Butler Medal

Butler Medal. The Butler Medal is an award presented by the Society of Antiquaries of London, an organization founded in 1718 with the goal of promoting the study of British history, archaeology, and antiquities. This prestigious award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of numismatics, particularly in the study of coins and medals from the British Isles, such as those found in the Tower of London or the British Museum. The Butler Medal is considered one of the highest honors in the field, alongside the Copley Medal awarded by the Royal Society and the Nobel Prize in Physics.

● Introduction

The Butler Medal is named after Harold Butler, a renowned numismatist and collector who was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a member of the Royal Numismatic Society. The medal is awarded annually to recognize outstanding research and scholarship in the field of numismatics, with a focus on the study of coins and medals from the Roman Empire, such as those found in the Vatican Museums or the Louvre. The award is presented at the Society of Antiquaries of London's annual meeting, which is attended by prominent scholars and researchers from institutions such as Oxford University, Cambridge University, and the University of London. The Butler Medal is also recognized by other prestigious organizations, including the American Numismatic Society and the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association.

● History

The Butler Medal was first awarded in 1957 to Christopher Blunt, a prominent numismatist and historian who was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a member of the Royal Historical Society. Since then, the medal has been awarded to numerous distinguished scholars, including David R. Sear, a renowned numismatist and author who has written extensively on the subject of ancient coins, and Philip Grierson, a prominent numismatist and historian who was a fellow of the British Academy and a member of the Royal Numismatic Society. The Butler Medal has also been awarded to scholars from institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Chicago, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The award is considered a highlight of the Society of Antiquaries of London's annual meeting, which is also attended by representatives from the British Museum, the National Museum of Wales, and the National Gallery of Art.

● Criteria

The Butler Medal is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of numismatics, particularly in the study of coins and medals from the British Isles, such as those found in the National Museum of Scotland or the Ulster Museum. The award is given to scholars who have demonstrated excellence in research, scholarship, and publication, with a focus on the study of numismatics and its related fields, such as archaeology, history, and art history. The selection committee for the Butler Medal includes prominent scholars and researchers from institutions such as Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas at Austin. The committee considers nominations from a wide range of sources, including the Royal Numismatic Society, the American Numismatic Society, and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

● Recipients

The Butler Medal has been awarded to numerous distinguished scholars, including John Casey, a prominent numismatist and historian who was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a member of the Royal Historical Society, and Roger Bland, a renowned numismatist and archaeologist who is a fellow of the British Academy and a member of the Royal Numismatic Society. Other notable recipients of the Butler Medal include Martin Price, a prominent numismatist and historian who was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a member of the Royal Historical Society, and Andrew Burnett, a renowned numismatist and historian who is a fellow of the British Academy and a member of the Royal Numismatic Society. The award has also been given to scholars from institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Edinburgh.

● Notable Winners

Some notable winners of the Butler Medal include Derek Allen, a prominent numismatist and historian who was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a member of the Royal Historical Society, and Michael Crawford, a renowned numismatist and historian who is a fellow of the British Academy and a member of the Royal Numismatic Society. Other notable winners of the Butler Medal include Catherine Johns, a prominent numismatist and archaeologist who is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a member of the Royal Historical Society, and Richard Abdy, a renowned numismatist and historian who is a fellow of the British Academy and a member of the Royal Numismatic Society. The award has also been given to scholars who have made significant contributions to the study of coins and medals from other regions, such as the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and the Ottoman Empire, and who have worked with institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Getty Museum. Category:Numismatic awards