Scottish Banks and Safes
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of approximately 20 banks and safes, which date broadly from 1066 to 1999. They represent how banks and individuals stored and saved money and precious goods for both corporate and personal use. This collection comprises boxes, keys, wallets and purses, which are made from metal, wood, ceramic and textiles. The oldest money box in the collection is a medieval strongbox made of wood and metal, which was probably made in England. Other simple safes and boxes include two boxes for savings banks in Glasgow, and one for the General Post Office Savings Bank and another for the Bank of Scotland, all of which are metal. Another box, made of wood, has two locks and was made for the Ladywell and Drygate Foot Friendly Society in 1804. The collection has six keys that are without their matching safes and boxes. Five were used in Glasgow’s Ship Bank and one for a safe belonging to the British Linen Bank, which was among Scotland’s chartered banks.
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