Welcome toThe Rothschild Archive'swebsite

Sources for business history: plans of New Court

Sources for art history: Catalogue of the pictures of Alfred de Rothschild 1901

Sources for yachting history: Plans for Nathaniel von Rothschild's yacht Veglia 1905

Sources for natural history: Walter 2nd Lord Rothschild and his zebra carriage: c.1910

Sources for global financial history: Map of lines of the Brazil Railway Company: c.1920

Sources for business history: index cards to bank files

Sources for social history: Rothschild Hospital Paris: 1920s

Sources for business history: detail of a Rothschild bond coupon

Sources for architectural history: Halton House: 1890s

Sources for the history of travel: Lionel de Rothschild's tours of Spain: 1909

Sources for local history: Tring Park: c.1900

Sources for Royal history: shooting party with Edward Prince of Wales: 1893

Sources for political history: Lionel de Rothschild: first Jewish MP: 1858

Sources for sporting history: St Amant winner of the Derby: 1904

Sources for local history: gardeners at Aston Clinton: 1899

Sources for Rothschild family history: Lionel de Rothschild's yacht Rhodora: 1927

Sources for London history: entrance to New Court: 1965

Sources for design history: plans for Lionel de Rothschild's Rolls-Royce: 1930

Sources for business history: Rothschild gold bars produced by the Royal Mint Refinery: 1930s

Sources for business history: letters of August Belmont Rothschild Agent in New York: 1860s

Coins

Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812) had been fascinated by coins since early childhood. In 1757 he was sent to the Oppenheim bank in Hanover and there he was able to extend his knowledge of rare and antique coins and historic medals in the bank's rare coin department.

Collectors came to the bank, often to purchase as an investment Roman, Persian and Byzantine or more modern coins and medals which were popular at the time. Mayer Amschel read what he could on the subject, and acquired the first numismatic catalogue of its kind to be published. He also met a Hanoverian nobleman, General von Estorff, a collector himself who gave Mayer Amschel commissions to track down and purchase certain coins for him. This interest in numismatics and his involvement with von Estorff finally led him to do business with Wilhelm the Crown Prince and future Landgrave of Hesse.

Other members of the family also collected coins, including Baron Edmond (1845-1934), Mayer Amschel's grandson who built up an impressive collection of Islamic, Greek, Roman and Gaulish coins, and in England, Leopold de Rothschild (1845-1917) was a discerning collector. 

Roman coins from the collection of Baron Edmond de Rothschild.

Roman coins from the collection of Baron Edmond de Rothschild.