During the summer, amateur historian, Edward Hynes, found a coin believed to be dated around six hundred years ago. Hynes was required to report his findings to the provincial government, under Canada’s Historic Resources Act 1990. Experts, such as Paul Berry, the former curator of the Bank of Canada’s Currency Museum, and Jamie Brake, a provincial archaeologist, examined the coin and made some surprising discoveries. Most notably, this coin was in fact a Henry VI Quarter Noble.



What’s a Henry VI Quarter Noble?
According to Berry, the Henry VI Quarter Noble coin was minted in London in the 15th century, between 1422 and 1427. In old British money, it would have been worth 1 shilling and 88 pence. Today, it’s worth considerably more at C$81. Before this coin was found, it was believed that the oldest British coin found in Canada was from around 1490.

Hynes found the Henry VI Quarter Noble coin on the southern coast of Newfoundland, Canada. The exact location is currently being kept secret to avoid the area from being swamped with eager treasure hunters. However, its discovery could potentially challenge the long-standing belief that John Cabot was the first to arrive on the island.

What will happen Next?
Brake is of the opinion that after the Henry VI Quarter Noble coin has finished being examined, it will be displayed at The Rooms Museum in St John’s. The importance of this find has not gone unnoticed by him. Brake explains that at the time of the coin being minted, the British were unaware that either Canada or Newfoundland existed.

But knowing that there was a European existence in these places before the 16th century proves previous findings. In the most eastern parts of Canada, there are archaeological records of Icelandic sagas that detail the arrival of Vikings around 1001. There’s even evidence of a Norse settlement, which later became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.

Societal Impact
In a time when using money, such as coins to make transactions are competing with different types of payments, such as cards and online, this serves to show how long currency has been in existence and evolved. A century ago, you’d use notes and coins to pay for things, like shopping, in person. A few decades back, you may have used a bank card.

Nowadays, you can shop and pay for clothes or groceries online. You can even pay to play games, like online live bingo. In this example, the site accepts the most well-known card payments - Visa and MasterCard - as well as a selection of digital payment options including PayPal and ApplePay. A find as important as the Henry VI Quarter Noble is proof of how money and financial transactions have evolved. It also demonstrates how society has evolved when it comes to using them.



Making discoveries about the past helps society to discover where they’re from and how they’ve evolved. Finding something like the Henry VI Quarter Noble coin and having it verified by experts allows society to find out more about their past. Additionally, exhibiting items like it and displaying them in places like museums for all to see is a wonderful way to share knowledge and bring history to life.