Notae Numismaticae - Zapiski Numizmatyczne (11.2016)

DIANA BŁOŃSKA
Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie

DOI: 11.12797/Z P.

.2016.11.12

MATEUSZ WOŹNIAK
Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie
Numizmatyka w badaniach naukowych
i działalności Feliksa Kopery

ABSTRACT: Numismatics in the Research and Activity of Feliks Kopera
Feliks Kopera (1871-1952) is a very important figurę in the history of the National
Museum in Kraków, of which he was the director for nearly 50 years. He was
an eminent art and culture historian, one of the forerunners of modem museology,
a conservator, an educator, the author of numerous academic studies as well as
works for the generał public. The present article describes the role of numismatics
in his life and academic activity. His interest in this field of study can already be
seen in his early academic works, written during his university years, and in his
very active involvement with the numismatic circles in Kraków. For morę than
half a century, he was an active member of the Numismatic Society in Kraków,
and he served as an editor of the joumal Numismatic and Archaeological News,
published by the society in the years 1900-1908. Later on, he was not as active
in the field of numismatic studies, but nonetheless it would continue to be present
in his life. It was also thanks to his efforts that the National Museum in Kraków
acąuired the priceless collection of Emeryk Hutten-Czapski (1828-1896). In tum,
his collaboration with the Numismatic Society resulted in several initiatives,
of which the most spectacular was the Polish-Belgian project of mutually
organized exhibitions: of contemporary Polish medal-making in Belgium (1933),
followed by an exhibition of contemporary Belgian medal-makers in Kraków
(1935). Protecting the museum collections was the principal motive behind
Kopera’s actions in the face of the threats of the First and Second World Wars,
which in the case of the numismatic collection were regarded - at the very least -