Anatole de Barthélemy, a renowned numismatist, joined the Commission de Topographie des Gaules in 1861. He was its secretary from 1861 to 1879. Like Félicien de Saulcy, Alexandre Bertrand, Alfred Maury and Casimir Creuly, he played an active role in the creation of the musée gallo-romain, building its numismatic collections.