The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia and Alpha Bank presented, at a press conference, the exhibition “Messages in Metal. A Timeless Dialogue with Cyprus.” The opening will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, and the exhibition will be open to the public until January 10, 2027.
The exhibition brings to Cyprus for the first time a significant section of Alpha Bank’s Numismatic Collection, one of the largest and most significant private numismatic collections in the world, comprising more than 11,000 coins. Alpha Bank’s exhibits are presented in a unique “dialogue” with coins from the collection of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, highlighting Cyprus’s long numismatic history and its place in the political, economic, and cultural trajectories of the Eastern Mediterranean.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Through a selection of coins from different eras and geographical regions, the exhibition highlights the coin not only as a medium of exchange, but also as a vehicle for history, narrative, and cultural memory. The depictions, symbols, and inscriptions engraved on the metal tell stories of power, identity, faith, and social values, transforming each coin into a valuable historical artifact of the society that created it.
Dr. Dimitra Tsagkari, Curator of the Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection and of the exhibition, presented the curatorial approach and content of the exhibition, which includes a total of 136 coins: 110 from the Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection, 23 from the Collection of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, and 3 from the Collection of the Leventis Art Gallery. The exhibition is organized into three thematic sections: “Transactions,” “Narrative,” and “Symbolism,” which showcase the evolution and use of currency, the stories and figures depicted on it, as well as the messages of identity and power it has conveyed throughout the centuries.
The Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Pruntzos, stated: “Nicosia, with its long history as the administrative and cultural center of Cyprus, bears the traces of the civilizations that shaped it and keeps its connection to the past alive. The exhibition ‘Messages in Metal’ offers the public an exceptional opportunity to explore coins as vehicles of history and culture. The coming together of the two collections creates a meaningful dialogue between the local and the broader historical context, while highlighting Cyprus’s pivotal role in the cultural and economic exchanges of the Eastern Mediterranean.”
The Director of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, Dr. Jenny Lyberopoulou Savvidou, stated: “Our collaboration with Alpha Bank gives us the opportunity to present, for the first time as a standalone exhibition, part of our Numismatic Collection and to highlight it through a particularly interesting dialogue with Alpha Bank’s internationally renowned. Through this collaboration, two historical narratives are brought together,
offering the public the opportunity to learn about the history and cultural identity of Cyprus from a different perspective.”
Miltos Michaelas, CEO of Alpha Bank Cyprus, noted: “At Alpha Bank Cyprus, we aim to create value for society and make a meaningful contribution to the preservation and promotion of its cultural heritage. The exhibition ‘Messages in Metal’ embodies precisely this philosophy, bridging history with the present and knowledge with future generations.”
Scientific Curation and the Accompanying Publication
The exhibition is coordinated by Dr. Jenny Lyberopoulou Savvidou, Director of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, and Dr. Dimitra Tsangari, Curator of the Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection. Dr. Dimitra Tsangari is responsible for the museological study and curation of the exhibition.
The exhibition is accompanied by the bilingual publication “Messages in Metal: A Timeless Dialogue with Cyprus,” which serves as its scholarly and interpretive supplement. Through texts and a wealth of photographic material, the publication presents the history of the exhibits, the evolution of Cypriot numismatics, and the role of the two collections in highlighting cultural heritage. Dr. Dimitra Tsangari served as the scientific editor of the publication, which will be available at the gift shop of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia.
Accompanying Events
As part of the exhibition, a program of lectures and guided tours will be held, as well as educational programs for families with children and for elementary and secondary school students.
Exhibition Information
- Dates: October 16, 2026 – January 10, 2027
- Venue: Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays and official holidays)
- Information: leventismuseum.org.cy / alphabank.com.cy
