York for Sale!

Well I am very familiar with the buildings for sale in this version of Monopoly, but I have no idea about the currency symbol on this board. Does anyone recognise which country the M with 2 horizontal lines through it comes from?

Minerva

Variously described as the Goddess of Wisdom, War, Arts & Crafts, Minerva sits above a shop at the corner of Minster Gate and High Petergate. She is shown accompanied by an owl (for wisdom) and leaning on a column (for architecture) amongst her books (for poetry). The figure was crafted by John Wolstenholme in 1801.

The shop below used to be a booksellers where authors and readers gathered to discuss the latest literary offerings in a kind of early version of the book club.

York Coat of Arms

This is the City of York coat of arms as seen on a local bus. The Cross of St George with five lions is often displayed as here on a sword and mace surmounted by a cap of maintenance. The building reflected in the bus is the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.

St William's College

William FitzHerbert was twice Archbishop of York.  On his return to York as Archbishop Ouse Bridge collapsed as his triumphal precession crossed but no one was killed. This event plus a couple of posthumous miracles led to him being canonized in 1227. This is part of  the doorway to Saint Williams’s college. Dating from 1465 it was built next to the Minster to house the chantry priests. 

In the 14^th and 15^th century wealthy citizens could ensure a life of ease in the next world by leaving a sum of money in their will to endow a chantry chapel, and pay for a priest to say a daily mass on their behalf. The arms of St William are on the left and the crossed keys of the See of York on the right.

The Yorkshire Rose

The white rose is both a symbol of the City of York and the County of Yorkshire. The origins of the emblem are thought to be in the 14th century with Edmund of Langley the first Duke of York. After the Battle of Minden on August 1st 1759, Yorkshiremen of the 51st regiment picked white roses as a tribute to their fallen comrades. Yorkshire Day is celebrated on this date each year. This White Rose can be found on one of the gates to the city walls. It seemed an appropriate image to start a daily photo blog of York.