Ancient Coin Used as Leeds Bus Fare Discovered

March 9, 2026 Off By

A rare 2,000-year-old coin once used on Leeds buses

A coin minted more than two millennia ago by the Carthaginians has been discovered to have once been used as bus fare in Leeds. The ancient coin, originating from the Phoenician culture in the Spanish city of Cadiz during the 1st century BC, was handed to a local bus driver in the 1950s and has now been donated to Leeds Museums and Galleries.

From ancient civilisation to Leeds city transport

The coin first came into the possession of James Edwards, who was the chief cashier with Leeds City Transport. His role involved collecting fares from bus and tram drivers and counting them at the end of each day. Any ineligible, fake, or foreign coins were removed from the cash and taken home by Mr Edwards. He would then give these coins to his young grandson, Peter Edwards, who kept them in a small wooden chest for over 70 years.

Peter Edwards, now 77, recalled:

“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. 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.”

Identifying the coin’s origin

Decades later, Peter researched the coin’s unusual inscription and discovered it came from a Carthaginian settlement on the Spanish coast. One side of the coin features the face of the god Melqart, who resembles the Greek hero Herakles and wears a lionskin headdress. At the time, some Phoenician coins incorporated Greek imagery to appeal to traders.

Recognising the coin’s historical significance, Peter donated it to Leeds Museums and Galleries, where it will join a collection of ancient currency at the Leeds Discovery Centre.

Peter Edwards said:

“The coin always fascinated me because it was hard to decipher where it came from. 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. My grandfather would be proud to know, as I am, that the coin is coming back to Leeds. However, how it got there will always be a mystery.”

Current display and public access

The coin is now part of the Leeds Discovery Centre’s collection, which includes coins and currency from cultures worldwide spanning thousands of years. The centre is open to the public for pre-booked tours and operates on a “Give What You Can” basis, inviting visitors to donate to support the museum.