Copper halfpenny token, Robert Wright, Alfreton, 1668

The Winchester Coin Cabinet

Discover some of the coins in the Winchester Cabinet, a collection of over 3000 ancient coins, medals and tokens collected by William Eyre, an eighteenth-century barrister, held by Leeds Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Pierced silver penny of King Offa of Mercia by Lul, 792–96

Pierced silver penny of King Offa of Mercia by Lul found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, Leeds University Library

Gold Angel of Charles I, London, 1641

Gold Angel of Charles I found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Silver denarius by Lucius Hostilius Saserna, 48 BC

Silver denarius by Lucius Hostilius Saserna found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Gold aureus of Hadrian, Rome, 125-28

Gold aureus of Hadrian found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Gold Gallo-Belgic Stater, Ambiani tribe, Picardy, 80-50 BC

Gold Gallo-Belgic Stater, Ambiani tribe, Picardy found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Copper halfpenny token, Robert Wright, Alfreton, 1668

Copper halfpenny token, Robert Wright, Alfreton found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Silver tetradrachm, Athens, 465-60 BC

Silver tetradrachm, Athens, found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Silver Shilling of Charles I, Pontefract Castle, 1648

Silver Shilling of Charles I, Pontefract Castle,found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Gold solidus of Constans II, Constantinople, 654-59

Gold solidus of Constans II, Constantinople, found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Silver penny of Harold II, Canterbury, 1066

Silver penny of Harold II, Canterbury, found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Gold Fine sovereign of Mary I, London, 1553

Gold Fine sovereign of Mary I, London, found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

White metal medal by Bennett of Sarum, c. 1860

White metal medal by Bennett of Sarum, found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Silver tetradrachm in the name of Alexander III, Macedonia, 275-70 BC

Silver tetradrachm in the name of Alexander III, Macedonia, found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Silver denarius of Julius Caesar, Spain, 46-45 BC

Silver denarius of Julius Caesar, found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.

Tradesmen began to issue their own coinage during and after the Civil War due to a shortage of currency. Many advertised their maker’s names and occupations so that tokens could be exchanged for their goods. Although many were of a circular design (like ordinary coinage) some like this halfpenny, which depicts a beehive, were cut into more decorative shapes. The issuer of this token may have sold honey.