BEDFORD MUSEUM

NUMISMATICS

The Museum holds a good collection of coins of local, national and international provenance, tokens, jettons, medals and medallions. Some of these items have been found during archaeological excavations around Bedfordshire.

The British coins range in age from the Celtic Iron Age to the modern period. Of particular significance is the group of Anglo Saxon pennies struck at the Bedford Mint in the mediaeval period.

The collections also contain several nationally important coin hoards, in particular those of Roman date from Cranfield, Hillgrounds, and the 'treasure' hoard from Haynes, which was made up of fine gold and silverwork in addition to 500 silver coins. In addition to these hoards there is a significant collection of Roman coins dating from the Republican period to the fall of the Western Empire.

There is a small but significant collection of Greek coins dating from about 500BC to the extinction of Byzantium in the 15^th century AD, an interesting group of forgeries of various coinages, specimens of 'non coin' money, as well as modern milled issues and a collection of 19^th century bank notes issued by Barnard’s Bank. There is also an important collection of about 17^th century tradesman’s tokens from Bedford and Bedfordshire.

The Roman hoards are displayed and interpreted with the aid of a video microscope, grant aided by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Back