The Collection of Classical Antiquities features objects ranging from the Ancient Near East and Greece to the Etruscan civilization and Rome. The foundation of the holdings of Greek, Etruscan and Roman pottery, utensils as well as small-scale sculpture and engraved gems goes back to  August Kestner. Because of their quantity and quality, the Greek pottery, clay lamps and the antique gems have been given a great deal of significance today. The collection of classical antiquities in the Museum August Kestner is the most important one of its kind in the state of Lower Saxony.

The Collection of Coins and Medals informs about 2600 years of monetary history by way of coinage from ancient Greece, the Roman Republic and Empire, medieval German bracteates as well as medals dating from the Renaissance to the twenty first century. Highlights of the collection include ancient Greek coins from Olympia as well as nineteenth-century German coins.
Medieval and modern coinage from the region of the present-day state of Lower Saxony is also featured. The coin collection is the largest of its kind in Northern Germany.

The Collection of European Applied Arts and Design focuses particularly on medieval manuscripts, textiles, bronzes, ivories, enamels and precious metalworks. All classic materials from the field of the applied arts (ceramics, precious and base metals, glass, textiles and wood/furniture) are represented by extraordinary exhibits dating from all epochs up to and including the present day. The collection is continuously being supplemented with choice examples of product design, including seating furniture, lamps, tableware, cutlery and utensils.