On the 24 March 2010 Saint John’s Anglican Cathedral in Brisbane unveiled a serious collection of numismatic items and launched a book at the same time. The book is entitled ‘The Cathedral Coins: A History of Christianity in Coins’ The book catalogues the coins now on display in the Cathedral and provides a significant amount of detail and background material for each of the 110 coins in the display.
The coins are housed in a specially designed display unit with lighting and mirrors which allow the clear examination of each side of the objects. I say objects as they are not all coins but included in the display is a lead seal or bulla of Pope Gregory XIII and a trademan’s token from J. Sawyer, tobacconist of Brisbane.
The collection is of course based around the theme of Christianity in Coins and thus in the book you will find details of the Christian connection to Australia’s Holey Dollar, an excellent example of which is included in this collection. These coins and the cost of the publication of the book were provided by an anonymous donor. The quality of the items is second to none and it is rare to see such clear and significant items readily available outside of a bank vault.
The location of the event is impressive enough in its own right. Saint John’s Anglican Cathedral according to their website had its foundation stone laid by the Duke of Cornwall & York in 1901. Bishop Webber, the third Bishop of Brisbane, requested plans to be drawn by John Loughborough Pearson C1888. Webber died in 1903, was buried at Toowong, but after the first section of St John’s was completed in 1910 his remains were translated to lie near the high altar. Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery laid a foundation stone in 1947 commemorating victory in World War 11. His visit motivated fundraising for a War Memorial Fund which would eventually pay for two bays of the nave to be built in the 1960’s. In 1988, bells were hung in a temporary tower at the West End to commemorate Australia’s bi-centenary. This motivated fundraising for completing the West End. The Centenary of Federation in 2001 was marked by the Commonwealth Government grant which paid for the completion of the Western Façade. This was also the centenary of the laying of St John’s foundation Stone.
The website is unfinished however the cathedral is now completed and is the last Gothic-style, stone cathedral to be built in the world.
Both the QNS and the ANS (Qld) were represented at the event.
The event was hosted by the Dean of Brisbane Dr Peter Catt and by the Most Reverend Dr Philip Aspinall Archbishop of Brisbane. Both the Dean and the Archbishop spoke briefly and made all welcome while acknowledging the effort and work that went into the display by various parties, including the anonymous donor who also wrote and compiled the book.
Last word.
The display: Excellent and very well displayed. You are not going to see material of this type and grade outside of a bank vault as stated previously. The selection of material is impressive and well worth investigating further though either the collection catalogue or your own research. To see copper, bronze, electrum, silver and gold coins in such detail and clarity is a joy.
The book: You would be silly not to purchase a copy. The depth and range of material contained is appropriate and worth fair more than the low amount charged for the book. Recommended to any serious collector to visit and obtain a copy.
The Cathedral is located at 373 Ann Street Brisbane, close to Central station and the collection is located adjacent to the Holy Spirit Chapel which inside the cathedral at the right rear.