Curator’s Choice – A Venetian Soldino in Lincolnshire
During the Medieval period the Venetians were great traders. Their trading networks spanned the Mediterranean and stretched across Europe. Venetian trading galleys set off for England in May and once there, stayed until August or September, when they set off to return home. Whilst in England, Venetian sailors bought items with their Venetian coins – the soldino.
Soldino means ‘little-shilling’, and the coins were obviously useful to the English economy as their use became widespread. The coins were nicknamed galyhalpens, or Galley-halfpence, after the Venetian Galley-men who imported them.
In this video, Collections Assistant Archaeology Catherine Knight, takes a closer look at an Italian Medieval coin from the Republic of Venice in the Museum’s collection.
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