We all know coins are handy little things, for buying a coffee, paying for parking or saving in money boxes, but what if we told you they also have a more varied and secret life?

Welcome to the very first episode of our new podcast series, where we discover the surprising, quirky, and downright fascinating ways in which coins have been used over the centuries.

And we’re kicking things off with a bang, or should that be a ‘bong’— at one of our most iconic landmarks: Big Ben. We all know the sound of the famous chimes, familiar on New Year’s Eve or every day before the news, they are part of the soundtrack of British life. But you may not realise that it is the humble coin which plays a vital role in keeping the clock running to time.