Coin news 2011 12

A Very Strong Half Year

1Coin news

ADVERTISERS INDEX—SEE PAGE 99

Editor’s Comment ...............................................2

Coin news & views .......................................... 12

View of the Bay ................................................. 22

Around the World ............................................ 24

New issues coin update ................................ 26

Royal Mint Bulletin .......................................... 28

Market Scene .................................................... 31

Price Guide to HALF SOVEREIGNS ............ 68

Coin of the Month ........................................... 70

Banknote News ................................................ 75

Price Guide to COMMERCIAL BANK OF SCOTLAND LTD .......................................................... 82

New issues banknote update...................... 84

Letters .................................................................. 87

Dealer Lists ......................................................... 88

Diary Dates ........................................................ 90

Semi-display adverts ...................................... 94

The Web Directory .......................................... 96

Classifi ed advertising ..................................... 98

REGULARS

Front cover The Bredon Hill hoard—see page 21 for details

21 SpotlightHoard from the HillThe latest exciting detector discovery

41 InsightThe VisigothsThe coinage of a Germanic tribe

44 OpinionLima Treasure—an alternative viewWhat really happened in 1745?

46 Pro� le Up close to an entrepreneurChat with the founder of the Scoin Shop chain

49 Collector’s notebookJustice on-lineThe case of Goodwill Chester

52 Out and aboutEstonia joins the EuroA numismatic history of a new addition

55 BackgroundCoins of the Bloody BoneGerman New Guinea issues examined

59 TokensSix New Zealand towns and their tokensTrading in the land of the long white cloud

73 Back to basicsHorse tradingHelpful buying hints for new collectors

77 Banknote featureScottish banknote numbering systemsA complex approach to numbering explained

to all our readers

Incorporating BANKNOTE NEWS

COIN NEWS

I S S N 0 9 5 8 - 1 3 9 1

December 2011 Volume 48 No. 12Formerly Coin & Medal News incorporatingCoins & Medals, Irish Numismatics, and Banknote News

Published monthly by Token Publishing Ltd.

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2 Coin news www.tokenpublishing.com December 2011

Editor’s comment

JOHN W. MUSSELLGroup Managing Editor

Worth notingBACK in 2009 the Bank of England announced that the next design of the £50 note would

feature the Engineers and business partners Matthew Boulton and James Watt. Following the introduction of the somewhat controversial “Adam Smith” £20 it was assumed that the new

£50 would follow soon after. This was not to be and it wasn’t until October of this year that the notes were formally put into circulation. The choice of design is an interesting one—it is the fi rst time two people have appeared on a British note as opposed to just one and of course Boulton is already famous in numismatic circles for his work with coins (having set up the Soho Mint). It is the second time engineers have featured (George Stephenson appeared on the £5) and alongside Faraday (£20) and Newton (£1) this means “science” has been far more represented than “arts” with only Dickens (£10) and Shakespeare (£20) representing writers and Elgar (£20) Music, I’ll leave it to you whether you consider Darwin (£10) to be a scientist or not (he’s considered a “naturalist” by the Bank of England) and whether Architecture (the Wren £50) is an art or a science…! Other fi elds have been represented on Bank of England notes of course: nursing and social reform have given us the only female fi gures to grace our notes so far (the Florence Nightingale £10 and the Elizabeth Fry £5) and politics/military history gave us the Duke of Wellington on the £5 back in the 1970s. The Bank themselves got a look in with Sir John Houblon, their fi rst Governor, but he was little known outside banking/collector circles and I doubt whether many of the general public know who he is even today—even after 17 years gracing the £50!

The exact way the Bank choose their historical fi gures is not known although it is assumed it is done by committee. But what is certain is that they have a freely available list of those persons whose names have been suggested as worthy to appear on our notes (and as they reserve the right to remove names from that published list as they see fi t one can only assume that these people have actually been considered) and that makes for some interesting reading. Many who feature are those who you might expect: Samuel Pepys, Geoffrey Chaucer, Francis Drake (although not Sir Walter Raleigh), Josiah Wedgwood (who, interestingly was Watt and Boulton’s backer and fellow member of the Lunar Society), Lord Nelson, Jane Austen, William Wordsworth, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Sir Alexander Fleming (even though he was a Scot and so like Smith would be a controversial choice to grace an English note) and Sir Winston Churchill, but others are less obvious. Included in the list are such “non-household” names as the writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equinao, wood engraver Thomas Bewick, economist David Ricardo, actor Ira Aldridge, professional rower and boat builder Harry Clasper and aviation pioneer George Caley (Cayley). Also found are a host of “celebrities” including the Beatles, David Beckham, Richard Branson, Robbie Williams and Jonny Wilkinson—even Sir Terry Wogan gets a look in. Thankfully there is no listing for Katie Price at this stage. . . .

Looking at the list we can, perhaps, guess who will, or won’t be featured on our banknotes in the coming years. It is unlikely, in this “we’re all Europeans together now” era that Lord Nelson, vanquisher of the French and Spanish Navies at Trafalgar will be chosen, despite Wellington’s earlier appearance. Similarly Sir Winston Churchill may be passed over as indelicate, or at the very least politically divisive, and Sir Barnes Wallis, most famous for inventing the bouncing bombs of “Dambuster” fame stands no chance! Political considerations will probably also keep Sir Robert Peel, Lord Shaftesbury, Lord Townsend, Earl Mountbatten and Lord King from appearing, but even with party politics and all the back-stabbing surrounding that there is no reason why the fi rst woman MP, Nancy Astor, shouldn’t be included. Indeed when you look at names such as Jane Austen, Elizabeth Browning, , Edith Cavell, Grace Darling, Emmeline Pankhurst, Beatrix Potter and Marie Stopes, you have to wonder why the relatively unknown Elizabeth Fry was chosen as only the second woman to appear on a note, and why more of the above haven’t appeared up until now. Some names clearly were included on the list to show that the Bank wasn’t entirely backward thinking, but I fi nd it hard to envisage Sir Michael Parkinson or Sir Jimmy Saville gracing our currency and similarly cricketer Michael Vaughn might not make a short list. It is unlikely that Prince Philip, the late Queen Mother or Princess Diana will ever be featured, but others are obvious contenders. Artists such as Turner, Constable and Gainsborough cry out to have their image, and works, on a note; the daffodil design that would accompany a Wordsworth £10 would be delightful and the potential for a William Morris £5 is obvious. That all aside there are some people not on the list that I think should be: Agatha Christie perhaps? What about Lord Byron or Mary Shelley (perhaps alongside her husband?). Then there’s Captain Cook, Ernest Shackleton, William Blake, Lawrence of Arabia, Charlie Chaplin, J. R. R. Tolkien, David Livingstone, Leonard Cheshire, and a host of others. Most of those the Bank have listed will of course never appear on a note, at least not in our lifetimes and so those I’ve mentioned separately stand no chance. But think of it this way—that we are incredibly lucky to live in a country that has produced so many fi gures of historical importance that we have such a list to choose from. In today’s celebrity-obsessed society it is perhaps worth remembering that some of the people we admire, and who are worthy of gracing our currency, actually did something with their talents rather than just spend their time seeking more and more fame and money!

December 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com 3Coin news


GOULBORN COLLECTION Ltd • 4 Sussex Street, Rhyl LL18 1SG Tel: (01745) 338112 eve (07960) 788749


Super sales at KünkerA FULL week of sales for Osnabruck-based auction house Künker

saw great activity and much excitement over lots ranging from named collections to rare gold pieces. The fi rst sale saw estimates surpassed by around 40 per cent, achieving just under 1.8 million euros. Day two totalled a hammer price of 1.6 million euros—60 per cent over the pre-sale estimates. Franz Joseph I (Emperor of Austria 1848–1916) had an entire catalogue (195) dedicated to him. Featuring 788 lots, the total result of almost 900,000 euros exceeded

expectation by about 80 per cent. Other highlights included a King of Poland (1649–68) double ducat 1650 from Fraustadt which reached

75,000 euros, while part two of the Julius Hagander Collection of Swedish coins achieved an impressive total of 12 million euros (hammer price). The

Hagander collection proved a real show-stopper with the unique gulden of King Gustav Vasa (1528) estimated at 50,000 euros making a fi nal hammer price of 180,000

euros to resounding cheers in the room! The third part of the Julius Hagander Collection is scheduled for March 2012. The fi nal day offered the Russia and China consignments with the

1,300 lots doubling their pre-sale estimates to almost 2.6 million euros. The full results of the one week auction can be viewed online at www.kuenker.de.

News & views

Detector discoveryTWO metal detectorists have unearthed a large hoard of Roman coins while detecting over farmland below Bredon Hill,

near Evesham. The two men, Jethro Carpenter and Mark Gilmore had just started detecting over the land when Mr Carpenter’s machine started to bleep and the display fl ashed up “overload”. They started digging and began unearthing the fi rst of some 3,700, mainly bronze, coins. The fi nd was reported to the local Finds Liaison Offi cer on June 20 but the news has been kept under wraps until now while further excavations have taken place. Most of the coins are thought to date from the 3rd century AD and were found in a clay pot from which soil analysis suggests dates from about AD 350. The hoard will be subject to a Coroner’s inquest shortly and is expected to be declared treasure. If so, a fair market valuation for the hoard will be set by the British Museum and a local museum will be given the opportunity to buy it for that sum. It is understood that the fi nd is the largest ever in Worcestershire and that the coins depict a total of 16 different Roman emperors. Full story on page 21.

Centenary celebrations FIVE new “commemorative” circulation coins were revealed during a ceremony

at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec, on October 7, 2011. Billed as part of the centenary celebrations of Parks Canada, the series is composed of one 1 dollar piece, one 2 dollar piece, and three 25 cent pieces, all with environment-related designs.

The 1 dollar coin, which was put into circulation on October 7, commemorates Parks Canada’s centenary. The mintage has been set to 5 million pieces. The second piece, a 2 dollar, celebrates the Canadian boreal forest as a way of marking that the year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forest by the United Nations. Five million pieces will be put into circulation in November 2011. The three different 25 cent pieces are dedicated to animals indigenous to Canada: the wood bison (to be released in February 2012), the orca (March), and the peregrine falcon (April). The mintage for each of the 25 cent coins has been set at 12.5 million pieces, half of which will be enhanced by the addition of colour behind the animal: green for the bison, blue for the orca, and yellow for the falcon. For more information visit the Royal Canadian Mint’s website at www.mint.ca.

Serge Pelletier

The unique gulden of Gustav Vasa (1521–60) which realised 180,000 euros.

Robberyretribution THE trial of the man charged

with raiding coin dealer David Allen’s shop, Cambridge Coins in Biggleswade, in January, took place in October with the culprit being sent to prison for four years. The man, 72-year-old John Gladwin, was found guilty of attacking Mr Allen and stealing around £74,000 worth of his stock. Gladwin was described by the judge presiding at Luton Crown Court as “an old lag” who had been in and out of prison since the 1950s. Gladwin posed as a customer and asked to see a Victorian sovereign, he then called an accomplice on his mobile phone and when he arrived the two men tied up Mr Allen. The two men then left and Mr Allen was able to free himself and alert the police. Fortunately for the police, Gladwin had left his mobile phone in the shop and they were able to identify him by this. Police are continuing their efforts to identify and apprehend Gladwin’s accomplice.

Royal Canadian Mint’s website at Serge PelletierSerge Pelletier

News & viewsNews & views

December 2011


P.O. Box 352, London NW11 7RF Tel: 020 8458 9933

[email protected]

CHRISTOPHER EIMER

2nd Edition, 2010:2,230 Entries/2,400 Colour Images.

Price: £75.00. (UK postage, please add £8)

www.christophereimer.co.uk

Postal plunderON October 17, a Brinks shipment from Professional Coin Grading Service to Heritage Auctions was apparently broken into, and

the fi nest known USA 1870-CC $20 stolen. The coin is graded AU58 by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation and carries NGC Certifi cation ID 3414402-001. Paul Minshull of Heritage said, “When we opened the Brinks bag, it was evident that the shipping box had been sliced open, and the PCGS box within was empty. We immediately called PCGS, who confi rmed that their security surveillance video showed that the box and package with the coin were shipped as usual and in good order. At that point, we contacted Brinks security and our insurance company, and their investigations have started. We have also reached out to the FBI. In my 29 years at Heritage I have not heard of a coin loss in a Brink shipment before, so this is an extremely rare incident.” The 1870-CC $20 rarity was only recently discovered and sent to Heritage for auction. According to Heritage President Greg Rohan, it was earmarked to go into the FUN Platinum Night auction in Orlando in January 2012. “While the coin is fully covered under our insurance, this is about more than money. It’s really about what we hope will be just a temporary loss of a numismatic treasure. This rarity was not only newly discovered and the fi nest known, but it was a gorgeous coin and the best ever seen in the marketplace. At this level of rarity, the coin will turn up in the marketplace sooner or later, and it will be identifi ed because it’s so notable. We’re working with the authorities to coordinate all avenues of inquiry to prompt an early and safe recovery of the coin and apprehend all wrongdoers.”

News & views

NEW YEAR IN NEW YORKNOW in its 40th year, the annual New York International Numismatic Convention goes from

strength to strength. Set for January 5–8, 2012, many of the world’s most prestigious dealers in foreign and ancient coins will be in attendance. Held at the Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue, the public show is held over three days (6–8) with entry for the whole three-day event just $10 (discount voucher available on-line at www.nyinc.info). Many superb auctions are also held the week of the show from Heritage on January 2 through to Gemini Numismatic Auctions on January 8. Again, full details are available on the NYINC website or call Kevin Foley on 001 414 807 0116 (fax: 001 414 423 0343).

SUCH STUFF AS DREAMS ARE MADE . . .FORMED over several decades by a collector with a passion for the arts and

a discerning taste for the most beautiful ancient Greek coins, the Prospero Collection offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a group of coins so lovingly and meticulously put together. From the height of classical art in the 5th century BC, the coins lead you through a wonderland of myth and legend with sumptuous images of the Minotaur, the heroes of the Golden Fleece and magical beasts such as the griffi n, sphinx and chimera. Artistically the coins rate amongst the fi nest examples of ancient art. Many of the coins are unique or amongst a few examples known and many have a provenance of historic collections dating from the early 19th century. Not since the Nelson Bunker Hunt collection of ancient Greek and Roman coins was sold in fi ve parts by Sotheby’s in the 1990s has the numismatic community seen the sale of such an important collection of ancient coinage. The Prospero Collection will be sold as part of Baldwin’s The New York Sale in the Vanderbilt Suite of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, on January 4, 2012. Collectors unable to attend the sale will be able to bid live on-line at www.the-saleroom.com. A limited edition hard-back copy of the catalogue has been produced to mark this very special event and is available to pre-order through the Baldwin’s website (www.baldwin.co.uk) or by contacting the London offi ce on 020 7930 9808.

Lot 213, the spectacular facing head Pantikapaion gold stater estimated at US$650,000.

Lot 163, silver dekadrachm from Syracuse, Sicily, formally part of the legendary Bunker Hunt collection and estimated atUS$150,000.



News & views

Helpingkids collectHOBBY publishing specialists in

the USA, Krause Publications, have released a new title aimed at getting the younger generation interested in numismatics. Written by Arlyn G. Sieber, A Kid’s Guide to Collecting Coins has advice on how to start a collection, to handy tips and coin tricks that will impress friends and family. Spokesman Scott Tappa, commented “coin collecting is a great hobby for people of all ages, and with this book we’re hoping to get kids involved at a young age. This book is fun, educational, and can provide hours of fun for families”. Although aimed primarily at the American market, there is plenty to inform and amuse children in any country of the world—a noble and much-needed effort! For further details and for the full list of Krause titles log onto www.krausebooks.com.

New shop open for business IT’S always good to hear of retail coin outlets in a world

dominated by on-line purchases and now Liberty Coins & Bullion have opened at 17g Vyse Street, Birmingham B18 6LE, dealing in coins and precious metals with a particular emphasis on sovereigns. Keen to offer a warm and helpful service, customers are invited to call at their retail premises, 10am–4pm, Monday–Saturday (tel: 0121 554 4432), however, you can also buy and sell with them in the comfort of your own home by logging onto www.libertycoinsbullion.co.uk.

TRITON IN NEW YORK THERE is much activity

surrounding the annual New York International Numismatic Convention and great interest in the premier auctions being held in conjunction with it. None more so than the Triton XV sales held by Classical Numismatic Group Inc (CNG) over January 3–4. An outstanding selection of Greek, Roman, British and world coins will be on offer totalling a pre-sale estimate of over $4 million. CNG are well known for the production of exceptional catalogues, which will be available for this auction in late November. Also, in association with CNG, Nomos AG will be presenting a selection from “Cabinet W” in their auction on January 4. The sale contains 19 exquisite coins which have a pre-sale estimate of over $6 million. For further details of this and the Triton XV auction and catalogue log onto www.cngcoins.com (or www.nomosag.com) or write to Classical Numismatic Group Inc, 14 Old Bond Street, London W1S 4PP (tel: 0207 7495 1888).

from “Cabinet W” in their auction on January 4. The sale contains 19 exquisite coins which have a pre-sale estimate of over $6 million. For further details of this and the Triton XV auction and catalogue log

conjunction with it. None more so than the Triton XV sales held by Classical Numismatic Group Inc (CNG) over January 3–4. An outstanding selection of Greek, Roman, British and world coins will be on

at the American market, there is plenty to inform and amuse children in any country of the world—a noble

www.krausebooks.com

For further details of this and the Triton XV auction and catalogue log onto Group Inc, 14 Old Bond Street, London W1S 4PP (tel: 0207 7495 1888).


