The Secret Life of Coins
The Secret Life of Coins explores coins beyond their role as payment, revealing the personal and cultural stories attached to them. Episodes examine mementos with emotional significance and coins believed to carry healing powers or good luck. The series also looks at historical incidents, including coins that stopped bullets in wars and a connection to the nation's timekeeper, Big Ben. It is presented by the Royal Mint Museum.
Episodes
Panic! - Coin Hoards and the Battle of Hastings
How can one of the most important metal detecting finds of recent history help us understand the story being told in the Bayeux Tapestry? The year 1066 was a turbulent one for England. Three different kings sat on the throne and the Battle of Hastings changed the course of English history. As panic spread through the kingdom, we look in this episode at how people hid their coins from invaders, dis
S2B4 - The Foundling Museum
In this bonus episode of The Secret Life of Coins, join Abigail and Chris to hear more from Dr Janette Bright, historian of the Foundling Museum. Learn more about how unassuming coins can really tug at the heartstrings.
S2B3 - Williamson's Arcade
Who doesn't love a penny arcade at the seaside? Join Chris and David in our latest bonus episode, as they explore Williamson's Old Penny Arcade in Great Yarmouth with its owner, Peter Williamson.
S2B2 - Tiny Art
In this bonus episode to Season 2 of The Secret Life of Coins, join Abigail and David in an extended-cut interview with Gordon Summers, Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint. Go behind the scenes and learn about why coins really are the perfect example of tiny art.
S2B1 - Big Ben Bonus
Join Susie and Abigail back up the Elizabeth Tower, for an extended-cut interview with Dr Andrew Strangeway, a clockmaker at the UK Parliament and keeper of the Great Clock, better known as Big Ben. Hear more about how coins are used to keep the nation's timekeeper running, as we go behind the scenes once again.
S2E6 - Coins and Conjuring
A trip to the seaside has become a staple of our summer. From dodging the showers to sandy ice creams, many of us have nostalgic memories of the beach. No trip to the seaside would be complete without a trip to the amusement arcades, and most of us will remember the joy of making our pocket money disappear into a hungry machine. Whilst it is all too easy to make our coins disappear from our pocket
S2E5 - Making Your Mark
Tipping a statue into a river or by chaining themselves to trees are just a few imaginative ways that protesters have come up with to get their messages across. Whilst we might be aware of the official propaganda value of our coins, we often do not associate them with protest. Yet, for those looking to give vent to their frustrations, or to get a message across, they have been an important way to
S2E4 - War of Words
In an era of social media and the internet we are constantly bombarded with messaging. Multinational companies and the over hyped claims of governments are all too easy to hear and read. This is not, however, a new phenomenon and one of the earliest forms of mass communication was our coinage. Circulated throughout the nation, and passed from hand-to-hand, coins were as ubiquitous as the daily not
S2E3 - Royal Recognition
Throughout time, coins have been a powerful way of conveying wealth and status, granting influence and power to those who have them. They are transformative objects and have become central to many of our ceremonies and traditions. Ranging from the coronation through to centuries old religious ceremonies, like the Royal Maundy, or as part of the wedding ceremony with a silver sixpence in a bride’s
S2E2 - Bling!
Coins have been admired for their beauty for centuries and, because of this, for nearly as long as there have been coins people have been drawn to using them to create spectacular ornamentations and jewellery. Draped over the body in a glittering display of wealth and power, or emblazoned in artwork, coins have had an enduring appeal to the artist and jeweller alike for the sheer glory of the obj
S2E1 - 101 Uses of Coins
We all know coins are handy little things, for buying a coffee, paying for parking or saving in money boxes, but what if we told you they also have a more varied and secret life?Welcome to the very first episode of our new podcast series, where we discover the surprising, quirky, and downright fascinating ways in which coins have been used over the centuries.And we’re kicking things off with a ban
S1B9 - Coins and the Sea Bonus Series: The Johanna Lucretia
Join Susie at sea in this interview with the crew of the Johanna Lucretia. Operated as part of the Island Trust, the Johanna Lucretia is a traditionally rigged topsail schooner, which often hosts young people for residential and day-sailing courses. Hear more about life at sea today!
S1B8 - Coins and the Sea Bonus Series: Conserving Shipwrecks
Hear more from Dr Eric Nordgren, Lecturer in Conservation atCardiff University, all about what goes into conserving finds. From coins to ships, in earth or water, hear all about the interesting processes involved in making archaeology accessible through museums.
