Philip Attwood (born 23 March 1954) is a British numismatist associated with the British Museum Department of Coins and Medals, where he served as chief curator until his retirement in 2020.^[1][2][3]

His brother is David Attwood (film director).

Philip Attwood graduated in Ancient history and Archaeology from the University of Birmingham in 1975.^[2]

He joined the British Museum in 1978, initially as an assistant in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, before becoming a curator in the Department of Coins and Medals the following year. In 2010, he was appointed chief curator of this department, succeeding Joe Cribb.^[1][2][4][5]

As chief curator, Attwood was responsible for the department's acquisition program. During his tenure, notable acquisitions included a gold medal by British sculptor Alfred Gilbert (1854–1934) and a significant donation by his departmental colleague Marion Archibald, which was realized following her death in 2016.^[4]

Attwood specialized in the Italian Renaissance medallic history of the 16th century and British medallic history of the 19th century.^[2]

Since 2012, he has served as the president of the International Art Medal Federation (FIDEM) and was also named an honorary member of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium.^[2]

Attwood retired on 1 May 2020, after 41 years of service at the Department of Coins and Medals of the British Museum.^[4][5]

• (1992 and 2003): Lhotka Prize, awarded by the Royal Numismatic Society.^[2][6]

• (1992). Artistic circles: the medal in Britain 1880–1918. British Museum. ISBN 9780714108742
• (2002). British art medals 1982–2002. British Art Medal Society. ISBN 978-0953698837
• (2003). Italian medals, c.1530–1600, in British public collections. British Museum. ISBN 9780714108612
• (2004). Badges. British Museum. ISBN 9780714150147
• (2004). The British Columbia medals of John Lobban: painter, sculptor, designer and illustrator 1919–1996. British Art Medal Society. ISBN 9780953698851
• (2009). Medals of dishonour. British Museum. ISBN 9780714118161
• (2014). Hard at work: the diary of Leonard Wyon 1853–1867. Spink, London. ISBN 9781907427329
• (2015). Medal Artists of New Zealand: regroup, reflect, regenerate. Marte Szirmay, Auckland. ISBN 9780473329037

• British Museum Department of Coins and Medals