– WE STILL NEED TO BUY –WORLD GOLD COINS

MODERN BRITISH GOLD AND SILVER PROOF COINSWORLD GOLD AND SILVER PROOF SETS

PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SELL

PAUL DAVIES

PAUL DAVIESPO BOX 17, ILKLEY, WEST YORKSHIRE LS29 8TZ, ENGLAND

PHONE: 01943 603116 OUR FAX NUMBER IS: 01943 816326

Regular Exhibitor at U.K Coin

FairsLIFE MEMBER


Private collectionsell-outTHERE was an amazing

100 per cent sold rate for Morton & Eden’s auction of a single-owner collection of “Exceptional Ancient Greek Coinage” on October 24, 2011. Specialist in charge, Tom Eden, said “This collection was formed over the last 50 years and many of the most signifi cant examples had

been purchased in the 1960s and 70s. Since then, the owner has researched and recorded

the provenance of each coin, many of which were until now previously unavailable to present-day collectors. These factors added greatly to their desirability. The response from bidders both in the room and on the Internet, was

extremely pleasing, while the results speak for themselves, recording a total of almost

double our top estimate”. The sale made an impressive £4,071,156 ($6,518,842). Morton & Eden’s next sale is on November 29–30 and offers ancient, Islamic, British and world coins. Contact the auctioneers on 020 7493 5344 (www.mortonandeden.com) for more details.

News & views

Samoa Launches New CoinageSAMOA’S new coinage was offi cially unveiled on

October 3 in Apia by Faumuina Tiatia Fa’aolatane Liuga, the Minister of Finance of the Government of Samoa. The coins had been struck by the Royal Australian Mint as their fi rst overseas contract following the Canberra mint’s major makeover. The event was attended by RAM CEO Ross MacDiarmid as well as International Business Director Dr Prabir De, both garbed appropriately for the South Pacifi c in tropical shirt, i.e. faitaga, and an asoa apiece.

Dr Kerry Rodgers

From left: RAM CEO Ross MacDiarmid, Atalina Ainuu-Enari Governor of the Central Bank of Samoa, and International Business Director RAM Dr Prabir De. (Image courtesy Central Bank of Samoa.)

HERE was an amazing 100 per cent sold rate for

been purchased in the 1960s and 70s. Since then, the owner has researched and recorded

the provenance of each coin, many of which were until now previously unavailable to present-day collectors. These factors added greatly to their desirability. The response from bidders both in the room and on the Internet, was

collection was formed over the last 50 years and many of the most signifi cant examples had

been purchased in the 1960s and 70s.

extremely pleasing, while the results speak for themselves, recording a total of almost

double our top estimate”. The sale made an impressive £4,071,156 ($6,518,842). Morton & Eden’s next sale is on November 29–30 and offers ancient, Islamic, British and world coins. Contact the auctioneers on 020 7493 5344 (www.mortonandeden.com) for more details.

The Gortyna stater made an

auction record for a Cretian coin.

The Syracuse decadrachm was the second most valuable coin in the sale.


Happy dealersORGANISERS of this year’s Coinex were more than happy

with proceedings and there were smiles amongst the dealers too! Held at the Millennium Hotel, Grosvenor Square on September 30–October 1, the high entry cost on the fi rst day, £50, did result in reduced numbers through the door, however, there were some serious buyers in the room and the majority of dealers reported the 2011 Coinex a great success. The 2012 event will be held at the same venue on September 28–29—get saving now!

Top left: Heads down working hard at the Den of Antiquity stand; above, time for smiles and a hug between Tanya from TimeLine Originals and Derek Glover; left, John Philpotts awaits the next customer as Catherine and Charlie Riley take time out for hugs and smiles!

Address changeGOULBORN Collection Ltd have a change of address and all postal correspondence should now be directed to their shop address

at 4, Sussex Street, Rhyl LL18 1SG. The telephone number remains the same for daytime contact 01745 338112, however, the evening number has changed to 07960 788749.

17Coin news


International Association of Professional Numismatists IAPN

News & views

MADE IN WALESA PACKED Mercure Holland House, Cardiff witnessed the Royal Mint

being presented with the Manufacturing Innovation Award as part of the fi rst ever “Made in Wales Awards”. The Mint primarily focuses on making and distributing United Kingdom coins as well as supplying offi cial medals and blanks to around 60 countries every year. They impressed judges with new processes for metal plating and associated waste which saves the company around £250,000 a year. Chief Executive, Adam Lawrence said, “the Royal Mint takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously. We are committed to meeting legislative guidelines and strive to be an industry leader. The recent investment in our new water recycling plant clearly demonstrates our continued commitment to environmental innovation. By adopting technology that is best in class we are ensuring a safe environment for our workforce and the local community”.

George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, opening the Mint’s award-winning facility earlier this year.

TWO dates were missed off of the Midland Fair advertisement in the COIN YEARBOOK 2012. The missing dates are for next year so pop them in your diary now—November 13 and July 8, 2012.

FOLLOWING the successful launch of coinshopuk.co.uk by Allgold the company now has a contact telephone number as well as the usual web address. They can be reached on 0844 544 7952.

NAMED collections are always of great interest and one sure to please is the sumptuous Matthew Rich collection of Celtic coins offered by DNW on

December 7. Tel 020 7016 1700 or go to www.dnw.co.uk for catalogue details.

PRINTERS of COIN NEWS, Buxton Press of Derbyshire scooped top honours at the recent Print Week Awards. They were voted “Printing Company of the Year”. We couldn’t agree more—well done Buxton Press!

RARE and fi ne coins are the forte of Coinage of England Ltd so if you are thinking of buying or selling good quality English coins they can be contacted on 020 7538 5686 or go to their website at www.coinageofengland.co.uk.

IN BRIEF Encapsulation boosts confi dence

NO less than four leading auction houses from Belgium, France, Ireland and

Switzerland featured high-grade PCGS authenticated coins in their auctions over the autumn. Auction houses Millon & Associes of Paris and the International Coin Exchange of Dublin have recently held their sales while Monnaies d’Antan of Brussels and Maison Palombo of Geneva hold theirs the last week of November. Many of the “gems” in each of these sales are PCGS certifi ed coins presented for authentication at previous Paris grading weeks. The next grading week will take place on December 5–9 at the PCGS Paris offi ce. To obtain more information, EU dealers can contact the Paris offi ce at [email protected] or telephone Muriel Eymery at 00 33 (0) 1 40 20 09 94



Spotlight

It was in this shire that I started writing on coins with a weekly column in 1969 in the Kidderminster News & Stourport Times. The only signifi cant coin fi nd in Worcestershire that I can readily recall is the some 200 silver pieces dating from 1280 to the

mid-15th century discovered at Wyre Piddle in 1967. However, I do confess that it is the village’s name as opposed to the material that has made an impact on my mind. However, the discovery

of nearly 3800 mainly bronze Roman coins on Bredon (pronounced Breedon) Hill, southwest of Evesham in the Vale of the same name will be remembered. The hill is

one of the country’s important wildlife sites and although the small tower at its summit is only mid-18th century, there are the remains of an Iron Age fort nearby, while on the north side there are the remains of Elmley Castle, a large medieval fortifi cation.

In the summer of 2011 Jethro Carpenter and Mark Gilmore, two friends from childhood and metal detecting enthusiasts, were enjoying a walk on the Hill with their detectors. In a scenario that is every metal detectorist’s dream, within minutes of putting the devices to the ground, one of the screens registered “overload” and it was clear that a large fi nd had been discovered. For two hours the duo excavated the area by hand, unearthing coin after coin before appreciating the magnitude of their discovery and the relevant authorities, the Portable Antiquities Scheme, the Coroner for Worcestershire and the landowner, were alerted to the fi nd.

43-year-old Jethro Carpenter remarked at the press conference held in Worcester on Friday, October 21, 2011: “As a child you watch pirate fi lms and dream of fi nding buried treasure being uncovered in chests but the truth is that as a metal detector enthusiast you can hunt for months on end and fi nd nothing so much as a dropped penny. I’ve known the Bredon Hill area for more than twenty years and taken my detector there countless times so never in a million years did I expect to come across such a fi nd. On the day of the discovery, my detector was down for no more than fi ve minutes when it started to make a high-pitched noise, indicating a lot of buried metal below foot. Even more excitingly, the screen fl ashed up ‘overload’. Mark and I started digging and uncovered coin after coin. It was so exciting, my heart was racing as they just kept on appearing and I could see the head of an emperor visible indicating they were Roman. This fi nd offers a window into a completely different world and it makes you wonder ‘who

buried these coins and why?’ It’s amazing that the Museums Service, archaeology experts and metal detectorists can work together to try and help us piece together this jigsaw.”

Mark Gilmore, aged 47, was 50 feet away when the fi nd was made. He spoke of his excitement at discovering the tell-tale signs of a big fi nd. “When Jethro called me over, I dug down and found a bit of pottery,” he said. “When you get a good signal and fi nd pottery, you know you’re on to something good. My heart started fl uttering, it’s unbelievable.” Since the exciting discovery, which took place in June 2011, experts from Worcestershire County Council Historic Environment and Archaeology Service (WHEAS) have undertaken an assessment of the site and uncovered evidence of a Roman settlement. Tom Vaughan, Project Manager at WHEAS indicated that the hoard was found on the side of the hill in an area that was densely populated with Roman farmsteads. However, the exact location is being kept secret.

Richard Henry, the Liaison Offi cer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme said, “The discovery of this coin hoard is really exciting news for Worcestershire and of major signifi cance, not only for the county but also the country. The 3,784 coins span 38 years and are a fascinating little piece of history dating from a turbulent time during which the Roman Empire saw revolts, rebellions, plague and invasions. This project is a fantastic example of the ways different professional groups and the fi nders can work together to help preserve our nation’s heritage.” It is believed that that the coins were buried in around AD 350, when there was a revolt involving the Dobunni and Cornovil tribes that were based in the Welsh Marches [the term used to describe the Wales-England border]. However, following additional research that WHEAS undertook with the British Museum, it is believed the most recent coins in the hoard were minted around 80 years before they were buried.

The coins are currently with the British Museum for conservation and research. When this is completed, the information will enable the Coroner, Geraint Williams, to decide whether the hoard should be declared as treasure. If this is the case, a market valuation will be set by the British Museum and Worcestershire County Museum will have four months to raise the funding if they decide to acquire the fi nd for long-term exhibition in the county. Until November 26, 2011, a selection of coins from the hoard is on display at the Worcester City Art Gallery.

The English poet Alfred Edward Houseman immortalised Bredon Hill in his cycle of 63 poems entitled A Shropshire Lad published in 1896.

HOARD from the hillIn the summer of 2011, a hoard of 3,784 Roman coins were found at Bredon Hill in Worcestershire. It is the county’s largest such fi nd and one of national importance. JOHN ANDREW reports, having fi rst taken a trip down memory lane . . .

WORCESTERSHIRE is a gem of a county in the English Midlands, west of the nation’s second largest city, Birmingham. I grew up there, indeed I went to King Charles I Grammar School in Kidderminster, the only

school to which the King gave a Royal Charter. He supposedly hid up an oak tree in this verdant shire during the Civil War of 1642–49. That was not the only concealment in the county. Harvington Hall, a moated medieval and

Elizabethan manor house has the country’s fi nest series of priest hides. Then there are the majestic Malvern Hills upon which the composer Sir Edward Elgar walked for

inspiration. To the south of these there is the British Camp, the Iron Age hill fort with its 2,000-year-old ramparts. In brief it is a beautiful historic county.


A VIEW OF THE BAYHere we take a look at some of the numerous numismatic items offered over the auction website eBay. This is just a small selection which have caught our eye. Read on and see if you agree with our reviewer (comments in italics) . . . Unless stated otherwise the descriptions are as the eBay listing written by the seller.

Great Britain Victoria Shilling dated 1850. High grade condition, hair and most de-tails visible. Rare date especially in this condition.—£1,047.

The Coin Yearbook 2011 values an example at £1,000 in VF and the £9.99 start attracted

22 bids from nine bidders. It had an attractive tone that appeared to be natural and was in

VF or slightly better condition. To achieve full catalogue value was a good

result for the seller.An old 1977 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee five pound size commemorative crown coin. Although these rare 34 year old coins appear to be uncirculated they are not collector quality and therefore there may well be some surface scratching and/or surface blemishes/toning. (Library picture used, but I can confirm that the crown will be in similar condition).—£0.99.By listing a large number of coins every week this seller has reached a feedback score of over

5,000 in 4½ years, which is an impressive record. Every 25p face value crown coin that he offers is described in this curious way and

they are listed in the eBay category for £5 coins. The majority of his sales are for 99p

plus 99p for postage but as he repeatedly lists the same types of coins he can use an eBay

template thus greatly reducing the amount of listing time required.

Have for sale very old looking and interesting bank note (see photos). It looks like promissory note and saying. “I Promise to pay to William Shakespeare

or bearer, on Demand, the sum of one hundred pounds For the Governor and Company Of Globe, Bank Side” William Burbage, been issued in 1603. There is also fold sheet of paper with sign “Shakespeare Note” and looks like an envelope.—£112.This very unusual item was started at £69.99 attracting nine bids from just two bidders, the

winning bid was placed over a day before the auction ended which does not happen often on eBay. It did appear to be old, but not to

date from 1603 of course, and not a modern concoction and the price appears reasonable

for such an interesting spoof note.The very last ploughman banknote to be issued by this bank, it is also the very last prefix for their entire £1 issue. This prefix and number is also listed in Irish Banknotes by Martin Macdevitt as the very last and highest number seen issued—23PA 097013. In 1970 I provided Derek Young with quite a number of these first and last prefixes of the ploughman notes from my collection for his book, published that year. None of the 1940 proposed issue have been seen, an extremely rare banknote. The last issue of the currency commission Provincial Bank of Ireland. An emergency issue currency commission consolidated banknote. Serial 23PA 097013.—£311.40.

No grade was stated by the seller but from the scans it appeared to be in fine or slightly

better condition. The high starting price of £234.50 resulted in only three bids being placed, the under bidder came in with 11

seconds left and pushed the price up by £66.90. A note bearing this date is valued

in Paper Money of Ireland at £200 in fine condition but as this note was the last prefix

the price does not seem high.1799 Great Britain 1/2 Penny with six relief gunports. PCGS MS-65RB (Red and Brown). Beautiful coin in GEM condition. Rare date in grade.—£175.

This seller was in the USA and the coin was started at $239 and it attracted six bids from

four bidders. This was a very strong result as Coin Yearbook 2011 values an example

in uncirculated condition at £100. It had been given the high grade by a US grading company (65 with the maximum being 70)

who identified it on the “slab” as being a penny, if they can’t correctly identify the

denomination how accurate will the grading of the coin be? A UK dealer recently sold

one for £250 that had been graded using a different grading system as 82 with maximum being 100. It’s very difficult to tell which was

the better buy.Charles II Silver Crown 1663 XV. I think this milled coin is in really fine condition but look at the pictures and make up your own mind.—£495.83.

This was a very nice coin and the seller assured prospective bidders that a flaw on

the obverse was not caused by removal from a mount. The start at £100 attracted 20 bids

from 11 bidders and as it was around VF condition it was a good buy, even with the

flaw.

24 Coin news www.tokenpublishing.com December 201124 Coin news www.tokenpublishing.com December 2011

THATKRUGER POND 99

Around the world

DR KERRY RODGERS

BACK in December 9, 2010 Dix Noonan Webb’s London auction included one of the major rarities of the South Africa series: a Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek gold

pond of 1898 overstamped “99” on the obverse (KM10.2; Hern Z52; F 2).

The overstamping arose at the commencement of the Second Anglo-Boer War. The British had managed to intercept the dies intended for the striking of the 1899 ponds in Lourenzo Marques. Back in darkest Pretoria the Boer authorities were unperturbed. They were determined to mark the opening of their wartime mint come what may. They hatched a cunning plan to strike ponds dated 1898 using existing dies and then overstamp/counterstamp them below Kruger’s bust.

A trial overstamping used a single “9” but this was deemed unsatisfactory and “99” was used in preference. Just 130 of these coins were produced. The few survivors are extremely rare and eagerly sought after.

The example offered by DNW had been slabbed and graded NGC AU 58 but the sale cataloguer felt drawn to comment that they felt this was, “one of the few occasions where . . . the NGC grader has been conservative”; that the coin was, “one of the fi nest known”. Certainly the bidders agreed with this sentiment. The pond eventually sold for a hammer price of £80,000 or £96,000 including the buyer’s premium. This is considerably in excess of the US$21,850 realised at Heritage Auctions in January 2010 for an “improperly cleaned” AU example.

plan to strike ponds dated 1898 using existing dies and then

A trial overstamping used a single “9” but this was deemed unsatisfactory and “99” was used in preference. Just 130 of these coins were produced. The few survivors are extremely rare and eagerly sought

The example offered by DNW had been slabbed and graded NGC AU 58 but

Around the worldAround the world


AUSTRALIA PALAU

Theme: Famous Battles—KokodaMint: Perth Mint Metal: SilverDenomination: $1Diameter: 40.6mmMintage: 5,000Contact: Perth Mint, www.perthmint.com.au

Theme: Marine Life Protection—the Anemonefi shMint: B. H. Mayer Metal: SilverDenomination: $5, $1 Diameter: 13.9mm (gold $1) 38.6mm ($5 & cupro-nickel $1), Mintage: 25,000 gold $1, 5,000 curo-nickel $1, 1,500 silver $5, Contact: Coin Invest Trust, www.coin-invest.li, or your favourite

new issue dealer.

NEPAL SLOVAKIA

Theme: Golden Jubilee of the National News AgencyMint: Central Bank of Nepal Metal: Cupro-nickelDenomination: 50 Rupees Diameter: 29.2mm Mintage: The Nuphill, www.nuphill.com, or your favourite new

issue dealer.

Theme: 800 Years of Riga MoneyMint: Kremnica Mint Metal: Silver, cupro-nickelDenomination: 1 Lats Diameter: 28mmMintage: 5,000 Contact: National Bank of Slovakia, www.nbs.sk, or your favourite new issue dealer.

