1871, including artists' biographies.

1. 1Startseitenumismatische-kommission.de
2. 2Numismatische Kommission der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschlandwikidata.org
3. 3Numismatische Kommission der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschlandde.wikipedia.org