Great Britain York Minster Souvenir Medallion (wear)

Great Britain York Minster Souvenir Medallion (wear)

There has been a church at the site of York Minster since the 7th century, when a little wooden chapel was slapped up in a hurry to baptize King Edwin of Northumbria. Edwin soon replaced that little wooden church with a stone one, and the rest is history -- the site has been central to English Christians ever since. The present building was put up between the 13th and 15th centuries. Spending 200 (or 300 ... or 600) years building a nice church was relatively normal in the High Middle Ages and Early Modern Period, and so buildings like York Minster act as architectural timelines, with Gothic foundations rising elegantly into airy Renaissance spires. Rare amongst medieval churches (which have generally been through a lot), York Minster retains most of its original stained glass, including one absolutely dazzling window the size of a tennis court that depicts scenes from Genesis and the Book of Revelation. If you're curious about what medieval artists were capable of at their best, the stained glass of York Minster is something to look up!

This token, produced by the Tower Mint, honours this historic British cathedral. On the reverse is a detailed engraving of York Minster's east facade, which includes its enormous stained glass window. The medallion comes in its original, Tower Mint-branded case. Please note, the case shows some wear and yellowing, in particular a large stain on the lid. The medallion shows some scuffs and marks.