NIEUE TUVALU

Theme: Star WarsMint: New Zealand Mint Metal: SilverDenomination: $1 Diameter: 40mm Mintage: 50,000Contact: Downies, PO Box, 888, Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia

3067, www.downies.com, or your favourite new issue dealer. Silver 4-coin Millennium and Darth Vador sets are also available.

Theme: Wildlife in Need—the OrangutanMint: Perth Mint Metal: SilverDenomination: $1 Diameter: 40.6mmMintage: 5,000 Contact: Perth Mint, www.perthmint.com.au

To have your new coin issues featured on this page, please email the details to [email protected]

Latest issues

Golden Jubilee of the National News AgencyTheme: Golden Jubilee of the National News Agency

Theme: Star WarsNew Zealand Mint

Theme: Wildlife in Need—the Orangutan Wildlife in Need—the Orangutan Wildlife in Need—the Orangutan

Theme: Marine Life Protection—the Anemonefi sh Marine Life Protection—the Anemonefi sh Marine Life Protection—the Anemonefi shTheme: Famous Battles—Kokoda

Latest issues Latest issues Latest issues Latest issues

Coins not shown actual size


For more information on these, or any other Royal Mint products please, contact The Royal Mint, Freepost NAT23496, PO Box 500, Llantrisant, Pontyclun CF72 8YT, United Kingdom | Telephone: 0845 60 88 300 | www.royalmint.com

As well as The Royal Mint’s world-class production facilities, the Llantrisant plant in South Wales also houses The Royal Mint Museum. It represents one of the most impressive numismatic collections in the world, featuring outstanding rarities alongside the currency we use everyday—serving as a true refl ection of the history of the coinage in the United Kingdom and of many other countries.

COIN NEWS has teamed up with the Museum to bring you an item from the collection every month.

Bulletin The latest news from The Royal Mint

The Royal Mint offers limited edition, gold, silver and base metal collector coins along with a range of precious artmedals and exclusive diamond jewellery. Below are a few carefully selected items from the current range.

Capturing the QueenTHE Royal Mint has unveiled the only offi cial UK £5 to commemorate Her

Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, FRBS, the coin features two new and exclusive portraits of the monarch. Matched only by the reign of Queen Victoria, the Queen’s great-great grandmother, this royal milestone rightly deserves a very special coin. The fi rst of the new portraits shows a contemporary image of Her Majesty dressed in formal garter robes while the second portrait, inspired by the fi rst portrait of the Queen to appear on UK coinage in 1953, features a young

monarch classically depicted wearing a laurel crown alongside the Latin words “Dirige Deus Gressus Meos”—May God Guide My Steps. Rank-

Broadley’s contemporary obverse design was inspired by the bronze sculpture of the Queen he created in 2009, which is situated in the Supreme Court. Commenting on the new coin, Kevin Clancy, Director of the Royal Mint Museum, said “working with some of the fi nest artists in Britain, the Royal Mint has captured The Queen’s likeness on the coinage for almost 60 years and in her Diamond Jubilee year we wanted to honour her remarkable achievements with a remarkable coin. Ian’s new portraits tell the story of the Queen’s long reign with beauty and elegance, dignity and character, evoking the spirit of the

Queen as only a truly gifted artist can”. Precious metal coins will be available in silver, silver proof, silver piedfort, gold-plated silver, gold

and platinum from January 2012.

medals and exclusive diamond jewellery. Below are a few carefully selected items from the current range.

Capturing the QueenTBroadley, FRBS, the coin features two new and exclusive portraits of the monarch. Matched only by the reign of Queen Victoria, the Queen’s great-great grandmother, this royal milestone rightly deserves a very special coin. The fi rst of the new portraits shows a contemporary image of Her Majesty dressed in formal garter robes while the second portrait, inspired by the

For more information on these, or any other Royal Mint products please, contact The Royal Mint, Freepost NAT23496,

dressed in formal garter robes while the second portrait, inspired by the fi rst portrait of the Queen to appear on UK coinage in 1953, features a young

monarch classically depicted wearing a laurel crown alongside the Latin words “Dirige Deus Gressus Meos”—May God Guide My Steps. Rank-

Broadley’s contemporary obverse design was inspired by the bronze sculpture of the Queen he created in 2009, which is situated in the Supreme Court. Commenting on the new coin, Kevin Clancy, Director of the Royal Mint Museum, said “working with some of the fi nest artists in Britain, the Royal Mint has captured The Queen’s likeness on the coinage for almost 60 years and in her Diamond Jubilee year we wanted to honour her remarkable achievements with a remarkable coin. Ian’s new portraits tell the story of the Queen’s long reign with beauty and elegance, dignity and character, evoking the spirit of the

Queen as only a truly gifted artist can”. Precious metal coins will be available in silver, silver proof, silver piedfort, gold-plated silver, gold

and platinum from January 2012.

dressed in formal garter robes while the second portrait, inspired by the fi rst portrait of the Queen to appear on UK coinage in 1953, features a young

Royal Academy Invitation CardTHE card illustrated here is from William Wyon, RA, Chief

Engraver at the Royal Mint, inviting John Pinches to a lecture at the Royal Academy on the evening of December 16, 1850. Pinches went on to found the famous medal-making fi rm which carried his name but he was an assistant to Wyon in the 1840s, probably in a private capacity, which helps explain why the invitation would have been sent in the fi rst place.

Quite apart from providing evidence of this important relationship, the card was acquired by the Museum recently because there have always been strong links between the Academy and the Royal Mint. Richard Yeo was one of the founding members of the Academy in 1768 and was also Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint. The links have remained, with a number of Academicians becoming respected numismatic artists, not least Gilbert Ledward, who designed the Coronation crown of 1953, and Arnold Machin who created the portrait of the Queen for United Kingdom decimal coins. Wyon stands as one of the most talented of artists to have designed British coins but, in continuing to work with Royal Academicians, the Royal Mint has benefi ted from having access to an immensely gifted group of artists.

News & viewsNews & viewsNews & views


This was a good sale with choice rarities as well as very good middle range material. Needless to say it was the English hammered gold heavyweights that were the highlights of the day. The fi rst of these on the block was a 1553 Mary ryal with its obverse featuring the Queen on a ship, standing facing the viewer, holding her orb and sceptre. Apart from a knock in the obverse fi eld, this extremely rare piece is well struck on a full round fl an and is in nearly extremely fi ne condition. An old red toning enhances it. A choice rarity, it attracts a category of buyer who wants the best of the rare breeds and has the means, as well as the willingness, to pay top money. The lot was contested to £186,000, which is just over 50 per cent above its top estimate. However, given the price of the other two choice rarities offered in this category, the realisation was not particularly spectacular.

These were both Oxford triple unites of 1644 featuring the imposing half-length fi gure of the crowned Charles I holding both a sword and a palm branch upon its obverse. The fi rst offered (above left) was generally in extremely fi ne state

and had a provenance stretching back to the 19th century. It sold for £150,000, which is 25 per cent above its top estimate. How could one better this? The second example (second from left above) was from “an old British collection” and is in “about mint state with proof-like surfaces . . . possibly the fi nest known of this type”. To use the vernacular: “What a stunner”. Estimated at £100,000 to £120,000, it was contested to a hammer price of £140,000 (£168,000 with the Buyer’s Premium). Mary ryals are far rarer than triple unites, hence my comment on the price of the fi rst English hammered rarity not being that spectacular. Price of course is determined by supply and demand and triple unites are certainly trophy pieces.

A Charles I fi rst milled issue unite by Briot was also fought over. In nearly extremely fi ne state it sold for £24,000, over double its top estimate. So does this mean that hammered gold is out of the reach of the collector of more modest means? An Edward III Treaty period noble was offered. Struck in London this is a full round coin in extremely fi ne or better condition—i.e.

THE Coinex sales were a marathon this year. A dozen auctions were held and 13 catalogues produced, weighing a total of 7 kilos. I fi rst looked at the DNW and St James’s English/British sales. Seeing two triple unites of quality in both, I was beginning to think that examples of England’s largest and heaviest gold coin was now de rigueur for

such events. However, looking at Baldwin and Spink’s sales I was relieved to see that this was not the case. Surprisingly, Stephen Fenton of St James’s advised that he turned down a further specimen for inclusion in his sale, but despite four being offered over Coinex, he still knew of two individuals who were still on the look out for an example. Triple unites have long been a favourite of the wealthy and at Spink auctioneer Richard Bishop noted that there appears to be no shortage of people prepared to pay six fi gure sums for the really super specimens. From all this it is clear that there are new buyers in the market. They are discerning and possibly are looking at coins as an art form as opposed to through the eyes of a numismatist. However, this does not mean that average material is also selling at ever-higher prices. Generally, run-of-the-mill coins are struggling and the gulf between the typical specimen and the super pieces is widening.

This longer than usual Market Scene covers all the sales over Coinex as we have not held material over for future editions, which of course would result in the reports being “stale”. As London Underground would say, “We are being held here [to read for a while] so as to regularise the service”.

Dix Noonan Webb—English and British Coins—September 26, 2011

Impressive Choice

The Mary ryal of 1553—a top rarity that made top price at £186,000.

Market sceneJOHN ANDREW


a frequently encountered type in top condition. Twenty years ago such a coin would have sold for under £1,000—but in those days, no one wanted hammered gold and this column persistently stated that the series was under-valued. It sold for £5,400. However, an Edward IV (second reign 1481–83) angel was offered in about very fi ne state. Its obverse is very slightly off-centre, but this does not detract. It sold for £1,920. So, one does not have to be super rich to collect the series, but, it cannot be done on a shoestring— but then, it never could.

The sale started with the offering of the “Charles” Collection of Anglo-Saxon and Norman coins. The group comprised just 39 pieces, but they were one of the best selections of the two series to have been offered for many years. It was formed by a gentleman who lives in the south of England whose numismatic interest began in 1954. The group had a good concentration of south-western mints and some East Anglian rarities. The highlight here was an extremely rare “Minster” type penny of Edward the Elder (899–924). In the early decades of the 10th century, there was a marked improvement in the style of the English coinage. The portraits of the coinage improved considerably so that it was on a par with the best of the Anglo-Saxon. The reverses began to feature quite elaborate types such as birds, fl owers, plants, buildings and city gates, the like of which had never been seen before, or indeed, since. This coin, struck by the moneyer Wulgar, features a church upon its reverse—hence “Minster” type. In extremely fi ne state, it was estimated at £6,000–8,000, but sold for £30,000. The “Charles” Collection totalled £193,992.

There were several other named collections in the auction, including the fi rst part of the collection of medieval coins from England, Scotland and Ireland and their continental equivalents formed by the late Jim Sazama of North Carolina. The highlight here was an Edward I (1272–1307) Class 1b penny. This Class, which was subdivided by Earle and Shirley Fox in 1910, has long been regarded as the rarest of all the Edwardian penny series. Indeed, the earlier

£9,000 hammer (no Buyer’s Premium in those days). At this event it was estimated at £110,000–120,000 and sold for a cool £180,000. As it had been imported from outside the European Union (EU), 5 per cent was added to the hammer price of £150,000 to buyers in the EU. The second triple unite (far right on previous page) is “practically mint state and lustrous”. It sold for £162,000 (£135,000 hammer). The piece had sold a couple of years ago at a St James’s Auction for a hammer price of £96,000.

Despite these prices there were still some good hammered gold available at prices that would not break the bank. My choice at this sale was a Charles I Tower mint unite with the crown mintmark for 1635–36 offered in almost extremely fi ne state with a good portrait. It sold for £2,520. Interestingly an Elizabeth I sixth issue fi ne sovereign with the A mintmark for 1582–84 in very fi ne state failed to sell. The weak Queen’s face may have been the cause. However, a very rare Elizabeth I milled gold half-pound that is slightly creased, but which is otherwise in good

The sale began with a good group of Anglo-Saxon and Norman pennies. The top price

was for a very rare Coenwulf group III penny struck at an East Anglian mint by the moneyer Wodel. In good very fi ne state, it sold for £4,800, a third above its top estimate. In other properties, a Queen Cynethryth (c. 787–92) penny struck at Canterbury by the moneyer Eoba

featuring the bust of Offa (but her titles) was sought. Apart from a fl aw on the King’s

cheek and some minor pitting this very rare piece is otherwise in good very fi ne condition and sold for £13,200.

Then the fun really began and it was beginning to feel as if it was de rigueur to have two 1644 Oxford triple unites in this year’s Coinex sales as DNW’s sale also featured two examples of this majestic coin. The fi rst (second from right on previous page) is virtually in mint state, the cataloguer describing it: “lustrous and especially sharp in all details”. The piece is from the Barnes sale held by Sotheby’s in 1974. Then it sold for

cataloguers considered these coins as patterns. Edward’s full facing bust sports very bushy hair, but no drapery. The example offered here has a provenance going back to 1786, is extremely fi ne and is attractively toned. In the cataloguer’s opinion, it is the fi nest in private hands. It sold for £12,600, more than double its top estimate. The Sazama Collection sold for £107,898.

The fi fth part of the late Alfred’s Bole’s collection of sixpences was also offered. Whereas with previous parts it has been the hammered or early milled that drew my attention, with this offering it was the modern coinage, mainly a proof or trial of the 1924 Mackennal sixpence in gold that attracted me. The fi gure 2 is struck in front of the George V’s face, which in my opinion indicates it is a trial piece. Apart from a scratch in front of the lion in the reverse fi eld, the piece is as struck. Only three examples are known. It sold for £12,000, its top estimate. This part of the Bole Collection realised £164,868.

Top price in the milled section was an 1839 proof set comprising the 15 coins from the gold Una and the lion £5 down to the copper farthing, in its original fi tted case. The gold pieces are “rather hairlined”, the silver toned. It sold for £72,000, its top estimate. Top price for a single coin was the £26,400 paid for a George II 1753 fi ve guineas. Apart from a scratch in front of the monarch’s forehead, the piece was described as “better than extremely fi ne”. Other milled highlights include a 1706 Queen Anne fi ve guineas in the same grade, £19,200; a proof 1774 guinea, apart from minor surface marks, “as struck”, £8,640; a 1739 half guinea in better than extremely fi ne grade, £2,200 and a 1746 LIMA halfcrown described as “extremely fi ne, attractively toned, £444.

The sale ended with the collection of Irish coins formed by the late Adolf Ganter which realised £52,446. There were some very good early pieces, including those of the Hiberno-Scandinavian period.

The entire sale totalled £1,518,222. Only 23 of the 910 lots failed to fi nd buyers, which emphasises the strength of the English/British market. The lots were consigned by 40 vendors and acquired by 229 buyers.

The rare “Minster” type penny sold for £30,000—way above the auctioneer’s estimate.

The rarest of the Edward I pennies, the Class 1b with a long provenance, sold for £12,600.

St James’s Auctions—English, British and Irish Coins—September 27, 2011

Pattern Bank of England 5/6—one of only two known —made £21,840.

Market sceneMarket sceneMarket scene


Market scenevery fi ne state did sell slightly above estimate at £13,200.

There was nothing of particular note among the later hammered silver, save for a Charles I very rare “Fine work” Tower mint type 3 sixpence with harp mintmark for 1632–33. Apart from a nick to the fl an at 9 o’clock, the piece is in extremely fi ne condition. It sold marginally above estimate at £3,720. However, there was an excellent collection of milled halfcrowns dating from the Commonwealth through to the present reign. The highlight here was an extremely rare George I 1726 example with the DECIMO TERTIO edge and roses and plumes in the angles of the reverse cruciform shields. Apart from a small edge fl aw, the piece is otherwise in very fi ne condition. It was contested and the hammer fell at £11,200, which is £13,440 with the Premium. The same coin sold at DNW in October 1999 for £1,750.

Other halfcrown prices included: 1674, EF, £4,920; 1686, EF, £2,775 (hammer £2,300; DNW 10/99 £550 hammer); 1689, EF, £1,800; 1696N, £1,560; 1704, GEF, £3,720 and 1841, generally EF, £4,560. The halfcrowns were followed by the Bushman Collection of Bank of England Dollars and Bank Tokens, the most extensive of its kind to be offered for many years. Now I cannot say that this is a series that I fi nd gripping. However, there was one result that caused me to sit up with a big jolt. A pattern fi ve shillings and sixpence was offered in brilliant mint state and slabbed by PCGS at PR66. Only one other type is known and that is in the Bristol Museum. The estimate was set at £6,000–8,000. A telephone bidder secured it for £21,840.

It was then back to other properties and an offering of milled. Surprisingly there was a pass on a William and Mary 1694 fi ve guineas in about uncirculated state. The piece was estimated at £14,000–16,000. However, there were fi reworks when a Queen Anne fi ve guineas of 1706 was placed on the block. This has a few light surface marks but is otherwise practically as struck. It

This was a spectacular auction for the fi rst 28 of the 804 lots offered—after that it was pretty pedestrian with lots generally selling on average for the low hundreds, but with hammer prices ranging from £35 to £8,200. However, the start of the proceedings were a completely different matter as it was devoted to the second part of the sale of a fi ne group of Greek and Roman coins from the “Cabinet of a Connoisseur”. The 28 coins sold for £1,869,840. This means just 4 per cent of the lots sold accounted for a staggering 90 per cent of the sale’s total realisation.

One can rightly conclude that most of these coins sold for fi gures that resembled telephone numbers. Top dog of those on the block was a tetradrachm issued by the magistrate Askesios at Barke, Kyrenaica in circa 360 BC. This was a North African Greek colony roughly where Libya is today. Its obverse features a now-extinct silphium plant that was used in classical antiquity as a rich seasoning and medicine and as an aphrodisiac. It was one of the region’s most valuable products, but is now extinct. However, it is the reverse that makes it remarkable. This shows the head of Zeus-Ammon with curly hair and the eyes so detailed that the pupil and iris of each are clearly visible. Zeus-Ammon is a

Hellenized version of the Egyptian Amun-Ra. The reverse appears on the dust jacket of Gerald Hoberman’s stunning book The Art of Coins and their Photography. Apart from some minor scratches to the obverse, the piece is otherwise in extremely fi ne state. It was estimated at £20,000–30,000 it sold for an eye-watering £396,000. Choice ancient rarities are commanding very high sums, whereas ordinary specimens are struggling.

