Medieval Money, Merchants, and Morality closes Sun, 3/10! Left, a dying man waits for a priest to perform Last Rites (religious rituals for the dying). Without them, his soul cannot enter heaven but can be admitted to purgatory, seen as a place of purification by fire (right).

Let’s play a game! Here, coins are one of the four suits in a deck of playing cards commissioned by Francesco Sforza, a condottiere (mercenary leader) who became duke of Milan. Appropriately, the enthroned King of Coins holds a huge gold coin as well as a scepter.

Medieval money management advice: the text on this page recommends that when a man nears the age of 48, he should acquire what he needs to sustain him in his old age, an act of prudent money management.

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Commissioned by Catherine of Cleves, this prayerbook is one of the greatest Dutch illuminated manuscripts ever produced. The coins in the border are painted so accurately that most can be identified. The saintly Pope Gregory is shown in the central image.

Did you catch us on the Today Show yesterday? Curators Philip Palmer and Erica Ciallela were honored to share the story of Belle da Costa Greene and her legacy! #MorganLibrary #BelledaCostaGreene

It’s all about balance! Balances were used to check the weight of medieval coins. A coin would be placed in the balance’s flat triangular pan, while a brass piece, equivalent to the coin’s standard weight, was set in the round pan.

At nearly 800 lbs, this strongbox would have been nearly impossible for thieves to cart away! This one has an advanced security system, with nine bolts and various leaf-shaped shields operated by a system of levers and springs.

The character Sorgheloos (“Carefree” in medieval Dutch) figures in a popular Netherlandish story that served as a morality tale for the late medieval bourgeoisie who could afford luxury objects like this exquisite stained-glass roundel. #medieval #MedievalMoney

Who knew medieval paintings also offered budgeting advice? Joachim and Anna, the Virgin Mary’s parents, are portrayed here as models of charitable behavior. Joachim and Anna kept only 1/3 of their income, giving another third to the poor and the remainder to the Temple. #medieval

Is it moral to make money using money? Many medieval thinkers, inspired by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, condemned usurers and investors who made money multiply “against nature” and hoarded earnings rather than recirculating them and benefitting others.

Happy New Year from the Morgan! Here's a small sneak peek of what's to come: in 2024, we're exploring the life of Beatrix Potter, drawings by Walton Ford, and the life and legacy of our first director, Belle da Costa Greene.

We can't wait to see you in 2024!

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot . . . Happy New Year's Eve from the Morgan! The full poem of Auld Lang Syne is handwritten here in this letter, from the creator Robert Burns to the Scottish music collector George Thomson. #NewYearsEve #AuldLangSyne

Happy New Year's Eve from the Morgan! What do you have planned for January so far? Calendars in Books of Hours often had illustrations of the 'labors of the month': this illustration for January suggests we should be keeping warm and feasting! #medievalist

After St. Anthony Abbot withdrew to the wilderness to avoid worldly temptation, the devil tested him repeatedly. Here the saint resists a large mass of gold that appears on his path-- throwing up his arm in alarm, he flees so hastily his robe flutters behind him. #medieval

Happy Holidays from the Morgan! 🎁 🎄 ✨ Whether you're traveling or staying at home this holiday season, we hope you have a warm, safe, and joyous time.

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We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Véra Molnar, a Hungarian-born artist who has been called the godmother of generative art for her pioneering digital work. We honor her work and legacy to the contemporary art landscape. #VeraMolnar

Check out this detail! This stained glass tells the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. Before distributing inheritances to his sons, the father weighs each coin on a balance. The Prodigal Son (right) shovels his gold coins into a bulging moneybag. He will not spend them wisely.

Even though this one is red, in medieval times carnations were called “pinks”! This young man clutches one, a symbol of betrothal, suggesting it is a wedding portrait. He was an Italian merchant colony in Bruges, a city that has been called “the cradle of capitalism.” #medieval

Due to inclement weather, the Morgan will close at 4PM on Sunday, December 10. Keep safe and dry!

More money, more problems? The Parable of the Prodigal Son, about a young man who squanders his inheritance on frivolities, was a popular subject in late medieval art. Dürer’s engraving focuses on the moment when he renounces his dissolute life. #medieval