On Tuesday, we went to the Museum on the Mound in Edinburgh to celebrate money week. We started by being split into three groups and then we went off to do our different activates. Here’s what we did:
In our first activity, we got to handle different coins. The main one was a 2000 year old pure gold Roman coin. We also looked at the features that all the coins had such as the date, the name of the King or Emperor, the God or Goddess and the value of the coins. We also got to look at our UK £1 coins and identified which coins were real and which ones were fake. Fake or counterfeit coins tended to be poorer quality and the words around the side were not accurate. Once we investigated coins, we were then given the opportunity to create our own coins. We did this by getting a plain silver circle (blank coin) and placed this onto a log. Next, we used a tube to keep the coin in place. Then we used a coin template and placed this on top of the blank coin. Finally, we hammered the coin the template, which forced itself onto the blank coin to create a new coin.
We also looked at what was used as money. We think of money as notes and coins, credit and debit cards, but until recently, money could take all shapes and forms. In the Maldives, the main currency was the Cowrie shell, while in Alaska, beaver pelts were the main form of currency. Cocoa beans we also used as currency in Central America whilst in China, tea bricks were the main form of currency. These items soon became familiar to traders and they lost their value, so gradually, over time, these items were replaced by notes and coins.
We also investigated all things ‘notes’. We got to touch original notes dating back to the 16th century. These were more like handwritten promises to pay the bearer (or person) to the value of a certain amount. They were easy to copy, therefore, the punishment for reproducing these notes was death by hanging. People still did copy these notes so more sophisticated security measures were added. Today, all of our notes have lots of different security measures added to them which make them difficult for others to copy. There are secret pictures, metallic strips, micro lettering, raised printing, ultra violet features, a holographic strip, unique numbering and ‘special’ paper made out of cotton. Cotton is used to make bank notes as it is more durable. This means that the notes can be in circulation for over 2 years before they are recalled by the bank and shredded. Talking about shredding, we saw a huge bag of money that was shredded because it could no longer be used. We got to put our hands into the bag and touch all the money. It smelled like money too!
Finally, we were given the chance to go s and visit the Bryce Hall. This is where Board Meetings and conferences take place. It was awesome with great views out across Princes Street. Thanks Sophie’s Dad!
We had a great time and here’s are ‘Words in a Week’. To sum up our trip.
‘Brilliant!’ -Sophie
‘Epic’- Ross
‘Extraordinarily Extravagant’– Cara
‘Great!’ – Emma
‘Thrilling!’ – Dylan
‘Educational’ – Beth
‘Mind-Boggling’ – Callum
By Dylan, Beth and Emma.
