Historic hoard of coins dating back 2,000 years to go on display at Leeds City Museum after being dug up by builders

Hoards of ancient coins which were safely stashed beneath the Yorkshire soil centuries ago have been brought together for a new exhibition in Leeds.
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The historic coin caches were each thriftily buried underground for safe keeping, only to be discovered hundreds of years later and will illustrate the many different ways people have

secured their savings throughout human history.

The trio of hoards range from between around 470 and more than 2,000 years old and will be on display at Leeds City Museum as part of Money Talks, a new exhibition opening later

Rachael Dilley curator of exhibitions with the Cridling Stubbs hoard at Leeds City Museum going on display as part of the new Money Talks exhibition. Three hoards found from around Yorkshire including this, a pot containing 3,300 Roman copper coins buried around AD 346 and found in 1967 near Cridling Stubbs in North Yorkshire.  Picture Tony JohnsonRachael Dilley curator of exhibitions with the Cridling Stubbs hoard at Leeds City Museum going on display as part of the new Money Talks exhibition. Three hoards found from around Yorkshire including this, a pot containing 3,300 Roman copper coins buried around AD 346 and found in 1967 near Cridling Stubbs in North Yorkshire.  Picture Tony Johnson
Rachael Dilley curator of exhibitions with the Cridling Stubbs hoard at Leeds City Museum going on display as part of the new Money Talks exhibition. Three hoards found from around Yorkshire including this, a pot containing 3,300 Roman copper coins buried around AD 346 and found in 1967 near Cridling Stubbs in North Yorkshire. Picture Tony Johnson
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this week which explores the evolution of our relationship with money.

They include the Boston Spa Hoard, made up of 172 silver denarii dating from around 119 BC to the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.

On loan to Leeds from The Yorkshire Museum, they are thought to have been buried around the second century AD and were discovered during construction work in Boston Spa, having been carefully hidden there inside a ceramic jar.

Also on display will be the famous Cridling Stubbs Hoard, a remarkable stockpile of copper coins which may have been concealed by the owner inside a large jar in around AD 346 in a

The Temple Newsham hoard at Leeds City Museum going on display as part of the new Money Talks exhibition. Three hoards found from around Yorkshire including this, a pot containing 200 silver shillings and sixpenses from the Civil War period (1554- 1643) and was  discovered in 1959. Picture Tony JohnsonThe Temple Newsham hoard at Leeds City Museum going on display as part of the new Money Talks exhibition. Three hoards found from around Yorkshire including this, a pot containing 200 silver shillings and sixpenses from the Civil War period (1554- 1643) and was  discovered in 1959. Picture Tony Johnson
The Temple Newsham hoard at Leeds City Museum going on display as part of the new Money Talks exhibition. Three hoards found from around Yorkshire including this, a pot containing 200 silver shillings and sixpenses from the Civil War period (1554- 1643) and was discovered in 1959. Picture Tony Johnson
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bid to keep the riches inside safe from Saxon and Irish raiders.

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Photo memories from around Leeds in February 1997

the Womersley parish of North Yorkshire in 1967.

They will be displayed alongside the Temple Newsam Hoard, a pot of 200 silver shillings and sixpences found by coal miners working on the estate in 1959. They were buried during the

English Civil War, most likely to keep them out of the hands of enemy soldiers. Another hoard from the same period was also found at Temple Newsam in 1905.

Kat Baxter, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of archaeology and numismatics, said: “Coin hoards really fire our imaginations because we can speculate about all sorts of

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exciting reasons and scenarios which led to people burying their accumulated wealth in the ground centuries ago for us to find.

“Although we can never know for sure how or why they came to buried, the likelihood is that whoever concealed them beneath the soil in the past did so in an attempt to keep their

precious money safe.

“It’s a fascinating step in our ever-evolving relationship with money and shows how collecting money and then keeping it secure in whatever way we can has been a common

thread throughout thousands of years of human history.”

As well as coin hoards, Money Talks will explore subjects including how money has been used in toys and play, the evolution of banking and different examples of currency used

around the world.

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This exhibition is sponsored by Leeds Building Society which was founded in 1875 by people working together to save and put home ownership within reach generation after

generation.

Coun Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “These coin hoards make for an enthralling story and demonstrate the

spectacular wealth of history buried beneath out feet in Leeds and Yorkshire.

“It’s inspiring to see an exhibition capture so many facets our relationship with money and for such a spectacular array of objects from the world class Leeds Museums and Galleries

collection be on display .”

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Money Talks opens at Leeds City Museum on Friday (February 11) and will be free to enter. For more details visit museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/events/leeds-city-museum/money-talksSupport the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United. With a digital subscription, you'll see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.

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