George Francis Hill

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Sir George Francis Hill KCB (born December 22, 1867 in Baharampur , † October 18, 1948 in London ) was a British numismatist .

George Francis Hill was the son of missionary Samuel John Hill and grandson of missionary Micaiah Hill. He spent the first four years of his life with his family in Bengal . In 1872 the family moved to London, where Hill later attended Blackheath College . He then studied at University College London , where he was influenced by the archaeologist Alfred Goodwin, and from 1888 at Merton College of the University of Oxford under the numismatist Percy Gardner , who gave him his first insights into ancient coinage. Hill completed his studies with a double first class degree in classical philology (1889, 1891). He then gave classes, but was unable to get a permanent job at the college.

In 1893 Hill got a job in the coin department of the British Museum . There he developed into a leading expert in ancient and early modern coinage. Together with Barclay Vincent Head and Warwick Wroth, he edited the Catalog of Greek Coins in the British Museum , which appeared in 29 volumes by 1927. Hill himself produced six volumes in the series that dealt with linguistically and historically very complex regions. These volumes became highly valued standard works for their palaeographical, topographical, economic and religious studies commentaries. Hill also reported regularly on numismatic acquisitions by the British Museum and served from 1898 to 1912 as editor of the Journal of Hellenic Studies and the Numismatic Chronicle (1912-1930). From 1912 he was curator of the coin department, from 1931 until his retirement (1936) director and chief librarian of the British Museum. Under his directorate, the British Museum acquired the Codex Sinaiticus from the Soviet Union in 1933 and (together with the Victoria and Albert Museum ) the oriental collection of antiquities owned by the collector George Eumorfopoulus (1863–1939).

Hill received numerous honors for his services as a museum director and scientist. He was an elected member of the British Academy (since 1917), the Academy of Sciences in Vienna (corresponding member since 1936), the Society of Antiquaries of London (temporarily Vice-President), the Royal Numismatic Society , the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies , the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies and the German Archaeological Institute (corresponding member since 1906). In 1929 he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath , and in 1933 Knight Commander. He was also a Fellow of University College London and an Honorary Fellow of Merton College, as well as an honorary doctorate from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Fonts (selection)

  • Sources for Greek History. Between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1907, ( digitized ; A new edition. Ibid 1951).
  • Coins of Ancient Sicily. Constable & Co., Westminster 1903, ( digitized version ).
  • Historical Greek Coins. Constable & Co., London 1906, ( digitized version ).
  • Historical Roman Coins. From the earliest Times to the Reign of Augustus. Constable & Co., London 1909, ( digitized version ).
  • The Gustave Dreyfus Collection. Renaissance Medals. The University Press, Oxford 1931.
  • A History of Cyprus. Four volumes. The University Press, Cambridge 1940-1952.
  • Hill edited the following volumes of the Catalog of Greek Coins in the British Museum ( BMC Greek ):
    • Volume [19]: Catalog of the Greek Coins of Lycia, Pamphylia, and Pisidia. Trustees of the British Museum, London 1897, ( digitized ).
    • Volume [21]: Catalog of the Greek Coins of Lycaonia, Isauria, and Cilicia. Trustees of the British Museum, London 1900, ( digitized version ).
    • Volume [24]: Catalog of the Greek Coins of Cyprus. Trustees of the British Museum, London 1904.
    • Volume [26]: Catalog of the Greek Coins of Phenicia. Trustees of the British Museum, London 1910.
    • Volume [27]: Catalog of the Greek Coins of Palestine. Trustees of the British Museum, London 1914, ( digitized ).
    • Volume [28]: Catalog of the Greek Coins of Arabia, Mesopotamia, and Persia. Trustees of the British Museum, London 1922, ( digitized version ).

literature

Web links

Wikisource: George Francis Hill  - Sources and full texts (English)
personal data
SURNAME Hill, George Francis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British numismatist
DATE OF BIRTH December 22, 1867
PLACE OF BIRTH Baharampur
DATE OF DEATH October 18, 1948
Place of death London