The second highest price was for a gold stater struck at Pantikapaion, circa 380–370 BC. This is among the most splendid and desirable of all Greek gold coins, its obverse depicting the head of Pan, an obvious pun on the city’s name. The execution of Pan’s head is of remarkably fi ne style and delicacy. The reverse features a horned griffi n, the fabled guardian of the gold mines of the Scythians. The griffi n, with a spear in its mouth, is standing on a stalk of wheat, the main export of the region. The piece is in extremely fi ne condition with lustre. Estimated at £80,000–100,000, it sold for £222,000.

The sale totalled £2,068,488. Of the 802 lots, 94 failed to sell, which is not abnormal for an ancients’ sale. Sixteen vendors consigned the material and 76 buyers purchased the lots.

was contested to £30,600. Again this was an imported piece and buyers in the EU would have to pay a 5 per cent import levy on the hammer price of £25,500.

A George II fi ve guineas of 1741 was offered “practically as struck”. It is a real beauty and it sold just above its top estimate at £19,200. However, the real surprise was when a George IV 1826 proof fi ve pounds was offered. In good extremely fi ne state, there is no doubting that it is a cracker. The estimate was a reasonably demanding £14,000–16,000. High estimates can put off the punters, but not so here. The piece was contested to £27,600, which I believe is an auction record for this type. The corresponding two pounds was offered with a few light hairlines, but was otherwise in about mint state. It sold for £9,840. Both coins were sold under the Gold Investment Scheme, which means registered VAT buyers could claim the VAT back on the Buyer’s Premium.

Milled sovereigns proved as popular as ever. An 1841 example was offered, which apart from some surface marks upon the obverse is otherwise in about very fi ne condition. Of course this is an extremely rare date and is key in the Victorian series of this denomination. It sold for £12,720. However, this was not the top price in the later part of the sale. This went to a proof gold £1,000 issued in 2006 by Alderney to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s 80th birthday. Only 40 pieces were issued in 22 carat gold weighing 1090.86 grams. It sold for £33,840.

A selection of coins from Eire attracted attention with the top price of £1,260 paid for an extremely rare 1941 proof halfcrown in practically FDC state. The sale totalled £1,281,708.

Dix Noonan Webb—Ancient Coins—September 27, 2011

£30,600 secured the superb Anne 5 guineas.

One of only 40 pieces struck, the Alderney £1,000 of 2006 made £33,840.

The tetradrachm showing the image of Zeus-Ammon made the top price of £396,000.

The second highest price, £222,000, was paid for the gold stater of Pantikapaion.

Market sceneMarket scene


This was the fi rst of two offi cial Coinex sales. To describe it as a “general event” does not do the sale justice. It was indeed a cornucopia, brimming with a variety of numismatic delights to enchant a wide range of individuals and the trade. The proceedings started with an offering from the ancient world and appropriately for this sale included an important and rare electrum stater that is an example of the fi rst true coin as it bears both an obverse type as well as a reverse punch. Prior to this, small nuggets with blank surfaces circulated as money. The next phase was the addition of a reverse punch followed by the addition of the striated obverse as with the specimen offered at this event. Traditionally these staters were thought to have been minted on the island of Ionia in 650–600 BC, but from

hoard evidence they are more likely to have been struck at Epesos or possibly Sardes in Asia Minor. Offered in extremely fi ne state, it sold for £29,500, over three times its top estimate.

The surprise of the early English coins was an Anglo-Saxon Aethelred second hand type (985–91) penny struck by Martin of the Shrewsbury mint. This is a pleasing, fully round, good very fi ne coin that is extremely rare for this mint and type. It was contested to £4,720, which was fi ve times its top estimate. The highlight of the English section was an Edward III (1327–77) fourth coinage noble of the Treaty Period. This is a choice coin, struck on a broad fully round fl an. All aspects of its design are very well defi ned and the King’s face is excellent. It was given a fairly punchy estimate of £7,000–9,000. The bidding opened at £6,500, as there was strong interest on the book. Internet bidders then contested it until it was sold for a fantastic price of £14,160. It had been bought in 1949 for £20—about £535 in today’s money.

Again it is emphasised that the strength is at the top of the market. A dozen pieces of hammered

collections. Apart from some surface marks, the piece was described as being “extremely fi ne or better”. The piece sold for £7,800, which is nearly double its top estimate. The Roehrs Collection totalled £245,964.

A collection of US commemorative silver 1892 through 1954 was offered. This was formed by a gentleman in the UK who started collecting in the 1970s. The only surprise was a couple of General Grant 1922 half-dollars, one with and one without the star. The pair sold for £2,040.

There was considerable interest in a small group of Danish gold. It started with a very rare Frederick IV 1702 ducat offered in nearly very fi ne condition which sold for £9,850, or just over four times its top estimate. An extremely rare 1746 2 ducats in about extremely fi ne state was expected to sell for £6,000–7,000, but it was contested to £26,400. Its corresponding ducat was expected to sell for a shade less as it had a dent in the reverse fi eld, but otherwise is extremely fi ne or better. It sold for £13,200.

The sale contained 559 lots of which only 13 did not sell. 32 vendors consigned the material and 94 buyers secured it. The event totalled £503,700.

This event started with the offering of world coins from the collection of the late Edward Roehrs. The highlight was an extremely rare brass shilling issued in Bermuda by the Summer Islands Company during 1616. Its obverse features

a hog with XII above—hence the issue being known as “Hog Money”.

Its reverse is a three-masted sailing ship with small sails. Apart from a small dent in the centre of the obverse and some weakness in places, the piece is in nearly very fi ne condition

for the issue. At least much of the hog and the denomination are clear. The provenance

of the piece was a Stack’s auction in New York in 1988. The piece was given a “tease” estimate of £4,000–6,000. It was contested to a staggering £42,000.

Another good price was seen when an extremely rare 1794 3 gulden issued

by the United West Indian Company in the Netherlands West Indies was offered. Of the 1,226 pieces struck, according to the cataloguer, “some estimates suggest” that as few as 20 have survived and of these four are in public

gold were offered and there were passes on fi ve. So why the 40 per cent fail rate? Words such as “large crack at centre”, “dig in left of obverse fi eld” and “pierced and plugged”, were phrases that this market just does not want to hear. The quest for the “choice” can of course mean that perfectly acceptable rarities are overlooked. For example, a Henry VIII (1509–47) fi rst coinage gold angel was offered. On the reverse, there is an “h” to the left of the ship’s mast, but no rose to the right, making it a very rare piece. Estimated at £1,800–2,200 it failed to sell. Was it because the obverse was double struck and that otherwise the piece was “only” nearly very fi ne?

The British/English milled included a good collection of copper and bronze. Top price here was for an 1867 penny with the experimental numbers 570/357 hand scratched in the obverse fi eld, indicating that it was selected for the Trial of the Pyx for that year. Unique and in uncirculated state, it sold for £2,360, its low estimate. Top price for milled silver was £968, paid for a very rare 1862 sixpence in extremely fi ne state. Spink had retailed the coin in August 2002 for £600.

Banknotes are a fast expanding area for Baldwin’s. This sale included an interesting selection of South African notes. Top price here was the £3,305 for an 1867 Somerset East Bank £5 generally in about very fi ne state. A large section of historical and commemorative medals were offered. Notable here was a very rare 1779 bronze medal marking the death of Captain Cook. Apart from cabinet wear to the higher points, the piece is otherwise in good very fi ne condition. It was contested to £8,260. The only weak part of the sale was the section of medals relating to the Spanish Netherlands. However, as they were pretty dull, this is not surprising. The sale ended with a small section of orders, decorations and medals.

This sale totalled £354,897. However, the two offi cial Coinex sales combined totalled £1,034,818.

Baldwin’s—General Sale—September 28, 2011

Market scene

Dix Noonan Webb—World Coins—September 28, 2011

Bronze medal marking the death of Captain Cook sold for £8,620.

£29,500 secured the rare electrum stater—the fi rst coin.

Aethelred penny made £4,720—fi ve times the top estimate.

The Bermuda Hog shilling realised a staggering £42,000.

1746 2 ducats of Frederick V of Denmark sold for £26,400.



This, the second offi cial sale held in conjunction with Coinex, was devoted to Indian, Islamic and other coins from around the globe. The fi rst 242 lots were devoted to the Yashoda Singh collection of Indian coins that Mr Singh formed over a 25-year period. It sold for double its pre-sale estimate. The surprise here was a gold dinar of Samudragupta, ruler of Gupta from AD 335 to 380. Its obverse features a tethered standing horse waiting to be sacrifi ced by the king. Its reverse features his queen, who played an important part in the ritual, holding a fl ywhisk, towel and ceremonial sphere. The piece, which is in very fi ne state, is mounted with a loop. Estimated at £400–500, it was chased to a staggering £24,780. Another example, which has no loop, but with a reverse that is less elaborate, was offered in good fi ne condition. It was contested to “just” £3,305. Clearly the fi rst piece has a signifi cance that neither the cataloguer nor I know of.

While the opinion so far is that the Indian series is roaring like a tiger, there was a small area of disappointment in “other properties”, namely The William Barrett Collection of Indian Coins. These were three extremely rare proof sets, the fi rst of which was an 1834 VIP proof set issued by the East India Company. Comprising three silver and three copper coins from the rupee to the pie the cataloguer expresses the view that it may have been issued in 1834 to mark the fi rst complete coinage by the Bombay mint, or the following year to acknowledge the end of the Bombay Presidency coinage. Interestingly Pridmore refers to these proof coins

as usually being found in sets, but the cataloguer had never encountered another and considers it is exceedingly rare. Remarkably the coins have ben very well preserved and are fl awless. The estimate was a wide £25,000–50,000. It sold for £18,880—but at least it sold.

The second great rarity was a unique 1904 VIP proof set offered with an estimate of £80,000–120,000. There were no takers. The fi nal great rarity was a 1949 pattern set comprising the eight coin types proposed by Patrick Brindley for the new Republic of India’s coinage from the rupee to the pice. It is believed that only four sets were struck. It was offered with an estimate of £100,000–150,000 but it sold for £61,360. It is so diffi cult to estimate such rarities, but at least the vendor was prepared to sell two at a level that the market determined. As well as being listed in the main catalogue (but in “other properties” as opposed to under a name), a small print run of a separate catalogue for The William Barrett Collection of Indian Coins was also published.

The Islamic section of over 100 lots presented a good cross section, but no high profi le pieces. One surprise was when a clipped but very fi ne Sasanian drachm struck at Basra sold for £1,770 against an estimate of £80–100. Top price of the world section was a very rare French 1786 pattern écu by J-P. Droz in mint state which sold for £5,075.

This sale totalled £653,389. However, the two offi cial Coinex sales combined totalled £1,034,818. Around 15 per cent of the lots were bought on-line.

Baldwin’s—World Coins—September 29, 2011

Market scene

Despite its loop mount the dinar of Samudragupta sold for £24,780 against an estimate of just £400–500.

Rare French pattern écu of 1786 sold for £5,075.

Dix Noonan Webb—Banknotes—September 29, 2011

The top price and highlight of this sale was the offering of a £1 million Bank of England note dated 30 August 1948 with the serial number D 000007. The bottom right is stamped CANCELLED, 6 OCT. 1948, BANK OF ENGLAND. There is also a small hole cancellation through the signature. Apart from light creases and some handling it is otherwise good very fi ne to about extremely fi ne. This was not a note issued for circulation, but was used for internal purposes. Monies received through the Marshall Aid plan after World War II were subject to strict accountability. The Treasury had to borrow from the Bank of England on a short-term basis and to help with the book-keeping the Bank requested the printing of high value notes. The total order sent to the Bank of England printing works was for £300 million in varying denominations, starting from £25,000. It is believed that the entire issue was subsequently destroyed with the exception of numbers seven and eight for £1 million which were presented to the British and American Treasury Secretaries respectively. The note sold at some 10 per cent above its top estimate at £67,200.

The second part of a Collection of Treasury Notes being “the property of a gentleman” was offered. The highlight here was a halfcrown note issued in 1919. Apart from a nick on left edge and another on right as well as a tiny ink spot at bottom, this extremely rare piece is in fi ne to good fi ne condition. It sold for £8,160, nearly 20 per cent above its top estimate. The portion of this collection offered at this event totalled £61,482.

A further portion of the Peter Stanton Collection of Paper Money of Guernsey was offered. The highlight here was an extremely rare £5 issued on January 1, 1945. Apart from white lines at the top edge on a paper clip indent, the piece is in good very fi ne to about extremely fi ne condition. It sold marginally above expectations at £7,440. This third portion of the collection totalled £48,660.

£67,200 was paid for the legendary £1 million note.



Market sceneevent was no exception as it also included the sixth part of the Collection of Irish Banknotes formed by the late Bob Blake, The top note here was a £20 issued by the National Bank Limited on October 20, 1916. Apart from some spots of light foxing, the note is very fi ne to about good very fi ne condition. It was contested to £5,520. This segment of the Collection totalled £46,092.

The second part of the World Paper Money from the Collection of the late Julian da Graca was also offered. The highlight here and indeed one of the surprises of the sale was a Malaya and British Borneo Currency Board $10 issued on March 21, 1953 with the serial number A/1 000011. This is an important early number and the note is in about uncirculated condition. Nevertheless, the estimate was a modest £300–350 but the piece was contested to £3,480.

The sale totalled £341,286. It contained 593 lots of which 98 failed to sell. The number of vendors was 42 and the number of buyers 109.

This event began with the offering of the Dr Christian C. Jones Collection of Napoleonic Coins and Medals. Generally the medals struggled, though the top lot, a silver medal commemorating the Crossing of the Rhine by the Grand Armée (following the closure of the Camp de Boulogne) sold for more than double its top estimate at £696. The medal, which was by Andrieu Brenet and Denon is in choice extremely fi ne state and is enhanced by a rich tone. This was followed by the doctor’s fi rst part of the Collection of Coins and Medals of Romania. There were quite a few passes with the medals. The top price here was the £2,640 paid for a 1906 Carol I 50 lei piedfort pattern struck in pewter. Apart from a few minor marks, this piece is in extremely fi ne condition. All of Dr Jones’s coins were subject to 5 per cent import tax if they remained in the EU.

There was a good offering of coins of the South African Republic. However, there were quite a few misses, including the top lot of the sale, an 1892 Kruger proof, which apart from a few lightest of handling marks, is in mint state. Krause states that only 12–15 were minted and this is the fi rst occasion that a specimen has been offered for many years. Estimated at £220,000–240,000, there were no takers. It is thought that the vendor placed too high a reserve on the piece. However, a practically mint state Burgers pond of 1874 did sell. Regarded as one of the fi nest known examples of the nation’s fi rst gold coin it was acquired by a UK buyer for £138,000, which is some 10 per cent below the lower estimate. This was sold under the Gold Investment Scheme.

The cataloguer waxed lyrical over an 1892 Kruger shilling. He launched forth with, “a truly

splendid specimen, as struck, boldly detailed portrait and reverse motif, surfaces shimmering with lustre beneath delightful, fully original silvery grey toning, a gem of a coin and perhaps the fi nest known, very rare thus and worth many strong bids from savvy collectors—a major opportunity”. One can almost hear the raptures of applause bursting from the page. It certainly brought a tear to my eye. The winner of this gem possibly had watery eyes when he paid for the piece—it sold for a gem of £11,760. However, one thing is for sure, it is an exceptional piece.

The second part of the Mitchell-David Collection followed. This offering mainly included gold from France and Switzerland with a handful from Germany and Portugal for good measure. Top price here was for a very rare Napoleon III essai 100 francs of 1862, slabbed by NGC at PF65 CAMEO. It sold for double its mid-estimate at £42,000. The piece was sold under the Gold Investment Scheme.

The “other properties” featured some real surprises. The most staggering was when a pair of Iranian gold and silver medals was offered in a contemporary turn of the 20th century case. Their obverse features the three-quarter facing bust of Muzaffar al-din Shah, while the reverse has a lion passant and the sun within a wreath. By Henri-Auguste Patey, the French sculptor, medallist and coin engraver, they were struck when the Shah visited Europe in 1900. Stephen Fenton of the auction house had not encountered their likes before, but estimated them at a not unreasonable £3,000–4,000. Having received commission bids ranging from £6,000 to £11,000, he opened the lot at £6,500. Immediately 10 hands shot up in the room. At £18,000 the lot was in the room, then a battle royal pursued between the room and an unknown telephone bidder. The medals sold for an incredible £48,000.

Surprisingly, a silver Russian Nicholas I novodel Imperial Family 1½-rouble with its reverse featuring Empress Alexandra and all seven royal children failed to fi nd a buyer, despite being nearly as struck. The Russian market does blow hot and cold. The coin was estimated at £35,000–40,000. Russian material may not have been the fl avour of the month, but pieces from German East Africa were sought. An 1893 2 rupien was offered “essentially as struck”. A very rare coin, it sold for £7,200, its top estimate. A run of eight gold 1916T 15 rupien all sold, a practically mint state example selling for £4,560 under the Gold Investment Scheme.

An 1852 Adelaide Assay Offi ce pound was offered in almost extremely fi ne condition with a pleasing “satiny lustre”. Although a pleasing example of the classic fi rst “sovereign” struck in South Australia from native gold, it sold marginally below estimate at £22,800.

The sale totalled £886,459.

The 2/6 Treasury note made £8,160.

St James’s Auctions—World Coins and Medals—October 3, 2011

DNW banknote sales have always had a tendency to include named collections and this

£11,760 secured the outstanding Kruger shilling of 1892.

