Gold Fine sovereign of Mary I, London, 1553
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.
More
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
More
Gold Angel of Charles I, London, 1641
Gold Angel of Charles I found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.
More
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.
More
Gold aureus of Hadrian, Rome, 125-28
Gold aureus of Hadrian found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.
More
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.
More
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.
More
Silver tetradrachm, Athens, 465-60 BC
Silver tetradrachm, Athens, found in the Coin Collection at Special Collections, University of Leeds Library.
More
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.
More
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.
More
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.
More
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.
More
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.
More
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.
More
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.
More
This fine gold sovereign was worth thirty shillings - considerably more than the standard twenty shilling sovereign of its day. Its high value meant that it was probably intended for use as a ceremonial piece or as a statement of the Tudor dynasty's power.
The obverse shows Queen Mary on the throne with a portcullis below - a symbol still found on modern-day pennies. The reverse depicts the Tudor rose with a Latin inscription that means ‘This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes’.