A Treasure Trove of History: Unveiling the Secrets of the International Numismatic Club Museum

I recently stumbled upon the International Numismatic Club Museum, nestled within the Olympic museum park and estate. This hidden gem is always a thrilling discovery, and I love uncovering new spots to explore. Some of these places might not be on our radar, and we might never go back, but that's all part of the adventure.

I'm a big fan of the Archaeological Museum near the Kremlin, and I enjoy browsing through the old coins there. We have a small collection at home, and I used to think it was better to see everything in person. Now I think it's more enjoyable to appreciate the treasures from good photos. Why? Because in treasure troves with rare pieces, you can't just wander around like you can in a history museum, you can't lean over the glass case, and you can't see all the exhibits. You'll have a security guard breathing down your neck, and sometimes you'll feel like you're in prison.

The International Numismatic Club Museum is just as closed-off. My daughter really enjoyed it, but for me, it was a mixed bag. When we got home, I'd say I was 50/50 on whether I liked it.

Now that I've had some time to reflect on my experience, I'm itching to know the secrets of the other rooms. I'm willing to overlook some of the quirks because, honestly, I'm so curious. Compared to the Bank of Russia Museum, this place is in a different league – it's a hundred times better, more interesting, and mysterious. You know that feeling when you've struggled to get somewhere only to be underwhelmed by what you see? That's not the case here.

Address:

Bolshoy Afanasyevsky Pereulok, 24

I was sold on the fact that the numismatic museum is just a short walk from Arbatskaya metro station. We popped out of the metro, strolled down to Old Arbat, turned into the alleyway, and voilà – we were there. And, of course, we had to stop by the giant scales along the way, where we weighed ourselves in mandarins.

The International Numismatic Club Museum is housed in 17th-century palaces, which is already pretty magical.

The adult ticket price is 600 rubles. Kids, students, pensioners, and seniors can get a discounted ticket for 350 rubles.

This is a private museum, so they've got their own rules and quirks when it comes to visiting.

You can't get in without a reservation and a guided tour.They've got special tours for Olympiad participants, depending on the age group. For the little ones, it's 'Secrets and Signs on Coins', for the older kids, it's 'Coins and Knights', and for the high schoolers, it's 'By the Weight of Gold!' numismatics museumTickets need to be bought online, but at least you don't have to wait in line. The schedule is available for every day of the week, so you can pick a time that suits you.They only let people in with a passport. My kid had to bring their Moscow school ID with them.No need to arrive early – they only let people in 15 minutes before the tour starts. Don't be late, either – that's on you.I'm starting to get used to museums that require passports, but this one takes it to the next level. When we first arrived, we were sent away for showing up too early. Then the security guard started checking passports through the fence. So, you're standing outside in the cold, waiting for everyone to show their ID and have it checked against the list. It's a weird feeling, like you're some kind of suspect or something.

You can't pass your tickets on to anyone else – no sending grandma with your kid, or your dad, and so on.

Wandering around the halls and looking at the exhibits like you do in other museums? Nope, not an option.

We went on one tour, but we only got to see one hall. We tried to take our time and look around, but we were politely asked to go back to the starting point. They told us the tour was about to start and we'd get to see everything, but it's impossible to take it all in at once. You're only shown a small section of the exhibit, and it's a bit disappointing.

My daughter and I love museums, and we always enjoy seeing everything with our own eyes. We like to linger in one spot, then move on to another, and come back later. But here, there's a time limit for the tour, and you only get to see one hall.

You're allowed to take photos. I asked if it was okay to take pictures, and I was told it was fine – even with a camera. There was even a designated photo area in our hall, but nobody seemed to take advantage of it. The whole time, I felt like I was a guest who had been graciously allowed to see the treasures, but only for a short time and only with a quick glance.

Now, I'll tell you why I want to go back.

We ended up on this utterly incredible tour, called 'Coins and Knights', and it was just as romantic, captivating, and I'd say... artistic. I think adults would really appreciate it. At first, I thought the younger kids (5-6th graders) would get bored pretty quickly. They'd sit silently in their seats, not saying a word. But it turned out they were just listening intently.

As you'd expect at places like this, the curators and tour guides are the heart of the museum. They're so genuinely passionate about the exhibits that you can't help but catch their enthusiasm. We were really lucky with our tour guide. She had a pleasant tone of voice and was just charming. Plus, everything she said was quote-worthy.

I was quoting all these fun facts to myself the whole evening after the tour. I even opened my mouth wide while listening in the museum, trying to take it all in. And when I got home, I started spouting them out.

The room where our tour took place was small, but it managed to fit in both the knight's armor and a diorama of a castle. If you look inside, you can see that there are even burning torches.

I was blown away by the aroma station - it's like it added 100 points to this museum in my daughter's eyes.

The tour guide opens up these colorful glass bottles one by one and lets everyone sniff what the Middle Ages smelled like. What did you think of right away? My philosophy teacher loved to pontificate on the relationship between Romeo and Juliet. He'd say, 'What's this love amidst the lice and filth?' Imagine the smell of an unwashed maiden, scurrying lice, and the stench of night buckets and trash that people would dump on the streets.

International Numismatic Club Museum ReviewsOf course, when people heard about the smells of the Middle Ages, they all shuddered. But one girl was so tense that when she sniffed the first bottle's aroma, she let out a huge sigh of relief - 'Whew!' she exclaimed. I guess it was a 'whew' of relief, because the smells were actually pleasant. They smelled like the times of knights - with cloves, lavender, roasted meat, narcissus, and... leather. Before taking a sniff of the last aroma, many people tensed up and almost closed their eyes.

The numismatic collection at this museum is truly impressive and priceless - in both literal and figurative senses. The coins are beautifully displayed in the glass cases. The museum is interactive, but not to an absurd extent. I get annoyed when exhibits are replaced with touchscreens and TVs.

Interactive screens are a great addition to the collection. For example, you can enter the serial number of a coin, and it will display information about it on the large and small screens.We were told that they have a tour where they show the Konstantinovsky ruble.

I think if all tours are like this one (and don't forget your passport, and you'll get in), you'll be thrilled.

If you want to take some photos, it's better to do it during the tour. If you come with an olympiad, be prepared to rush. We had barely any time for Q&A after the tour. I was totally stressed out. I thought we wouldn't be able to fit anything in. There was no time for a self-guided tour at all.

On the other hand, the tour guide provides such detailed information about some of the coins and points out details that I might have otherwise missed. If all the halls are thematic and you visit them one by one, you won't feel like you've seen it all before.

When you first walk in, you'll notice a small souvenir shop. And let me tell you, the souvenirs and merch are top-notch. They've got stickers, umbrellas, and hoodies - all the essentials. I wish they had more unique items, like collectible coins. I'd love to find a reliable place to buy a genuine Ekaterinburg five-kopek coin.