An essay of the Napoleon III 100 francs doubled the pre-sale estimate to sell for £42,000.



Market scene

This sale was devoted to an old collection of Australasian 19th century tokens as well as the Don Karl Collection of British 19th century copper tokens, the Scott Goddard Collection of British 19th century silver tokens and 18th century British tokens from other properties. The Australasian collection, comprising 262 lots, included some rare and exceptionally preserved pieces. Not surprisingly, it proved very popular with every single lot selling. Auctioneer Seth Freeman commented on the collection: “It is an amazing collection put together in the 1940s and 50s, which is how the owner was able to gather so many high quality and extremely rare tokens. It still amuses me that it was delivered to Baldwin’s in a parcel of newspaper tied with string. The newspaper was The Times from 1960! Unsurprisingly, the collection attracted a lot of attention and I am happy that the majority of the pieces have found their way back to Australia.”

It started with a bang. The fi rst lot comprised a penny and halfpenny of 1855 issued by Abraham Lewis, a draper of Hobart, Tasmania. Both are in mint state with degrees of lustre. Estimated at £150–200, the pair sold for a healthy £708. Things started warming up at the third lot, which was a very rare 1855 penny issued by Allen Williams who had a general store in Jamberoo. This came with an old ticket stating “prob. The fi nest known, RRR”. Catalogued as “better than very fi ne” it was estimated at £1,000–1,500, but sold for £5,192.

I should have bought the 1860 penny and halfpenny issued by John Andrew & Co, a Melbourne draper. The catalogue description reads, “Both proofl ike uncirculated, the second fully lustrous, a superb pair”. They sold for £2,950, 2½-times the top estimate. A later restrike of the 1862 penny issued by James Dixon a storekeeper at Wangaratta (Victoria), in good extremely fi ne state, sold for £4,484, nearly double its low estimate. The prices were really strong so it was almost disappointing when a

“fl awless proof, exceedingly rare” mule sold within estimate. The piece in question has a W. J. Taylor (a medallist of Melbourne) halfpenny token as its obverse, while its reverse features Britannia and the legend UNITED STATES. It sold for £3,540.

The real high fl yers of the event were an undated penny issued by O. H. Hedberg (oil and colour stores) of Hobart, Tasmania. Flawless and of the highest rarity it sold for £6,136. The same sum was paid for a Kangaroo Offi ce pattern copper halfpenny of 1851. Its obverse details the issues of the Kangaroo Offi ce in eight lines, its reverse featuring a kangaroo with Melbourne above and below a reference to Taylor being medallist to the Great Exhibition of 1851.

However, the highest price was for an Australian/Canadian mule of an undated penny. Its obverse features a standing fi gure of Justice holding scales and a cornucopia. The reverse is from a Canadian 2 sous token. The piece, which is extremely rare, is generally in extremely fi ne condition. It sold for £6,608, which is nearly twice its low estimate.

Notable among the 19th century British silver tokens was an eighteen-pence piece issued by Edward and Fras Butt of Stamford Lincolnshire. In good extremely fi ne condition it sold for £590, double its mid-estimate. The 19th century copper tokens were a little patchy. Top price here was a very pleasing Bradley Bilston & Prestfi eld, Samuel Fereday twopence of 1811. In good very state, it sold for £755, some 50 per cent above its top estimate. There were some good prices in the 18th century tokens. A highlight here was Kempson’s Newgate mule halfpenny with its obverse having a view of the prison and its reverse showing three dead men hanging on the gallows. This macabre piece sold for £566, nearly fi ve times its low estimate.

The sale totalled £292,557. Nearly a third of the lots were bought on-line by 53 registered bidders.

Baldwin’s—Tokens—October 4, 2011

This was the second token sale associated with Coinex and pretty impressive it was too. There were three named collections on the block. The fi rst on offer was the fi rst part of the collection of 18th century tokens formed by the late David Griffi ths. Formed over a 38-year period it was as impressive as his numismatic library that was sold last year. With hammer prices ranging from £30 to £1,350, this portion of David’s collection sold for £65,214.

This was followed by Dr Allen Bennett’s collection. A resident of California, his interest in numismatics began in the mid-1950s, but it was not until the 1980s that he became a serious collector, initially in US material and by the mid-1990s in what the American’s refer to as Conder Tokens. The 299 pieces offered at this sale represent the fi nest quality pieces to have appeared at auction since the Wayne Anderson collection in 2000. One of the top prices was paid for a Spence’s 1793 Newmarket halfpenny with its obverse featuring a stag lying under a tree and its reverse a snail on a riverbank. This is an extremely rare piece and apart from the usual

die cracks and fl aws appearing on the obverse, it is otherwise in extremely fi ne condition. Only two specimens have been sold at auction since 1944 (albeit this specimen on several occasions). It sold for a hammer price of £2,900 (£3,480 with the Premium). Dr Bennett secured it at a DNW sale in October 2009 for a hammer price of £3,100 and DNW also sold it for £2,600 hammer in October 2004. The Dr Bennett collection sold for £111,936.

A US citizen also formed the third named collection at this sale: the late Robinson S. Brown Jr of Kentucky. His interest in coins started in the early 1960s, with British tokens being added in the late 1970s. The third part of his collection was sold at this event. The highlight was a Coventry Edmund Percy penny of 1801 in silver. It is one of six that were struck. For the connoisseurs it is DH42. Apart from a slight nick in the obverse fi eld, it is practically as struck and sold for £3,960. The third part of the collection sold for £121,470.

The sale totalled £251,048. There were 991 lots, of which 25 remained unsold. There were 20 vendors and 87 buyers.

Dix Noonan Webb—18th Century British Tokens—October 5, 2011

Lot 3 sold for £5,192 against an estimate of £1,000–1,500.

Highest price was £6,608 paid for the undated mule.

Spence’s Newmarket halfpenny of 1793 made a total of £3,480.



IMPORTANT NOTEUnless otherwise stated, the above prices include the Buyer’s Premium. In other words, they are the hammer price plus

the Premium. At DNW, St James’s Auctions and Spink, this is 20 per cent, while at Baldwin’s it is 18 per cent. VAT is payable on the Premium at 20 per cent.

This sale was entirely devoted to The Frank Brady Collection of English Hammered Groats. Frank Brady, a surgeon by profession, started to collect this series in the late 1970s with the help of such people as the late Patrick Finn and May Sinclair at

Spink as well as many others in the UK and US. Peter Woodhead, who has an immense

knowledge of the medieval coinages. worked on the catalogue, which includes an excellent introduction to the series. It will be a catalogue that will be a standard work for years to come.

The cataloguers thought that the top lot in the sale would be a Henry IV light coinage 1412–13 Class II(a) specimen struck at London with the cross pattée mintmark. This is an unusually well struck full round coin in good very fi ne

state and as such is extremely rare. It was estimated at £6,000–8,000, but sold for a

staggering £22,800 (£19,000 hammer). Spink Coin Auctions last sold the coin in November 1993 when the hammer price was £4,500. This is

a new auction record for a groat and doubles the previous one.

The top lot was a Henry VIII gros (the continental equivalent of the groat) that was struck at Tournai while it was under English rule during the period 1513–18. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey negotiated the terms of the Treaty of London agreed in 1518 that returned the town to France and restored peace between France, England and the Empire. This extremely rare piece, which is in very fi ne state, was estimated at a positively pessimistic £5,000–6,000 but sold for £26,400. The coin was last offered in Spink’s Numismatic Circular for May 1990 with a retail price of £5,000.

There were only three fi ve-fi gure realisations in the sale. The third was for an Edward I variety f example in very fi ne state which sold for £12,600, slightly more than double the low estimate. Of course, there were many very acceptable specimens that could have been purchased at more modest levels.


Spink—English Groats—October 6, 2011

Market scene

Spink—General Sale—October 6–7, 2011

As usual with Spink’s fi rst main autumn sale, this auction was wide ranging in its content. Top lot at this event was an extremely rare Chinese Kuang-hsu gold pattern k’uping tael of 1906. Slabbed by NGC and graded at MS62, it sold marginally above its low estimate at £62,400. However, another coin from the Far East was fi ercely contested. This was an 1866

Hong Kong proof dollar in a contemporary fi tted case. What a coin. It has rested virtually

undisturbed in its snug case for nearly one and a half centuries. Yes, there are some slight rubs and a few very light hairlines, but otherwise it is uncirculated and has acquired a fantastic toning over the years. The vendors were told that it was a nice coin and could go for £10,000 or more. They were shocked and wanting it to sell, suggested a lower estimate. It sold for £31,200 and although it was thought the buyer would be from Hong Kong or China, the purchaser was in fact from

the US.There was also a good selection of English

and British coins. Top prices for English hammered silver was in the Charles I section. An excessively rare shilling struck at Chester was offered. Weakly struck in places, it is very fi ne for the issue with a stronger than

normal portrait. This is clearly a specialist’s coin and it sold at some 15 per cent below

its low estimate at £9,000, which is still a high price for something that looks as if it has seen better days. Two Pontefract besieged shillings of 1648–49 were offered. The fi rst in almost very fi ne state was issued under the name of Charles I, the second, which is in a pleasing good fi ne condition, was issued in the name of Charles II and therefore is historically interesting. Each sold for £5,000.

A Philip and Mary (1553–58) undated shilling bearing the full titles was fought over despite

being only in very fi ne state. This undoubtedly was because of the good detail in the portraits. However, £3,430 did seem somewhat on the high side.

There was some good hammered gold, including an Edward VI second period (January 1549–April 1550) half-sovereign where the “Boy King” looks like a child wearing a crown. Examples with good portraits are not easy to fi nd. This is a pleasing example in almost EF/EF condition. The estimate of £5,000–7,000 was a tease in this market, but a high estimate could have killed the interest. It sold for £18,000, or three times its low estimate. An excessively rare James I “Fine Work” gold laurel was offered in nearly extremely fi ne state, being struck perfectly centred on a full fl an. It appeared to tick all the boxes for what this market wanted—a choice rarity. The estimate of £20,000–25,000 did not seem out of the way, but there were no takers.

Top of the milled gold was a very rare 1663 guinea with the elephant below the head of Charles II. Apart from a nick by the Scottish shield, the piece is otherwise in very fi ne condition. It was contested to £15,000, which is more than three times its high estimate. The surprise of the milled silver was a 2011 Maundy set. As was pointed out in “Market Scene” last month, the Palace has substantially reduced the number of sets given to offi cials who participate in the service and this has resulted in the number on the secondary market being considerably reduced. London Coin Auctions sold such a set for £800 hammer (£936 with Premium) in September. Spink’s set sold for £480, which does seem a bit of a bargain even given that one would expect the second set on offer to sell below that of the fi rst put on public sale.


The Henry IV light coinage groat realised £22,800.

Top price of £26,400 was paid for the Henry VIII gros.

The extremely rare pattern k’uping tael realised the top price of £62,400.

A US buyer paid £31,200 for the 1866 Hong Kong proof dollar.



R O D E R I C K R I C H A R D S ONN U M I S M A T I S T

(Specialist in English Hammered and Early Milled)

For Appointments or for my very latest Circular, please contact me at

F O R Q U A L I T Y

The Old Granary Antiques Centre, King’s Staithe Lane, King’s Lynn, Norfolk

Tel: 01553 670833Web site: www.roderickrichardson.com

E-mail: [email protected]

WANTED: BRITISH HAMMERED GOLD AND SILVER

pecialist in Engnglilishsh H Hamammemereredd ana d Early Mille

WANTED: BRITISH HAMMERED


Insight

Visigothic history can be divided into three main phases: the migratory period from 376 to 417 when they settled in south west Gaul, the Gallic period between 417 and 507, and the fi nal Spanish period from 507 to 714. However, the coinage of the Visigoths does not fall into such neat divisions, partly because during the migratory phase they did not produce any coinage. During the Gallic period they produced a number of pseudo-imperial coins whilst during the Spanish period pseudo-imperial coins were struck in a different style to the fi rst issues from 507 to 580, and fi nally a regal coinage was issued from 580 to 714.

It was during the early Gallic phase that the Visigoths played the role of dutiful allies of Rome with their king Theodoric I losing his life at the battle of Troyes in 451 against the Huns. However Euric (466–84) conquered eastern Acquitaine, later adding Provence and north-eastern Spain to his territory; but although the Visigoths copied many Roman ways they were necessarily a distinct people from those who they ruled. When the Frank Clovis defeated Alaric II at the battle of Vouille in 507 the Franks were able to extend their territory into the Pyrenees. The situation becomes very complicated from here on, with the Ostrogothic king Theodoric having infl uence in the succession after the death of Alaric II, with the Baltic Visigothic royal line effectively ending in 531 on the death of Amalaric (507–31).

Ironically it was an Ostrogoth Theudis (531–48), who succeeded Amalaric, and he established Visigothic power in Spain. From 548 there was a period of major upheaval with foreign intervention and internal feuding, which meant that much of the Visigothic territory was lost to others, whilst the Visigothic capital moved several times until fi nally settling in Toledo. The relatively long reign of Leovigild from 568 to 586 brought about a more settled phase for the Visigoths in Spain, but this was not to last as the elective nature of the succession meant instability amongst the Visigothic nobility, culminating in the collapse of the Visigothic kingdom in 714.

The coinage of the Visigoths in Gaul between 417 and 507 was a pseudo-imperial issue made up of solidi and tremisses. It is assumed that the capital Toulouse was the main minting place for these coins. The western Roman emperors were used for models on the earlier coins with the earliest solidi being imitations of Honorius (393–423). In the 450s these coins were succeeded by a new type showing the emperor on the reverse standing with his foot on the head of a serpent.

The tremisses are of three types. The fi rst, in

the name of Honorius, has on the reverse a fi gure of Victory in the same style as the solidi. The second type usually has the name of Valentinian III with a cross in wreath on the reverse. The third and largest type has the names of Valentinian III, Severus III and Zeno, and on the reverse a design showing Victory holding a jewelled cross. This type is a copy of a Constantinople solidus and illustrates the Visigothic habit of using such designs for their tremisses. During the reign of Alaric II (484–507) there seems to have been some debasement of the coinage and this might be a refl ection of the turbulent times at the end of the Gallic period.

The Visigoths extended their infl uence into Spain and after the battle of Vouille in 507 they lost their Gallic territory but were to consolidate their hold in Spain for the following two hundred years.

The fi rst type of coinage from the time of the Visigoths in Spain can be dated from about 509 to 580 and it was during this period that the issues continued as pseudo-imperial solidi and tremisses. There were a number of mints throughout the region, ranging from Seville in the south to Gerona in the north. The solidi featured the names of Byzantine emperors and showed a Victory in profi le holding a cross. The tremisses began with a fi gure of Victory holding a palm and wreath running to the right, but this design degenerated into a caricature of the original with variations on a number of strange creatures. It is diffi cult to attribute these issues to specifi c Visigothic rulers, but the later coins would appear to be those of Leovigild (568–86) because they have a close resemblance to his named issues from 580 and later. The tremisses have been separated into a number of groups with initially a small fl an issue probably minted at Narbonne, whilst later issues increased the size of the fl an and included a cross on the bust of the obverse fi gure. The fi nal issue is of a larger size, probably minted at Toledo.

The fi nal phase of Visigothic coinage, the regal issues, lasted from about 580 to 714. This phase was only issued as gold tremisses and the quality of the gold steadily declined, which may be a refl ection of the decline in the fortunes of the Visigoths themselves. It is known as the regal phase because the coins had the king’s name on rather than that of the emperor, and included the name of the mint but not the name of the moneyer. The type minted from 584 to 649 has on both sides a facing bust, but there were other types both before and after these dates which exhibited a variety of busts and designs.

THE Visigoths, along with the Ostrogoths, were part of the Germanic tribe of the Goths who migrated during the latter period of the Roman Empire. It was during the 4th century that the Visigoths became a distinct people in the Balkan area and pursued a campaign of

wars with Rome that culminated in the sack of Rome in 410 under their leader Alaric I.

THE VISIGOTHSGRAHAM BENNETT

First type solidus in the name of Honorius showing Victory on the reverse.

Second type solidus in the name of Severus III has Victory holding a jewelled cross.

As can be seen on this solidus in the name of Justinian I, the design degenerated into a caricature of the original.


Insight

It was during the later years of the Visigoth king Leovigild that the regal series began, from about 579 to 586. An event which seems to have had a direct infl uence on this was the revolt of Leovigild’s son Hermenegild who married a Catholic Frankish princess called Ingundis, leading to Hermenegild’s renunciation of the Visigothic religion of Arianism in favour of his new wife’s beliefs. Hermenegild took the title of king for himself in 579 and established a power base in southern Spain, but his revolt was not to last and in 584 he surrendered. A year later he was executed and his younger brother Reccared became heir apparent.

During the early part of the 570s the weight standard of the coinage was matched with the Germanic standard of the Frankish coinage. As with most rulers, Hermenegild used his coins to try to legitimate his seizure of power by issuing types showing a Victory with his name. His father Leovigild issued types which emphasised his right to rule, and these took a variety of forms according to how those given the task to produce the designs saw fi t, but the message was clear. Hermenegild used the legend REGI A DEO VITA on another issue, a phrase normally used at the coronation of popes, to emphasise his divine right to rule. This could only have served to anger Leovigild further.

Leovigild was not prepared to give up his kingdom without a fi ght and he retook Seville in 583 with Cordova the following year. In 583 he issued a new type which was a copy of a Byzantine solidus having a profi le bust with cross on steps design and including the name of the mint. In 584 another type was issued of a different weight and fi neness, and this featured a bust on both sides. It would appear that the busts are identical so it was probably Leovigild’s way of ensuring that whichever way the coin was viewed there could be no doubt who was in control. Interestingly, this design style was to be used for the next seventy years in a wide variety of forms depending on where they were produced. These coins, although showing a stylised portrait of the king, do not include a crown and this may be because it was accepted that the length of hair was suffi cient to proclaim the king’s authority as this was a precedent from earlier Germanic tradition.

