Ancient Carthaginian Coin Used to Pay 1950s Leeds Bus Fare
An unusual coin used to pay for a bus ticket in Leeds during the 1950s has been revealed to be a remarkable artifact from an ancient civilisation, dating back over 2,000 years. The coin, which was handed to a local bus driver decades ago, has now been donated to Leeds Museums and Galleries, where it will be preserved and studied as part of a significant historical collection.
Discovery and Journey of the Ancient Artifact
The coin came into the possession of James Edwards, who served as the former chief cashier with Leeds City Transport. In his role, Mr Edwards was responsible for gathering and counting fares at the end of each working day. When he encountered this particular coin, which could not be spent due to its foreign origin, he decided to take it home. He later gifted it to his young grandson, Peter, who kept it safely stored in a small wooden chest for more than 70 years.
Peter, now 77 years old, recalled how his grandfather would often set aside coins that were not British. "My grandfather would come across coins which were not British and put them to one side, and when I went to his house, he would hand me a few," he explained. "It was not long after the war, so I imagine soldiers returned with coins from countries they had been sent to. Neither of us were coin collectors, but we were fascinated by their origin and imagery – to me, they were treasure."
Archaeological Identification and Significance
Archaeologists from the University of Leeds have conducted a thorough analysis of the coin, determining that it originated from the Carthaginians, a part of the Phoenician culture. The coin was minted in the Spanish city of Cadiz during the 1st century BC, making it an incredibly rare find in modern-day Leeds.
The coin features intricate imagery, including the face of the god Melqart on one side, who is depicted wearing a lionskin headdress and bears a resemblance to the Greek hero Herakles. Experts have confirmed that it came from a former Carthaginian settlement located on the Spanish coast. Peter described his long-standing curiosity about the coin's origins, stating, "The coin always fascinated me because it was hard to decipher where it came from."
Donation to Leeds Museums and Galleries
Upon learning the true historical significance of the coin, Peter decided to donate it to a public institution where it could be appreciated and studied by a wider audience. "My first thought when I found out its origin was that I would like to return it to an institute where it could be studied by all, and Leeds Museums and Galleries kindly offered to give it a good home," he said.
The coin is now part of the Leeds Discovery Centre, which houses an extensive collection of coins and currency from cultures around the world, spanning thousands of years of history. Salma Arif, Leeds City Council's executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, expressed her amazement at the artifact's journey. "It's incredible to imagine how this tiny piece of history created by an ancient civilisation thousands of years ago has somehow made its way to Leeds and into our collection," she remarked.
Ms Arif further emphasised the importance of museums in preserving such stories. "Museums like ours are not just about preserving objects, they're also about telling stories like this one and inspiring visitors to think about the history that's all around us, sometimes in the most unlikely of places." This donation highlights the unexpected ways in which historical artifacts can surface in everyday life, offering a tangible connection to the distant past.
