Viking coins from the Cuerdale Hoard are some of the Harris’ treasured possessions

Coin collection work at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery has won national recognition.

The museum houses 12,500 coins and has been awarded with the Collections Trust Award for its work.

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Within the Money Matters collection are the Rossall Hoard of Roman coins and items from the Cuerdale Hoard – the largest hoard of Viking silver ever found outside of Russia.

Money Matters project officer Matt Ball and curator of history James Arnold attended a ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London to receive the award.

Matthew Ball, Money Matters Project Curator (left) and James Arnold, Curator of Social History (right) receiving the Collections Practice award from Alex Dawson, Programmes Manager (Standards), Collections Trust.

Councillor Veronica Afrin, executive member for leisure and culture, said: “We are delighted that the hard work of Harris staff to develop and deliver this innovative project has been recognised with the national Collections Trust Collections Practice Award.

“Money Matters has successfully challenged the idea that coins are ‘small and boring’ with a range of fascinating displays and well-attended events for adults and children.”

The project has been funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund and the Friends of the Harris Museum and Art Gallery.

Head of arts and heritage at Preston City Council, Alex Walker, said: “Thanks to funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund and the Friends of the Harris and the hard work of our staff, the project is on track to achieve its aims of improving the storage and condition of the coins, helping Harris staff better understand and display the coin collection, enabling young people to learn from the coin collection and supporting fellow North West museums with similar collections by sharing good practice.”