It was in 649 that a change to the designs of the coins took place, during the joint reign of Chindaswinth and Recceswinth (649–53). Recceswinth’s name was used on the reverse which meant that some other space needed to be made available for the name of the mint. Chindaswinth’s bust was replaced by a monogram for the name of the mint and Recceswinth’s bust was changed to a profi le image. When Recceswinth died a variety of mints produced a variety of designs, with Cordova and Toledo using the old style busts on both sides, Gerona a plain cross and profi le bust, and Seville continuing with the newer design. The mints were later brought under more control and instructed to use a design featuring cross on steps with a profi le bust, and this design was used until the fall of the Visigothic kingdom to the Moors in 714. Sometimes the cross on steps was changed to the mint monogram, but other than that the design remained reasonably consistent. Where variety was permitted was in the portrayal of the bust, with some wearing a helmet, holding a cross sceptre and a cross in the

fi eld, and the king normally wore a beard. From the reign of Erwig (680–87) another design was used showing a facing portrait of Christ instead of the king, and this was probably in response to theological discussions taking place at the time regarding how Christ should be portrayed in art.

The royal name and title were included on the legend of the obverse of the coins, and on the reverse the mint name was included as well as a continuation of the royal title. Some of the coins of Leovigild incorporate his military victories on the reverse legends and this practice was continued by his son Reccared.

There were about 80 mints in operation during the Spanish period of the Visigoths, with most coins coming from the mints of Toledo (the Visigothic capital), Seville, Cordova and Merida. This is not to say that northern mints were not in operation, there being one at Narbonne which was in the most northernmost territory beyond the Pyrenees. The continution of gold mining in the north west region probably accounts for some coins from the mints in that area. It is not known how much central direction was involved in the organisation of the mints, but there must have been some control over the designs and styles, as well as the regulation which stated that coins should include the royal name, title and mint. In addition, the weight and fi neness standards would have to have been centrally imposed and regulated. Having said that, there would appear to have been a high degree of freedom allowed in how these were interpreted and the exact lettering of the legends.

The degeneration of the fi neness of the coins took place steadily during this fi nal phase of Visigothic power in Spain. Leovigild’s coins were reduced to a fi neness of about 75 per cent and after Recarred this dropped even further, to as low as 35 per cent under Egica (687–702) and Wittiza (702–c. 710). Although the fi neness diminished during this time the weights of the coins increased, and this may have been a way of assuaging the population who may have detected a lowering in the value of their coins.

In the year 711 a force of invading Arabs and Berbers killed the Visigothic king Roderick (710–11) and many of the leading nobles at the battle of Guadelete. This was the conclusion of a long series of attacks which effectively established the conquest of Spain by the Moors. The kingdom collapsed under the onslaught and the invaders were able to advance on the capital Toledo, bringing to an end a period of three hundred years where the Visigoths developed from a tribal identity to that of a settled community. It was no small feat for such a group of people to have travelled and established themselves in what were the important territories of Gaul and Spain. Their coins, art, architecture, the cities which they founded, their law code and their language leave a lasting legacy of their achievements.

Further Reading: BLACKBURN, M. and GRIERSON, P.,

Medieval European Coinage 1: The Early Middle Ages, Cambridge University Press, 1986.

HEATHER, P. (Ed.), The Visigoths from the Migration Period to the Seventh Century: An Ethnographic Perspective, Boydell Press, 2003.

HILLGARTH, J. N., The Visigoths in History and Legend, Brepols, 2010.

A cross appears on the bust of the obverse fi gure of the later pseudo-imperial issues.

The regal issues of Leovigild included this “Victory” type.

Leovigild also issued a “cross-on-steps” type.

Leovigild’s double bust type left no doubt as to who was in control!

The tremisses of Chindas-winth have a monogram for the name of the mint.


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Opinion


Jim Duncan, writing for the London Coin Club, published an intriguing article online. He asserted that the Lima treasure was, in fact, gold and silver captured by two privateers, James Talbot and John Morecock. Talbot and Morecock were in charge of the ships, the Duke and the Prince Frederick. These engaged three French treasure ships in the North Atlantic. The French vessels, laden with coins and bullion in gold and wrought plate in silver had been sailing from Peru. In the ensuing battle, two of the French ships, The Louis Erasmus and the Marquis d’Antin were captured and taken back to England in tow but the third, the Notre Dame, escaped. The two English vessels, plus a third (the Prince George) that sank with great loss of life early into the voyage, were part of a London-owned fl eet known as the “Royal Family”.

Further evidence of this encounter, as pointed out by Mr Duncan, was provided in The Gentlemen’s Magazine, dated September 16, 1745. This publication reported that Talbot and Morecock offered the King £700 000, being their share of the booty. The treasure was taken to the Mint and an application, from December 1745, specifi ed that money made with the treasure was to have the word “LIMA” included under the King’s head. The treasure itself originated from Callao, Lima’s port (which is 13km from the city), according to prisoners captured by the privateers.

British gold and silver coins bearing the word “LIMA” were duly struck from metal obtained by Talbot and Morecock. The gold denominations included the 5 guineas, 1 guinea and ½ guinea pieces. These all have a crowned and garnished shield on the reverse, together with an abbreviated legend listing the King’s name plus his British and German titles. The date at the top was separated by the shield’s crown. The 5 guineas piece, dated 1746, has George II’s laureate “old” bust, facing left and the legend “GEORGIVS II DEI GRATIA”. The all-important word, “LIMA”, like all coins with this inscription, is located directly beneath the King’s bust. The guinea piece is also dated 1746 but has the King’s so-called “intermediate” bust and the

obverse legend reading “GEORGIUS II DEI GRATIA”. The half guinea is similar to its whole relation but is dated 1745. In the silver series, crowns, halfcrowns, shillings and sixpences were minted with the “LIMA” inscription. These all have the King’s “old” head on the obverse and crowned cruciform shields, with roses in each angle, on the reverse. The crowns, bearing the date 1746, have the “GEORGIUS II” inscription. Halfcrowns dated 1745 or 1745/3 read “GEORGIUS II . . .” while those with the dates 1746 and 1746/5 read “GEORGIVS II . . .”. George’s “LIMA” shillings and sixpences are similar but there are no overdates associated with the earlier year, 1745.

Medals were also struck in silver and bronze to commemorate the capture of the French vessels. These show fi ve ships engaged in battle on the obverse. The reverse has two infant fi gures, each holding a portrait of the two English uniformed captains.

An alternative possible fate of Admiral Anson’s treasure has not yet been offered in this article. Using Mr Duncan’s work, plus Wikipedia (with caution!), this is what might have happened. Briefl y, Anson and a squadron of six warships were sent to raid Spanish territories located in South America in 1740. Inclement weather, mutiny and disease en route resulted in Anson losing much of his crew and all but one of his vessels—namely, the Centurion. In November 1740, Anson’s depleted forces still had enough strength to plunder Paita, a small port city about 600 miles north of Lima. He then sailed across the Pacifi c Ocean in search of treasure-laden Spanish galleons that travelled between Mexico and the Philippines. In June 1743, off Cape Espiritu Santo, in the north eastern Philippines, the Centurion captured the Spanish galleon, the Nuestra Senora de Covadonga, which had over 1.3 million pieces of eight on board. Anson then took the captured ship to Macau, sold its treasure to China and then sailed back to England. How his expedition became associated with the Lima coinage in this version of events is a mystery.

FOR over two and a half centuries, the word, “LIMA”, seen below the bust of some of George II’s (1727–60) coins has been commonly explained by stating that they were minted using bullion seized by Admiral George Anson

during his global circumnavigation in 1740– 45. This information is provided in this writer’s own numismatic books, such as Coin Collecting (1950) by Milne, Sutherland and Thompson, The Coinage of England (1931) by Oman and even the Coin Yearbook published by COIN NEWS! Like many others, this writer had also believed this explanation until research for this article revealed an interesting—and possibly more accurate—version of what really happened back in 1745.

The aim of this article is not to rewrite history. Rather it is to put an alternative “spin” on one of England’s most famous issues, George II’s “Lima” coins. If any reader has an alternative story the Editor would be delighted to hear.

RAYMOND PALERMO

(1950) by Milne, Sutherland and

Lima Treasure:An Alternative View


GB gold coins

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Buyers and sellers of British & World coins. Specialising in Sovereigns and Krugerrands.

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PENRITH FARMERS’ & KIDD’S PLCAuctioneers and Valuers (Est 1876)

Skirsgill Saleroom, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0DNTel 01768 890781 Fax 01768 895058

www.pfkauctions.co.uk E-mail: [email protected]

Elizabeth 1 mintmark 1 half crown

The 1925 Mis-struck Shilling made £230

The Royal Mint Three Monarchs Set made £2850

Prices realised at our August Auction:

COIN SALEto be held in the Skirsgill Saleroom, Penrith, on

Saturday 3rd December 2011(Approximately 100 Gold Coins included in the sale)


Profile

46 Coin news

Why have you chosen to place your new shop in the Westfi eld Stratford City shopping centre?

They say that between 20 and 30 million people will come through the doors of the centre each year spending approximately £1billion annually. We’re just looking for a tiny percentage of that. We don’t need thousands of clients, as we’re a niche store. All we want is a couple hundred people to wander in and become fi rst-time buyers, repeat customers and eventually collectors.A lot of your coins are based on commemorative occasions, such as the Royal Wedding. How much of a boost are these special coins for your business?

Those events drive more people in to the store and generate more sales. We sold hundreds of the Royal Wedding coins. In terms of percentage increase, before the announcement of the engagement, we didn’t expect anything extra. So it went from 0 per cent to a 400 per cent increase. What’s great about these extra occasions is that it has a spill-over effect, as people who buy a commemorative coin are then more likely to come back and buy other coins, be they bullion or collectable coins.What occasions will you be targeting in the future?

For us the Olympics next year will be huge. Starting from January we’ll be focusing on getting locals to get on the Olympic coin bandwagon and then there’s the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee coming up in 2012 as well.How do you plan for these unexpected events?

You’ve just got to duck, dive and dance. It’s the nature of the business. We don’t employ extra staff, you just need to have them there already in place for when something like that happens. If you sell enough, then it’s worth it. But I would say, you need a lot of “plan B’s”.The Scoin Shop seems an interesting proposition. Some people might view it as a place to invest wisely and others might view is as a place where they can increase their

UP CLOSE TO AN ENTREPRENEUR

“We want to cultivate a new breed of collectors by making gold available to the masses.” Alan Demby

This month DAVID STOCH meets Alan Demby, entrepreneur, proprietor and founder of The Scoin Shop—the UK and the world’s only gold coin retail chain, retailing collectable and bullion coins.

LONDON’S new Westfi eld Stratford City shopping centre swung open its doors in September amid a frenzy of excited customers. The mega mall, situated on the doorstep of what will be the

Olympic Stadium, is a maze of businesses spread over four heaving fl oors. Alan Demby, founder of the Scoin Shop, has opened his third British-based outlet—the UK and the world’s fi rst and only gold coin retail chain.

The Scoin Shop is a gold coin retail chain from South Africa. Having experienced much success in his native country, Demby has now decided to target Britain, his country of birth. Interestingly, all three of the new shops are situated in shopping centres rather than the high street.

47Coin newsDecember 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com

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collections. What’s your take on what you want to offer the British public?

We want to make collecting coins accessible to the man in the street. Since we have rolled out our stores in malls that are open seven days a week for extended hours and in a secure environment, we have created a lot of interest.

Our stores have a friendly environment with a limited selection of gold and platinum coins and medallions which are relevant—and have struck a chord with our clients.

We approach the market in a way that attracts fi rst time buyers who we eventually want to turn into collectors.

We have found through our 30 years plus in the business, where gold has

appreciated seven times, that collectors who take a long view, and people

who build interesting collections, are the ones who do best.

People who build collections also get the most enjoyment . . . and according to the medical records . . . hobbyists have lower blood pressure!!!

With low interest rates, bank failures, currency devaluation—what better way to protect your

future and have fun at the same time than with the thrill of building

a fabulous coin collection for you or your children or your grandchildren.As our pay-off line states . . . 1 man,

1 ounce.

Scoin Shop facts at a glance• The Scoin Shop is the UK and the

world’s only gold coin retail chain.• The Scoin Shop has 30 retail outlets

between South Africa and the UK • The Scoin Shop offers coin

collectors and bullion investors the opportunity to buy bullion, collectable silver and gold coins securely from either its online shop, its brokers or its retail outlets in Westfi eld Shepherd’s Bush, Bluewater, Kent and the newly opened Westfi eld Stratford City branch.

• The Scoin Shop has successfully marketed a wide range of gold and precious metal coins minted from the world’s leading mints including the British Royal Mint, the South

African Mint, the US Mint, Mint of Norway and Monnaie de Paris, to name a few.

• The world’s fi rst Scoin Shop opened in Johannesburg’s Sandton City Mall in 1999. Since then, there are 30 Scoin Shop outlets between South Africa and the UK.

• The Nobel Institute, the Nelson Mandela Foundations as well as the FW de Klerk Foundation have been direct benefi ciaries of the royalties from the Nobel Laureate medallions which Scoin Shop retails.

• The Scoin Shop is currently planning a signifi cant joint venture with the British Royal Mint.

• They can be found at www.scoinshop.co.uk.

BiographyAlan Demby was born in the United Kingdom and joined his family when they emigrated to South Africa. In 1977, he was

conscripted to the army and became a Lieutenant. He started learning about and dealing in coins whilst in the army, with the princely sum of £150. In 1980 he rented his fi rst offi ces and started dealing on a full time basis under the name of “The Gold Club”. By 1989 he had bought the Gold Investment Corporation from SAGE Holdings, a South African PLC. In 1992, he bought The South African Gold Coin Exchange from the original owner and continued to successfully develop the business. In 1999, he had spotted an opportunity in the market to move into retail and opened the fi rst Scoin Shop in Sandton City, a mixed shopping mall and offi ce development created by Sir Donald Gordon of Capital and Counties.

To date, there are 30 Scoin Shops, the only retail chain of coin shops in the world, in the UK and South Africa. Alan has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, including CNN and CNBC and has contributed numerous articles to the press. He was a South African fi nalist of the World Entrepreneur awards competition, organized by Ernst & Young in 2008. Recently, Scoin was a fi nalist in the World Retailer of the Year award alongside household names such as Lego, Jack Wolfskin and Desigual.

Today, the Gold Group employs approximately 500 members of staff and is one of the biggest coin companies in the world in terms of staff and with a turnover of approximately £70 million per annum.

Alan is a family man with two daughters, one of whom recently married, and a son. He splits his time between the UK and South Africa with business and family in both countries.

How do you market

The Scoin Shop?Advertising is extremely important

to us. My fi rst advert was thirty years ago, when I was a one-man dealer. It was a two-line promotion in the smalls of the classifi ed section. This grew into block adverts in classifi eds, then a little block advert in the weekday newspapers, followed by the Sunday papers and now radio and TV. I believe that original little advert got us business. When I started, my advertising

budget was £10 a month, now it’s over £3 million a year. To build a brand and a

business, takes a lot of marketing over a long period of time.

have been direct benefi ciaries of the


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With online purchasing, reliance on images can be deceptive and on receipt of the item my suspicions were immediately aroused due to the style, execution, shape and weight of the coin. I informed the seller without delay and, indeed, he offered a refund by email:

ok tony no problem i will allways give a full refund on any item i sell i am not a expert on these matters just let me no so i can transfer i think its a nice coin but what to i know? i have showed this coin as well as others and they said it was ok and allways get oppions on value before i enter ebay, thanks. Chester

I decided to take the specimen for EDXRF analysis the following day. The results were sent to Dr Peter Northover a leading expert on numismatic metallurgy. He unreservedly condemned the coin.

By this time, I had already lodged a claim with PayPal. I found their online process awkward as if they were intentionally making it diffi cult to let me submit evidence or check the status of my claim.

From Chester’s defence, it was evident that he felt I was being disingenuous:

i am desputing this because the buyer has offerd to buy the coin at a rediculas offer i all ways am up for settling any differences but the buyer wants the coin by telling me to end the auction early then going through all the trouble to get it exsamed by so called exsperts then saying its a counterfi t , im sorry but I DONT SELL FAKES THANK YOU VERY MUCH, and we could all say that when buying a item by obtaining it cheep. no all my items are inspected by exsperts before selling as you can see by my ebay feed back. this buyer wants the item yes but dosent want to pay the price, my dad allways said watch out for deelers your faithfully

I checked Chester’s eBay feedback (he seemed to be a seasoned trader) and found that since my transaction another buyer reported “Bad attitude when I was following the refund protocol” in respect of lot of absolutely trivial value.

PayPal found in my favour:Once you have returned the merchandise, you will be covered under PayPal Buyer Protection and eligible to receive a full refund.

Imagine my dismay—and scepticism—when the item was reported as lost on the Royal Mail “Track & Trace” website. Even though the facts of the claim remain unchanged—I was sold a fake—when I advised PayPal, they peremptorily reversed their decision and closed the case!

At this point, it is worth emphasising that when returning a coin, even a fake, send it Registered, insured for the full value of an original and insert a note describing the contents with your full details and that of the recipient. In a response to an application for compensation, Royal Mail Customer Service Centre wrote in late April:“Our Legal Services have confi rmed that if the contents are illegal we have the right to refuse the claim as one of the conditions of posting is that the item is not prohibited.”

Once I’d recovered from this facile decision, I responded by pointing out the difference between replicas and illegal goods. I still await their response.

In the circumstances, I issued a “Final Letter Before Legal Action” in March 2011, giving Chester 10 days notice. When he failed to respond, I raised a formal claim through, Money Claims Online (MCOL), HM Courts & Tribunals Service for Small Claims (http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/). I asked the court to bear in mind that any respectable dealer would give an immediate, unqualifi ed refund, in full, if the buyer were dissatisfi ed for whatever reason, whereas the present case has been made needlessly vexatious and time-consuming.

