Archives
Archives. Place of preservation of important items; often numismatic specimens are prominent archive material because of their permanence, their dating events and people, their iconography, their general commemorative and historical value. Mints and medal makers customarily form archives of specimens they have struck in the past. This is most used by the sales staff to show prospective customers what has been made in the past and what could be made in the future.
excerpted with permission from
An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology
For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators
COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON
Roger W. Burdette, Editor