S1B7 - Coins and the Sea Bonus Series: The Newport Ship
In this bonus episode we speak to Dr Toby Jones, nauticalarchaeologist and Curator of the Newport Medieval Ship. Find out more about this fascinating medieval ship, and the unusual way that coins were used in its construction.
S1B6 - Coins and the Sea Bonus Series: Life in the Navy
Hear more of our interview with Victoria Ingles, Principal Curator for the National Museum of the Royal Navy, all about what life might have been like for those sailing in the Royal Navy. How was payment distributed, and how did families manage with breadwinners away at sea? Find out here.
S1B5 - Coins and the Sea Bonus Series: Royal African Company
Join us in exploring an extended interview with Dr Marian Gwyn, a specialist in the Atlantic world and British imperialism, about how gold transported by the Royal Africa Company shaped the nation’s coinage. Learn more about the origins of the guinea, and how the trade in gold brought about the growth of an empire.
S1B4 - Coins and the Sea Bonus Series: Pirates in Pop Culture
Hear more from Dr Richard Blakemore about how the grizzly history of pirates has paved the way for our modern, sanitised version of the myth. What technically constituted piracy in historical terms, and were historical pirates all clear-cut heroes or villains?
S1B3 - Coins and the Sea Bonus Series: Origins of Pirates
In this bonus episode we speak to Sir Christopher Frayling, award-winning historian and broadcaster, about how our present-day idea of pirates is based in historical fact, and sometimes in fiction! Did pirates really bury their treasure? Listen on to find out.
S1B2 - Coins and the Sea Bonus Series: Diving the Mary Rose
Hear more from Dr Alex Hildred, Head of Research at the Mary Rose Trust and one of the archaeological supervisors during the excavation and raising of the Mary Rose. Join us as we speak to Alex and learn more about how the Mary Rose was raised in 1982, and what it felt like to dive an archaeological wreck.
S1B1 - Coins and the Sea Bonus Series: Life on the Mary Rose
Join us as we speak to Hannah Matthews, Curator at the Mary Rose Trust about how life might have looked and felt for those aboard a Tudor naval ship such as the Mary Rose. How would the crew have been paid, and who would have kept track of it all? Join us and find out!
S1E6 - Coins and the Sea: Booty
Long John Silver, treasure maps, X marks the spot, peg legs and parrots. These are just some of the images that come to mind when people mention the word ‘pirate’. How close do these images come to reality though? Throughout the episode the Museum team will look to bust some of the myths that have grown up around pirates and explore how popular culture, in the form of books and films, has shaped o
S1E5 - Coins and the Sea: Shipwrecks
For centuries people have been tantalised by the allure of shipwrecks. The drama and the tragedy of ships lost at sea has captivated people, as has the possibility that those wrecks might contain vast amounts of valuable cargo. Salvages have been drawn to wrecks throughout time, but what is the reality of these shipwrecks? Are there vast amounts of gold and silver waiting to be found at the bottom
S1E4 - Coins and the Sea: Life on board Ship
Modern cruises and sea travel are often sold to us today in terms of luxury. That has certainly not always been the case. Ocean travel for most of history has been difficult, people living in cramped, awful conditions. Yet, what role has coinage played onboard ship. How would you have managed in the golden age of sail? Perhaps more importantly, how would you have been paid if you went to sea?Find
S1E3 - Coins and the Sea: Maritime Trade
Today we live in a highly connected and globalised world, one that has shrunk as modern technology has made it ever quicker and easier to access far flung corners of the globe. But, as a nation, we have been travelling and trading via the seas for centuries. With large profits to be made these trade routes have had an impact on coinage and the nation’s economy. Over this episode we will see the ef
S1E2 - Coins and the Sea: Britannia
Britannia is a figure that has become synonymous with our nation. She has had many guises but, for the Royal Mint, she has developed into the figure of a woman, often classically attired, complete with robes, Corinthian helmet, shield and trident. Yet, there are many other forms and places that she might be encountered, whether in the name of companies, on pub signs or in art, she has become a sho
S1E1 - Coins and the Sea: Maritime Imagery
Britain is a maritime nation, its history shaped by the actions of the Royal Navy and through the influence of international trade networks extending across the oceans. This history has had a lasting impact on our coinage and today there are many commemorative coins that celebrate this maritime tradition. But has this always been the case? Has our coinage continually reflected a nautical culture.
