Museum of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile opens Fresh History, showing new additions to the city's collection

What do a Roman gold coin, a 1950s dolls' pram and a bundle of 19th-century pawn shop tickets have in common? They are all recent additions to Edinburgh's civic collection, and they are now on show together at the Museum of Edinburgh.

Fresh History: Objects recently added to the City's collection opened on 22 October and runs until 31 March 2027. Admission is free.

The highlights include a Roman gold coin found at Cramond, prints by Edinburgh's own Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, 18th-century Edinburgh silver, and a 1950s dolls' pram from the Museum of Childhood collection. Neolithic tools sit alongside a sculpture by Phyllis Bone and a ceramic work by Kathleen Horsman. Each object comes with its own story, told by the curators, donors, funders and everyone involved in bringing it into the city's care.

Exhibition curator Vicky Garrington said the show was a wonderful opportunity to display art and objects that visitors might not expect to find together. She said it was the unexpected pairings that bring the exhibition to life, and that she likes to think of the objects and artworks all talking to each other across the centuries.

Council leader Jane Meagher said Fresh History offers a range of different perspectives on the history of Edinburgh and beyond, and thanked members of the public who are willing to donate treasured artworks and objects so that local heritage can reach a wider audience.

The museum itself is part of the attraction. Found on the historic Royal Mile, it invites visitors to explore a maze-like 16th-century interior full of objects, along with stories of the city's history. As well as its permanent collections, it runs a programme of special exhibitions through the year.

Archaeology material from the city's collections is also part of the display, giving the show a sweep that runs from prehistory to the 20th century.

With the exhibition open through the winter, it makes a good rainy-day visit for families and anyone curious about how a city's collection keeps growing.

The Museum of Edinburgh is free to visit and is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. More details are on the Edinburgh Museums website.