The initial submission of the case allows just over 1,000 words to state your arguments. Therefore, once the initial Claim had been accepted, given a case number and served on the defendant, I submitted a more detailed “Particulars of Claim”. It is quite remarkable that you can pursue a legal case, unaided, online, at minimal cost of time and money. Your fi nancial claim includes the initial £35 summons fees, any further legal costs and ongoing interest.

First use of the service was a little daunting. The service offers two forms of assistance: you can email questions (but they can take up to fi ve working days to respond) or just pick up the ’phone. The latter is far better for clarifying procedure, but the helper will not have your Particulars of Claim to hand so cannot advise on your case. I resorted to the Helpline two or three times and found them helpful and reassuring.

JUSTICE ONLINE: The Case of Goodwill Chester

TONY ABRAMSON

IN January 2011, a sceat appeared on eBay with an unconventional description. The coin was being offered with a high reserve price and I asked the seller for a “buy it now” price. We agreed a price substantially more than his reserve but the seller couldn’t change the status of the transaction so cancelled the eBay entry. I paid by PayPal, who are part of the

same organisation as eBay.


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BADGES.* ENGLISH AND FOREIGN BANKNOTES* POSTCARDS AND CIGARETTE CARDS.* BROKEN OR WORKING POCKET WATCHES* ANYTHING OLD OR UNUSUAL

My Claim was served on Chester in late March, The website displays a record of all activity in your case. On the same day that Chester signed the Acknowledgement of Service, indicating that he intended to defend the claim, he emailed:

hello tony i have received your letters and have thought about the matter and have descied to cover your £300 and outgoing court cost it is regrettable that i have not still received the coin, it would of been better if you sent it recorded delivery i asumed ebay was refunding you the cost, but then descied to refund me the cost which was a bit confuseing. i am a honarable person and have had problems with people saying its real its fake you dont know who to beleive. my mail has had a few problems in the past what with different postmen ect, i have your book now and it is a great help for future reference ,i would have responed earlier but have been away in oxford please except my oppologies and i would be gratefull if you would look at two other sceats i have many thanks

Did he really mean that PayPal had refunded the cost to him? I have requested that PayPal investigate this and, predictably, have had no response. More importantly, there was a prima facia contradiction between this offer of a full refund and the simultaneous intention to defend the claim.

In early April, having allowed suffi cient time for a refund and the receipt of my detailed Particulars of Claim, Chester emailed:

as you are aware tony i did offer you a refund on a good will chester but you did not want that as you can see i do not sell fake coins your the so called exspert and going on your exsperances you have bought a lot of fake coins i am not a dealer like you say you did not give me a fare price for the coin so you were obtaining it cheap, i am know thinking and letting my soliciters know and will sue for a substanal sum you should have sent my coin

recorded 1st class but you did not i am with out a coin that was given to me by my father many thanks

Aside from the entertaining use of language, this was so deeply fl awed in every particular, that it was hard to know how to reply. By early May, in view of what I regarded as a spiralling web of deceit, suffi cient time had elapsed for me to request summary Judgment online. I obtained Judgment the next day. This is surprisingly rapid and inexpensive compared to conventional due process. Besides, I was conducting the whole matter from my desktop you could even do it on a mobile phone!

At this point, Chester has a legal judgment against him. Any reasonably sensible, relatively honest person, not in desperate straits, would immediately recognise the consequences on one’s fi nancial character, reputation and well being, not to mention prospects, whether as an employee or trader, of having a record of this nature.

Given Chester’s continued failure to put his money where his mouth was, I had to decide whether to enforce the Judgment. The website, and Helpline, advise on what options are open to you so I took out a Warrant of Execution. All legal options cost a further £100—is one simply throwing good money after bad? In practice, what this means is that the bailiffs demand recompense. If he is unable to pay, they can distrain on goods to the value required. A principled person would fi nd this traumatic.

What other remedies are available? Complain to eBay/PayPal, claim on insurance, recruit the heavy mob? I did not think that his initial intent was malicious, simply naïve though his subsequent actions displayed contempt.

In conclusion, this might all have been avoided had more information on fakes been available. I hope my current book on Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits: Fakes, Forgeries and Facsimiles, 600–1066, will go some way to helping others minimise risk.

Collector’s notebook


Out & about

ON January 22, 2011 my wife pointed out a small coin shop in Via dei Benci, in Firenze, so we went in to see what it had in 2 euro commemorative coins. The

only one I did not have was an Italian 2010 Louis Braille which I acquired. He then asked me if it was only 2 euro commemoratives that were of interest to me. When I replied that all standard national 2 euros coins were of interest, but I already had them all, he smiled and produced a full set of Estonian euro coins which had just come into circulation on January 1, 2011.

I was stunned to see these as I did not think any of the Baltic States had yet met all the European Union’s (EU) fi nancial requirements. Yet there they were. Fortunately my wife, on the basis of “if you can’t beat them join them” now collects all the other Euro Zone coins, including commemoratives, as she fi nds them in the small change which turns up when you are shopping in Europe. The same principal applies in non EU countries we

visit. So we were both happy with our acquisitions especially as we had been in Estonia only seven months previously.

In 2004 Estonia became the fi rst of the former Soviet controlled Baltic states to join the European Union and it subsequently held a competition that year, which attracted 134 entrants, to decide the design for their euros.

These coins, designed by Lekbit Lohmus and struck in the Finnish mint, are of the usual high standard expected of euro coins however their national reverses are somewhat uninspired with all the coins having a common design—an outline of the country’s borders, with the name EESTI at the top of the coin and the date 2011 at the bottom. Around the milled edge of the coins are the letters EESTI and then the same letters repeated in reversed order.

A minor difference exists in the presentation of the cents and euro coins with the former having the shape of the country slightly recessed into the surface of the metal while the 1 and 2 euros have it slightly raised and contoured.

ESTONIAJOINS THE EURO

JIM GRANT

52 Coin news www.tokenpublishing.com www.tokenpublishing.com December 2011

From left to right: Traditional Tallin achitecture, the main square of Tallin on a very wet day and the last statue of Lenin in Estonia (photos courtesy of Mattie Grant).

The national side of the 50 cent coinwith the recessed map of Estonia.

Out & aboutOut & aboutRussian and Estonian castles face each other across the river border.


Out & about

Estonia had wanted to join the Euro Zone in 2007 but it was not until May 12, 2010 that it received permission to do so.

Prior to the introduction of the euro Estonia’s currency had been the kroon, the Estonian version of the word crown, divided into 100 senti. This originally came into use in 1928, ten years after end of World War I, following a bitter civil war which engulfed the various ethnic groups in the region who fought to break away from Russian or German Infl uence at this time. Independence forces fought maverick German, Bolshevik and anti-Bolshevick armies—the latter may have been anti-communist but they were still against independence for a region which spread from the north of Finland south to the German border.

However, by 1920 the Estonian independence fi ghters had defeated their enemies and forced them to accept the Estonians’ version of its borders. This arrangement lasted for almost 20 years before Germany and the Soviet Union came to an agreement about the fate of the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and they were invaded on July 17, 1940 by the Soviet Union and quickly overrun.

As far as Estonia was concerned the Soviets immediately abolished its currency and attempted, for the next 50 years, to eliminate their language and culture. This included transporting 10,000 potential leaders, including the best educated Estonians, to Siberia from where most never returned.

This situation prevailed until the Soviet Union collapsed and the Estonians, who had maintained their language and culture in their hearts and minds despite Soviet pressure, declared their independence.

Soon afterwards Boris Yeltsin abolished the Soviet Union and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania found themselves legally free of their former rulers and grabbed the opportunity to regain their independence with both hands

Estonia continued with the rouble for just as long as it took to create its own monetary system. The senti and kroon were revived on June 20, 1992 and roubles were exchanged at the rate of 10 to 1 kroon.

Although the lead up to this moment was reasonably straightforward it took two and a half years as there were a number of problems in putting together the necessary backing

currency. Some of the country’s overseas assets in 1940 had fi nished up in the hands of the Soviet Union by various legal, but morally questionable, means. However, it managed to recover some of its “lost” assets from other sources.

Initially the kroon was pegged to the German mark but when the euro became the offi cial currency it was exchanged at the rate of 15.6466 kroon to 1 euro. Prior to this long-awaited event the coins in circulation had been 5, 10, 20 senti in two types of metal, and 50 senti and 1 kroon. 1 senti and 5 krooni coins also exist but are not often seen as one is almost worthless and the other, which was only struck in small numbers, is too high a denomination for normal daily purchases and, as so often is the case, small change is always in short supply.

While some senti/kroon coins have been struck every year since they were issued only a limited number of denominations were struck in any given year.

All senti/kroon coins have a common obverse of three lions vertically with the date split across the centre. The original 5 krooni, struck in 1993, commemorated 75 years of independence and has on its reverse a doe, which fi lls much of the fi eld, with EESTI VABARIIK on the left of the doe and 5 krooni on the right. The reverse of the next pattern of 5 krooni, which came out in 1994, commemorated 75 years of the Estonian Bank and has what looks like a number of stylised lions over and around a rectangle which contains the number 5 with EESTI/PANK-75 above and KROONI below. The reverse of the 5 senti had the number 5 in the centre and SENTI at the bottom and EESTI VABARIIK around the top. The 10, 20 and 50 senti and the 1 kroon all follow this style.

In 2008 a new 1 kroon appeared which had the 1 on the reverse replaced by a small disk with two leaves on a stem in the centre.

Banknotes were more frequently encountered than coins and these come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 krooni.

Good luck Estonia.

Out & about

The reverses of the 10, 20 and 50 senti (top row)and the alternative reverses of the 1 kroon.

The obverses of the 10, 20 and 50 senti (top row) and the obverses of the 1 kroon.

The obverse and reverse of the 5 krooni banknote.

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Reverse of the 500 krooni banknote showing the

Swallow—the national bird of Estonia and right, the obverse of the 25 krooni

banknote.

Union by various legal, but morally questionable, means. However, it managed to recover

Reverse of the 500 krooni Reverse of the 500 krooni banknote showing the

Swallow—the national bird of Estonia and right, the

Out & aboutOut & aboutOut & aboutOut & aboutRussian and Estonian castles face each other across the river border.


Background

EARLY last year a strikingly toned German New Guinea 1894 Proof-66 PCGS 5 mark (KM-7) was sold by

Stacks for an impressive US$29,325, or six times its Standard Catalog value. The bidding was intense. The coin once graced the Eliasberg Collection, arguably “the most desirable pedigree for any coin to have”. Its very existence recalls one of Germany’s least successful attempts at empire building.

The Last UnknownGermany was a latecomer to the colony-grab

that swept 19th century Europe. Final unifi cation of Germany was not achieved until 1870 and Bismarck was opposed to colonial adventures lest they distract from building up the industrial might of the Fatherland. But when colonial acquisitions became fashionable in the 1880s, the Iron Chancellor found it expedient to reconsider his position. In particular he discovered colonies provided convenient pawns in achieving certain political ends on the home front.

Bismarck’s method of acquiring colonies was utterly pragmatic. He simply lent offi cial support to German merchants seeking concessions from indigenous people. He then insisted that all administrative costs be borne by the merchants and not the Reich. In just this way Germany acquired a small slab of New Guinea.

Since its discovery by Europeans in the 1600s, New Guinea had been largely ignored. It was ill-charted and only superfi cially explored:

It was the last Unknown. Only the fringe Was nervous to the touch of voyagers.

Karl Shapiro

The Dutch laid claim to the western half. Out east the island remained virginal and, as far as the British Empire was concerned, it could remain so. Even by 1883 it had only fi ve resident Europeans, all of whom lived in Port Moresby. None of this discouraged the predatory inclinations of several German trading companies who had copra plantations and other ventures on nearby islands in the Bismarck Archipelago.

Some of these planters amalgamated as Deutsche Handels und Plantagengesellschaft, known to Australian traders as the German Long-handle Company. This concern provided a ready-made vehicle for expansion from

the Archipelago onto the New Guinea mainland. It allowed developments to be undertaken in an unobtrusive manner that avoided infl aming anti-German sentiment in Australia and New Zealand.

Deutschland über Neu GuineaA suitable Trojan horse was provided

by way of a scientifi c expedition headed by zoologist and anthropologist Dr Otto Finsch. He was commissioned by the newly formed Neu Guinea Compagnie to explore the north-eastern coast of the country aboard the steamer Samoa. He also happened to be Bismarck’s Imperial Commissioner and in the course of his travels proclaimed German sovereignty over the north-east coast of New Guinea with New Britain and New Ireland thrown in for good measure. Finsch selected a site for a possible settlement, later named Finschhafen. The coastline he explored was christened Kaiser Wilhemsland.

Coins of the Bloody Bone —a.k.a. German New Guinea

DR KERRY RODGERS dusts off some old notes on colonial New Guinea . . .

the Archipelago onto the New Guinea

Dr Otto Finsch, whose1884 scientifi c expeditionprovided the ideal cover for Germany to claim the north-east New Guinea and right, the Bloody Bone, fl ag of Neu-Guinea Compagnie whose nickname came to be synonymous with the beers sunk by its New Guinea staff. (Images Wikimedia Commons.)

A suitable Trojan horse was provided by way of a scientifi c expedition headed by

The crown-sized, 1894 proof 5 marks, KM-7, sold by Stack’s in April for US$29,325. (Image courtesy Stacks of New York.)

BackgroundBackground


Background

The German Government rewarded the Neu Guinea Compagnie for its Trojan efforts with an imperial charter giving it sovereign power as governing agency. It granted the Compagnie a monopoly on land acquisition and deemed it accountable to no one other than its shareholders. Bismarck formally annexed the territories the following year.

The Compagnie promptly embarked on a vigorous and, as it turned out, hopelessly overly-ambitious programme of colonial development. Its vanguard turned up in Finschhafen on November 5, 1885. They purchased the small island of Madang from the locals for four axes, four handkerchiefs, four clay pipes and 24 bars of tobacco.

The venture proved a disaster from the beginning. Finschhafen turned out to be an uninspiring little hellhole with a vile climate. It was wracked by frequent earthquakes and excessive bureaucratic instructions from head offi ce—plus a lethal strain of malaria. All introduced stock soon died. Solace was sought by all in the bottle.

Head Offi ce in Berlin never fully understood that the colony had few resources that could be simply and cheaply exploited. Any that might have been developed required a lot of hard work and investment capital. Neither the labour nor the fi nance were forthcoming. The Compagnie’s directors in Berlin issued interminable instruction utterly divorced from the reality on the ground. For example, a sawmill was built to produce timber that could be imported more cheaply from Australia.

One off-quoted commentary from a nephew of Bismarck, Stefan von Kotze, company surveyor for many years, sums the situation well: “I am one of the few to get out of that malaria-hole Finschhafen with a whole skin . . . I treated the fever with alcohol instead of quinine and the orders of the New Guinea Compagnie similarly—with alcohol instead of respect.”

The directors did, however, manage to come up with a company fl ag. Imperial Germany’s black, white and red colours were emblazoned in horizontal stripes in the upper left corner. In the lower right was a stylised black lion bearing a red torch. For the disillusioned and cynical company offi cials in Finschhafen the arrival of the fl ag epitomised their situation. They christened the torch Blutige Knochen or “Bloody Bone”, a name soon adopted for the company itself and, by association, the ever-essential beers.

Making a Mark Labour recruitment was the most serious

problem for the company. Few locals were willing to work on the plantations and Malays were introduced from Java and, subsequently, Chinese from Singapore and Hong Kong. The

former wanted payment in Dutch guilders and the latter in Mexican pesos.

Leaving aside the Compagnie’s abysmal labor practices that saw six Chinese workers hang themselves en masse from the rail of a hulk on which they were confi ned, a ready supply of specie was required to pay any workers.

Trading posts in the Bismarck Archipelago in the main used the coinage of Britain’s Australian colonies since these were the posts’ largest trading partners. In its early days the Neu Guinea Compagnie maintained the status quo but from 19 January 1887 they introduced Imperial German coins that circulated alongside foreign specie at a set rate.

However, as in so many colonial enterprises, it proved extremely diffi cult to maintain an adequate cash supply let alone suffi cient coins in circulation. German New Guinea experienced the normal constant coin-drain that plagued most colonies, but the situation was made worse by New Guineans’ penchant to horde whatever cash came their way, particularly silver one mark pieces.

The Compagnie decided they needed to strike their own coin. A fi rst request to do so to the Reichstag in 1891 was refused but permission was eventually granted in 1894.

It was decreed that any silver and gold coins would be of the same size, fi neness and weight as their Imperial counterparts, but copper minors could differ. However, none of the company coins could show the Imperial Eagle nor the Emperor’s effi gy, unlike the rupees minted for Deutschostafrikanische Gesellschaft (see World Coin News, September 2010).

Dies were engraved by Emil Weigand, a leading Berlin medallist and engraver. His obverse shows the date and denomination—as NEU-GUINEA MARK—surrounded by a wreath of palm fronds. The name Neu Guinea Compagnie ran inside the upper rim; at the bottom was the “A” mintmark of the Berlin Mint where the coins were struck. All silver and copper coins were dated 1894 and all gold 1895.

The common reverse of the specie and the 10 pfennig shows Weigand’s spectacular depiction of a Greater Bird of Paradise displaying as part of its mating ritual. The design has perhaps lent much to the coins’ attractiveness and collector desirability. Mintages were:

.900 fi ne gold 20 mark KM-9 1,500 10 mark KM-8 2,000.900 fi ne silver 5 mark KM-7 23,000 2 mark KM-6 15,000 1 mark KM-5 45,000 ½ mark KM-4 20,070copper 10 pfennig KM-3 100,000 2 pfennig KM-2 250,000 1 pfennig KM-1 500,000

Proof gold 20 mark, KM-9, that fetched. US$25,300 in September 2007. (Heritage Auction Galleries.)

