Coin Donation Makes a Huge Impact

A simple request made last year has spurred a generous donation. University of Massachusetts Lowell History Asssistant Professor Jane Sancinito, Ph.D., gave a virtual talk at the American Numismatic Society last March. A specialist in ancient history and Roman social and economic history, Sancinito ended her talk with a plea to collectors who find fakes mixed in with legitimate coins purchased at auction: “Please remember your local universities. Many of us would love to have replicas that we could bring into classrooms and hand to students because replicas are usually the right weight, they’re the right size, and they have all the decoration of the originals.”

ANA member, Summer Seminar instructor, and generous donor David Menchell responded in a way that Sancinito couldn’t have expected. He sent her a reproduction set of Roman coins and offered to buy the university genuine coins of its choice. 

Menchell Coin Collection

According to the university, the Dr. David Menchell Coin Collection, now in the special collections section of O’Leary Library, includes 3rd century B.C. to 3rd century A.D. bronze and silver Roman specimens. This 38-piece assemblage features examples from multiple well-known Roman emperors and six Roman denarii from the Little Busby Hoard. One example is of Greek origin. Menchell plans to donate more pieces to the collection in November. “I’m glad to help in any way that excites her students and propels them forward scholastically,” says Menchell, who had no previous connection to the university. “I think you’re going to remember Nero a lot better when you’ve seen him up close and personal.” 

Sancinito is understandably impressed with the pieces and how they help instruct students about archaeology, economics, and savings patterns more effectively. She’s already created a guide for her fellow educators on how to teach using coins. Additionally, history department is planning a public event to introduce the coin collection and Menchell to the university later this year. “I would love to just get people handling them because coins are incredibly resilient, unlike so many of the things we have from the ancient world,” she says. “Nothing worse is going to happen to them than spending 2,000 years in the dirt.”