Sarah Sophia Banks (1744–1818) was a distinguished figure in the early history of British numismatics, recognised for her careful eye as both a collector and student of coins and related literature. Working closely with her librarian, Jonas Dryander, she assembled an important library of numismatic works, bringing together both newly published and antiquarian titles. Unlike many collections of her time, which focused mainly on the coins of ancient Greece and Rome, her library was notable for its strong coverage of medieval series and what were then contemporary coinages, as well as for her particular interest in the provincial token issues of the 1780s and 1790s.

Following her death, the library passed intact to the Royal Mint, preserving a snapshot of numismatic scholarship at the turn of the nineteenth century. Presented here as it was originally organised by Jonas Dryander, it offers a valuable contribution to the history of collecting and to the development of numismatic study. An essay by Hugh Pagan explores how Sarah Sophia Banks built her library, tracing the sources of her books and the period over which they were gathered, and highlighting the care and purpose behind her choices.

The volume is authored by Edward Besly FSA, who served as Numismatist at the National Museum of Wales (Amgueddfa Cymru) from 1986 to 2018, having previously worked in the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum. He is widely known for his research on Romano‑British coin hoards and on the coinages of the period of Charles I (1625–49). His contribution to the field has been recognised by the award of the John Sanford Saltus Medal of the British Numismatic Society in 2003.