Marion MacCallum Archibald

Marion Archibald (1935–2016) began her numismatic career at the Birmingham City Museum in 1958 before joining the British Museum's Department of Coins and Medals in 1963, where she served as Assistant Keeper from 1965 until her retirement in 1997. Her work focused on Anglo-Saxon coinage, monetary systems, and coin-related artifacts such as dies, weights, and jewelry. She pioneered the integration of numismatics with archaeology and history, advancing systematic recording of finds and coin circulation analysis to aid archaeological dating.

A prominent figure in numismatics, Archibald contributed extensively through her writings, lectures, and leadership roles. She served as president of the British Association of Numismatic Societies (1986–1991) and held honorary fellowships with the Royal Numismatic Society and British Numismatic Society. Her accolades include the Sanford Saltus Gold Medal (1980), the Jeton de Vermeil (1988), and the Royal Numismatic Society Medal (2011). She was also instrumental in publishing Metallurgy in Numismatics volumes and organizing related symposia.

Archibald’s legacy was celebrated with a festschrift, Coinage and History in the North Sea World, c. AD 500–1250, on her 70th birthday, featuring contributions from colleagues and students. She continued writing after retirement and remained an influential figure in her field until her death on April 23, 2016.