The Numismatic Museum in Athens explores the history of exchange and coinage in Greece, from the 14th century BC to the present. Set in Iliou Melathron, a monumental residence once occupied by Heinrich Schliemann, it offers a museum visit focused on money, the people who collected it and the building itself.
- Location: El. Venizelou (Panepistimiou) 12, 10671 Athens.
- Collection: More than 500,000 objects, mainly coins.
- What else to see: Rooms devoted to the house and to collections given by important donors.
- Last entry: You may enter up to 20 minutes before closing.
What is the Numismatic Museum in Athens about?
The Numismatic Museum is a museum of money and exchange, housed in Iliou Melathron in central Athens. Founded in 1834, it presents Greek coinage and the history of the exchange economy across a span from the 14th century BC to the present day.
The museum’s collection occupied various locations before moving to Iliou Melathron in 1998, following the building’s restoration. That setting gives the visit another layer: the museum’s subject is money, while its home is a historic Athens residence associated with Heinrich Schliemann.
What can you see in the collection?
The collection comprises more than 500,000 objects, with coins at its centre. It also includes medals, lead seals, seal stones, weights, obols and talents, bringing together objects connected to currency and exchange across a long history.
Some displays connect the collection to the people and place behind it. In the dining room of Schliemann’s house, the museum presents collections belonging to its most important donors. Another room focuses on Iliou Melathron as a monumental residence in 19th-century Athens and on Heinrich Schliemann, its first resident.
How do you get to the museum?
The museum is at El. Venizelou (Panepistimiou) 12, 10671 Athens. Use this address to plan your route through central Athens.
The museum’s focus on coins and the history of money sets it apart from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, another museum to include in a city itinerary.
What are the opening times, ticket details and access arrangements?
You may enter the museum up to 20 minutes before closing time. Check the official site before you go for opening hours and ticket details. The museum café is in the garden of Iliou Melathron.
Opening hours
- Monday and Wednesday to Sunday: 8:30–15:30
- Tuesday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
How can you plan a museum day in central Athens?
Build your day around the Numismatic Museum’s particular subject: Greek coinage, exchange and the story of Iliou Melathron. Its collection spans from the 14th century BC to the present, while the rooms about the house and its donors add context to the objects.
If you want to visit more than one museum, the National Archaeological Museum is another stop for a day focused on Athens museums. A one-day walking route through Athens offers a broader city-day outline.
FAQs
Where is the Numismatic Museum in Athens?
It is in Iliou Melathron at El. Venizelou (Panepistimiou) 12, 10671 Athens.
What does the Numismatic Museum’s collection include?
It contains more than 500,000 objects, mainly coins, alongside medals, lead seals, seal stones, weights, obols and talents.
How late can you enter the museum?
You may enter up to 20 minutes before closing time. Check the museum’s official site for opening hours.
Is there a café at the Numismatic Museum?
Yes. The museum café is in the garden of Iliou Melathron.