Mission Statement

The Money Museum epitomizes the OeNB’s opening toward the public – the premises and the exhibits themselves symbolize this approach. In a way, the displays of the Money Museum make an institution whose role is not easy to grasp accessible and tangible to the general public. In this respect, the communication activities of the Money Museum contribute to enhancing the public’s knowledge and understanding of the OeNB’s monetary and stability policies. 

The modern steel and glass architecture of the Money Museum, its state-of-the-art exhibition techniques and conservation practices and its timely museum philosophy exemplify the OeNB’s initiative and commitment. The Money Museum draws on its collection to put together temporary exhibitions that are topical and multidisciplinary and that have a particular cultural relevance. This concept is in line with the standards of the international ICOM Code of Ethics. 

The Money Museum compiles collections – its Coin Collection, the Art Archives and the collection of other museum objects – on the basis of collection guidelines and with the intention of putting items on display. Materials are conserved according to the state of the art for the field; classification of objects with key words and documentation in a database allows information to be retrieved for exhibition purposes. 

It is crucial for the Money Museum to entertain close bilateral and multilateral contacts with other museums in Austria and abroad to ensure that it remains up to date and oriented on international standards, to secure opportunities for exchanges of exhibits and museum objects and to have a voice in the formulation of guidelines at the national and international level. 

The Money Museum is a keystone in the Oesterreichische Nationalbank’s fulfillment of social responsibility. In this connection, the Money Museum enhances the general public’s acknowledgement of the OeNB and helps define its position in society. With its mission as a representative of knowledge and culture, the Money Museum links the OeNB to the world of art, culture and science. 

The Money Museum provides information to the general public; in addition, it caters to specific audiences, such as students, senior citizens and numismatic experts. Moreover, the Money Museum has a representational function for Austrian and foreign visitors to the OeNB.