John Allan (numismatist) John Allan (numismatist) John Allan, (8 August 1884 – 29 August 1955) was a British numismatist and scholar of Sanskrit. Allan was a noted numismatist and produced the first systematic study of the coins the Gupta Empire, which remains a standard reference today. Allan was born in Bolton, East Lothian. His father, John Gray Allan, was the local schoolmaster. After studying at the universities of Edinburgh and Leipzig, Allan took up a position at the British Museum in 1907, eventually becoming the Keeper of the Department of Coins and Medals in 1931. He was also a lecturer in Sanskrit at
Edward Hawkins (numismatist) Edward Hawkins (numismatist) Edward Hawkins (5 May 1780 – 22 May 1867) was an English numismatist and antiquary. For over 30 years he was the Keeper of Antiquities at the British Museum. Born at Macclesfield on 5 May 1780, he was the eldest son of Edward Hawkins of Macclesfield, banker, and his wife Ellen, daughter of Brian Hodgson of Ashbourne, Derbyshire. He was educated at Macclesfield grammar school, and privately from 1797 to 1799 by Richard Ormerod, vicar of Kensington. Around 1799, he returned to Macclesfield, and received a commission in a volunteer corps raised there. He was employed under