coin
Basilica Museum
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| Object Name: | coin |
| Artist/Maker: | Taylor, J. |
| Classification: | man-made artefact |
| Category: | communication artefact |
| Sub-category: | art |
| Discipline: | church history local history material culture |
| Material: | white metal |
| Technique: | struck |
| Accession Number: | Noaccession08 |
| Origin-Province: | Warwickshire |
| Origin-Country: | England |
| Origin-Continent: | Europe |
| Use-Province: | Pre-Confederation Newfoundland |
| Use-Country: | Dominion of Newfoundland |
| Culture: | Pre-Confederation Newfoundland |
| Cultural Context: | commemorative |
| Earliest Production Date: | 1841 |
| Period: | mid 19th century |
| Description: | This coin depicts the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone of the Basilica and an image of the Basilica building itself. On one side of the coin, an image of the first stone being laid for the Cathedral has been engraved, along with the following: "The first stone laid by the R'Rev'D' Fleming V.A. 1841." A small hole has been drilled through the top of the coin. On the other side of the coin is an image of The Basilica Cathedral of St. John The Baptist. Above this "The Cathedral of St. John's Newfoundland" has been written, along with "J. Taylor," the maker's mark, and "Birm.," the abbreviation of Birmingham, England, where it was made. Below the image of the Cathedral, "The house which I desire to build is great, for our God is great. 2 Paralip. 11. 5." has also been engraved. |
| Narrative: | These coins were commissioned and made in 1841 by Bishop Fleming to commemorate the building of the Basilica Cathedral in St. John's. Bishop Fleming ordered 2000 coins to be made while visiting Birmingham, England at a cost of 2 pence each. Each coin was then sold for 3/6, or 42 pence. Many of them have small holes made at the top, as people sometimes wore them around their neck. These coins were sometimes sold as a fundraiser to raise money to help build the Cathedral, and some people who made significant donations were presented with them. People were also known to have been buried wearing these coins, consequently, few of the coins are still around today and are quite rare. |
| History of Use: | Used to commemorate the building of the Basilica Cathedral in St. John's, and also worn by people around their neck as a medallion. |
| Outside Diameter: | 2.5 |
| Unit-Linear: | cm |
| Quantity: | 1 |
| Number of Components: | 1 |
| Component Part Names: | coin |
| Subject/Image: | commemorative artefact commemorative coin |
| Inscription: | J. Taylor; Birm.; The Cathedral of St. John's Newfoundland; The house which I desire to build is great, for our God is great. 2 Paralip. 11. 5.; The first stone laid by the R'Rev'D' Fleming V.A. 1841. |
| Institution: | Basilica Museum |
| Institution City: | St. John's |
| Institution Province: | Newfoundland & Labrador |
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