Coin used to pay for bus fare belongs to ancient civilisation

• An ancient coin, used as bus fare in Leeds during the 1950s, has been identified as originating from the Carthaginians in Cadiz, Spain, dating back to the 1st century BC.
• The coin was initially given to a local bus driver before landing in the hands of former chief cashier with Leeds City Transport, James Edwards, who then gifted it to his grandson, Peter, who kept it in a wooden chest for over 70 years.
• Archaeologists from the University of Leeds confirmed its Carthaginian origin, noting it bears the face of the god Melqart, resembling the Greek hero Herakles.
• Peter, now 77, expressed his desire for the coin to be studied, leading to its donation to Leeds Museums and Galleries.
• The coin is now part of the Leeds Discovery Centre's collection, highlighting how ancient artefacts can unexpectedly appear in modern settings.

IN FULL

Coin used to pay for bus ticket in Leeds found to be 2,000 years old