The 1894A copper 10 pfennig, KM-3, the sole minor coin in the series to show the bird of paradise reverse.

fever with alcohol instead of quinine and the orders of

Obverses of Neu-Guinea Compagnie ½, 1 and 2 marks, 1894A, KM-4, KM-5 and KM-6, and their common obverse.

“ . . . I am one of the few to get out of that malaria-hole Finschhafen with a whole skin . . . I treated the fever with alcohol instead of quinine and the orders of the New Guinea Compagnie similarly—with alcohol instead of respect . . .”



Background

Details of the actual numbers and value of the coins sent to the colony in 1895 and of the subsequent numbers melted and/or not retrieved can be found in Dr William Mira’s detailed account: From Cowrie to Kina.

Struck OutThe coins arrived in the colony complete with

a set of rules for their use: none were to leave the colony, they would circulate alongside Imperial coinage, and foreign coins would no longer be accepted.

As with all other rules from Head Offi ce the reality on the ground was otherwise. Specie was specie and the new gold and silver drained from the country just as readily as had the old. The gold in particular made a nice souvenir. And the copper was never popular.

In 1889 the Compagnie fi nally recognised that its double roles of business house and colonial administrator were incompatible. It asked the German Government to take over the administrative responsibilities, which they did for four years before dumping the entire kit and caboodle back on the Compagnie. Finally in 1899 the Reichstag agreed to govern German New Guinea as a protectorate, paying the Compagnie 4 million marks by way of compensation and throwing in a hefty land grant as an added sweetener.

In New Guinea the hauling down of the Bloody Bone was greeted with cheers and a general raising of The Bottle. Of the 224 offi cials who had worked for the Compagnie between 1886 and 1898, 41 had died in the saddle and 133 had resigned or been fi red.

One result of the changed circumstance was the Compagnie now lost its right to mint coins. It agreed to undertake the withdrawal of its remaining coins from circulation but these were not fi nally demonetised until April 1911.

It is perhaps worth noting that following loss of their colonial administrative responsibilities, the Neu Guinea Compagnie fl ourished as did other trading companies in the region such as the powerful Hamburg South Sea A.G. and Deutsche Handels und Plantagengesellschaft. In effect, prior to 1914 these concerns ran German New Guinea. It was a period of rapid development and prosperity. As of August 4, 1914 there were 1,005 Germans, 112 British, 11 Japanese and 368 Chinese in the German New Guinea Protectorate that included Rabul and the Marshall and Caroline Islands.

Further readingMIRA, W. J. D., From Cowrie to Kina, Spink &

Son (Australia), 1986, 332pp.SOUTER, G., New Guinea: the Last Unknown,

Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 1963.

Obverse and reverse of 1 and 2 pfennig issues of Neu-Guinea Compagnie, KM-1, KM-2, show different designs from those of the larger denominations. (Coin images courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries.)


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Tokens

December 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com

George McCaul (Grahamstown): George McCaul was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1836, where he served his apprenticeship to the plumbing trade. Upon completing his apprenticeship, he worked in Birmingham and then London. Following the opening of the Victorian goldfi elds in 1851, George McCaul, as an impoverished plumber, migrated to Australia. When the Otago goldfi elds opened up in 1861, George McCaul crossed the Tasman Sea aboard the Red Jacket, bound for Dunedin. He did not meet with success on the Otago goldfi elds either, so when the West Coast goldfi elds opened up in the mid-1860s, he made the long and arduous trek by foot. His luck was no better, so he moved up to Auckland and returned to the plumbing trade. George McCaul moved to the Thames township of Grahamstown in 1868, a year after the Thames goldfi elds opened. He went into business from Brown Street as a plumber, gasfi tter, coppersmith and tinsmith. He made pipes which carried air to the face of the drives, as well as furnishing many households with tin chimneys and colonial ovens. One-penny tokens depicting a mining poppet head were struck by an unknown British mint in 1874. In 1876 George McCaul, aged 40, married Barbara Horne. In 1885 he returned to Auckland where he went into business as a manufacturing plumber and importer of all trade requisites. He resided above his shop in

Wellesley Street East. The business was very successful, making George McCaul a wealthy man. His wife died in 1913. Despite advancing years, he remained actively engaged in his fi rm but eventually died at his residence on October 17, 1932, aged 96. He was the last New Zealand token issuer to pass away, and was buried at the Waikumate cemetery. He had no children, and his estate of £290,000 was divided between two nieces. His compan, George McCaul Ltd, traded until 1959.

Charles Brown (New Plymouth): Charles Brown was born on July 16, 1820 in London, England, the son of Charles Armitage Brown and his domestic servant, Abigail O’Donohue. His father was a close personal friend of the great English poet, John Keats. In 1822 Charles Armitage Brown secured custody of his only son and moved to Italy. In 1834 he returned to England, settling in Laira Green, Plymouth. His son Charles trained as an engineer, and in 1838, aged 18, he set out for London in search of employment. By 1840 Charles Armitage had been unsuccessful in achieving his literary ambitions while his son had been unable to fi nd satisfactory employment. What was needed was a new start, and when the Plymouth Company formed in 1840 to establish a settlement in New Zealand, they signed up. They arrived in New Plymouth aboard the Amelia Thompson on September 9, 1841. Charles Armitage died in 1842, and while he had been disappointed in raw, primitive and harbourless New Plymouth, and had been planning an early return to England, his son relished the challenge. On May 13, 1851 young Charles Brown, aged 30, married Margaret Joy Horne, aged 17. One son and four daughters were born to the couple. Charles Brown served two terms as the Superintendent of the province of Taranaki (1853–57 and 1861–65). Between 1855 and 1870 he represented Grey, Bell, New Plymouth and Omata in Parliament. He was Captain of the Taranaki Militia during the Moari Land Wars of the early 1860s, and was promoted to the rank of Major. In early 1866 he went into partnership with John Duthie as ironmongers. This partnership was dissolved on January 3, 1870. Margaret Joy died in 1875. Soon after Charles Brown became Native Commissioner of the province. In June 1878 he married Jessie Northcroft, aged 31. Two sons and a daughter were born to the

SIX NEW ZEALANDTowns and their Tokens

VAUGHN HUMBERSTONE

EARLY COLONIAL NEW ZEALAND was plagued by a severe shortage of lower denomination Imperial coinage. As a result, 46 storekeepers and business owners throughout ten towns issued their own tradesmen’s tokens as a substitute between 1857 and 1881. Tokens were never at any stage legal tender, nobody had to accept them, and in fact banks,

post offi ces and government agencies never did. Their issue and circulation was the subject of much criticism. However, they fulfi lled a very real need and it was estimated that they comprised of half of all circulating copper or bronze currency until adequate supplies of Imperial coinage arrived. Previous articles published in COIN NEWS have provided condensed biographical information on the token issuers from the most numerous token-issuing towns (Auckland, 15 token issues, December 2008, pp. 52–54; Dunedin, 5 token issues, March 2010, pp. 51–54; Wellington, 5 token issues, March 2011, pp. 47–50; Christchurch, 14 token issues, November 2011, pp. 49–52). The six remaining towns of Grahamstown, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Nelson, Timaru and Invercargill account for the remaining seven token issues. Two of the businesses were partnerships, so the number of token issuers from these towns is nine. Of the nine, six were born in England and three were born in Scotland, while one of the issuers returned to England. This article gives condensed biographical information on the token issuers from these six towns, and it completes the series of articles in COIN NEWS that cover the entire New Zealand token series.

George McCaul’s tokens refl ect his fascination with the goldfi elds. In the mid-1870s Grahamstown merged with the neighbouring town of Shortland to form the Thames township.


couple. Charles Brown then became a Maori interpreter at the law court. He died on September 2, 1901, aged 81, when hit by a train at the level crossing in Devon Street. He was buried at the Te Henui cemetery.

John Duthie (New Plymouth): John Duthie was born on March 13, 1841 at Kintore, Aberdeen, Scotland, the son of John Duthie senior and Ann (nee Rae). Upon completing his apprenticeship as an ironmonger, he was for some years travelling in Scotland and Ireland for a large Sheffi eld fi rm. John Duthie arrived in Auckland aboard the Helvellyn in November 1863. In 1864, aged 23, he married Mary Ann Mercer, also aged 23. Six sons and three daughters were born to the couple. In early 1866 they moved to New Plymouth where John entered into partnership with Charles Brown as ironmongers. Brown & Duthie took over the business of Mr Obadiah Silcock in Brougham Street, and which also included a branch store in Wanganui. One-penny tokens depicting Mount Egmont were struck by an unknown maker in 1866. In 1868 John Duthie moved to Wanganui, where he went into partnership with James Thain, also of Aberdeen, as ironmongers. In 1879 he moved to Wellington and the following year he established the fi rm of John Duthie & Co, wholesale and retail ironmongers. The fi rm became very large and successful. John Duthie served as Chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, the Gear Meat Company and the Dominion newspaper, as well as President of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and the Caledonian

Society. He served as Mayor of Wellington in 1889/90, and in 1890 he was elected to Parliament to represent Wellington. He was reelected in 1893 but stood down from the 1896 elections following the death of two of his daughters. He did, however, serve further terms. Ann Duthie died on October 8, 1911, aged 70. John Duthie was called to the Legislative Council in 1913. He died on October 14, 1915, aged 74, and was buried at the Karori cemetery. John Duthie Ltd traded until 1975. John Duthie’s homestead, Balgownie House, is today listed with the NZ Historic Places Trust.

John Gilmour (New Plymouth): John Gilmour was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1825, where he trained as a cabinet maker. John Gilmour and his wife Isabella departed London as paid steerage passengers aboard the Kelso, which arrived in New Plymouth on October 24, 1849. In 1853 John Gilmour went into partnership with his brother Robert as general merchants and ironmongers in Brougham Street. In 1854 Robert moved to Raglan, in the neighbouring province of Waikato, and John took over as sole proprietor. John Gilmour also purchased an 88-acre farm near Raglan, which was managed on his behalf. In 1863 J. Gilmour became the Taranaki agent for Holloway’s pills and ointment. He later opened a branch store in the nearby town of Waitara. Undated one-penny tokens depicting Mount Egmont were struck by an unknown maker and were placed into circulation in February 1875. In early 1876 J. Gilmour focused his business on stationery and patent medicines, while maintaining a stock of ironmongery. Meanwhile, his land holdings in Raglan had expanded to 916 acres. Isabella died on August 28, 1885, aged 56, leaving behind six sons and a daughter. John Gilmour was declared bankrupt in April 1887. Following the sale of his stock-in-trade, he relinquished his ironmongery trade and immediately went back into business as a stockist of stationery, books and patent medicines. In late 1889 he moved business premises to Devon Street. His shop was well renowned throughout the district for its extensive Christmas stock. In 1894 John Gilmour began to suffer from ill health, and in 1896 his only daughter died. Towards the end of his life he was almost an invalid. John Gilmour died on August 8, 1899, aged 74. During his time in New Zealand he made two trips back to England. Following his death, two of his sons took over his business.

The advertisement, from the Taranaki Herald, of November 16, 1867, is the only known instance of a New Zealand fi rm advertising their tokens.

Mount Egmont was fi rst sighted by Captain James

Cook in 1770, who named it after the Earl of Egmont.

Mount Egmont has featured on New Zealand’s £50 note

from 1940-67, and on the 50c coin from 1967 to the

present.

John Hurley (Wanganui): John Hurley was born on July 4, 1830 at Bridgwater, Somersetshire, England, the son of Alexander Hurley and Ann (nee Hill). The Hurley family joined up with the New Zealand Company colonisation scheme. They departed Gravesend, Kent, aboard the London, arriving in Wellington on May 1, 1842. Alexander Hurley went into business as a baker from Lambton Quay, and John Hurley followed into his father’s trade. Having seen his father go bankrupt as well as witnessing fi re and earthquake, John Hurley, upon reaching maturity, decided that Wanganui held better prospects. Not long afterwards his brother Henry joined him. Hurley Bros., bakers and bootmakers, was formed in May 1853. On January 24, 1855 John Hurley, aged 24, married Lorenna Anne Cunnabell, aged 20. Four sons were born to the couple between 1856 and 1873. With the outbreak of the Maori Land Wars in the neighbouring province of Taranaki in 1860,

William George Todman (1828–99) and his brother John Henry (1839–90) were in business as die sinkers and embossers from 26 Bow Lane, Cheapside, London. A large part of their business consisted of printing die-stamped stationary. William George retired from business in 1870, and John Henry was declared bankrupt in 1878.

Tokens


John Hurley joined the Wanganui Cavalry Volunteers where he served as a trooper. The partnership of Hurley Bros. was dissolved by mutual consent. John Hurley subsequently went into business as a baker and confectioner, trading from Victoria Avenue. Undated halfpenny and penny tokens featuring an allegorical depiction of Produce & Shipping were struck by W. G. Todman & Co of London in 1863. John Hurley was a Warden of the Wanganui Town Board and a member of the Benevolent Society. As a life-long teetotaller, he was closely involved in the Wesleyan Church Temperance Society. In 1882 he sold out his business so that he could take up land in Taranaki. He acquired land on the Waimate Plains, where he engaged in farming. He died on September 10, 1901, aged 71, and was buried at the Wanganui cemetery. Lorenna Anne Hurley died on January 31, 1903, aged 68.

partnership with Richard Turnbull of Timaru, under the style of Clarkson & Turnbull, general importers and drapers. After disposing of Dunstable House in early 1864, David Clarkson returned to England with his wife and children, settling in London. He established a wholesale drapery business between London and Australia. In 20 years of business he shipped £3,600,000 worth of goods to Australia. He took his sons into partnership and established an extensive warehouse in London as well as large wholesale drapery outlets in Melbourne and Sydney. In 1886 David Clarkson returned to Christchurch where he spent £50,000 on a new warehouse, with the intention of expanding his business to New Zealand. In March 1889 he returned to Australia to inspect his business interests there, but he died suddenly and unexpectedly at the Coogee Hotel, Coogee Bay, Sydney, on June 4, 1889, aged 61.

Richard Turnbull (Timaru): Richard Turnbull was born on January 17, 1826 at Oxford, England, the son of Richard Woolfe Turnbull and Jane (nee Hutt). On April 24, 1851 Richard, aged 25, married Mary Hepzibah Watts, aged 22. After spending their honeymoon in the Channel Islands, they sailed to New Zealand aboard the Fatima. Richard Turnbull paid £900 to the Canterbury Association for 300 acres of land on the outskirts of Christchurch and a 1½ acre town section. The Fatima arrived in Lyttelton on December 6, 1851 and Richard spent the next 11 years farming his land while Mary remained in Lyttelton. The Turnbulls then moved to the small but growing town of Timaru in South Canterbury. Soon after arrival in 1863, Richard Turnbull went into partnership with David Clarkson as general importers and drapers, trading from a store at the corner of Stafford and George Streets. While David Clarkson arranged the shipping of merchandise from London, Richard ran the business from Timaru. Clarkson & Turnbull prospered from the outset, and branch stores were opened in Temuka and Rangitata. One-penny tokens depicting a breakwater, lighthouse and steamer were struck by W. J. Taylor of London in 1865. The partnership of Clarkson & Turnbull was dissolved on November 7, 1868, followed by a month-long stock clearing sale. Exactly one month later the store was destroyed by fi re and a large uninsured stock was lost. Richard subsequently became a grain and seed merchant and an auctioneer. He served on the Vestry of St Mary’s Church, and in 1872 he was elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council. In 1875 the last of his ten surviving children was born, comprising of six sons and four daughters. In 1878 he was elected to Parliament to represent Timaru. He died on July 17, 1890, aged 64. Mary Hepzibah Turnbull died on January 4, 1912, aged 82.

Samuel Beaven (Invercargill): Samuel Beaven was born in England during the 1830s. He spent his youth in Herefordshire and Essex, where he was brought up to a country life. After serving an apprenticeship with one of the largest ironmongery fi rms in England, Samuel Beaven immigrated to Invercargill, New Zealand. By March 1859 he had a small farm to the east of the town. On January 1, 1861 Samuel Beaven went into business as an ironmonger. In 1862 he was elected to the newly-formed Southland Provincial Council. On August 3, 1862 Samuel Beaven married Elizabeth Jane Fraser, aged 22. A son was born in October 1863. In that same month he opened a three storey ironmongery store at the corner of Tay and Kelvin Streets. One-penny tokens depicting the Australian coat of

James Mayfi eld Merrington (Nelson): James Mayfi eld Merrington was born in England in 1837, the son of James and Sarah Merrington. In 1845 he immigrated to Sydney in Australia. On October 11, 1850, aged 23, he married his business partner’s daughter, Elizabeth Waltham Rush, aged 26. With the opening up of a number of nearby goldfi elds, the Merringtons were attracted to the town of Nelson. In early 1865 James M. Merrington and his wife sailed to Nelson aboard the Mary. J. M. Merrington & Co bought out the drapery business of Messrs J. & E. Paul, with the premises in Bridge Street reopening for business on April 1, 1865. Undated one-penny tokens depicting Justice & Trade standing were struck by Heaton & Sons of Birmingham. James M. Merrington resided in a house adjoining his shop, and he imported his stock from Australia. In the winter of 1866 he helped to organise a search party that led to the capture of the Kelly and Burgess gang—the most notorious gang to plague the New Zealand goldfi elds. In 1867 James M. Merrington served as treasurer of the Nelson Fire Brigade. Elizabeth’s ill health hastened the decision to return to Sydney and in June 1868 J. M. Merrington & Co was sold out to Mr W. Milner and the Merringtons returned to Sydney. Elizabeth’s health continued to decline and she died on September 29, 1868, aged 44. There were no children from that marriage. On January 1, 1874 James M. Merrington married Frances Maria Jenkins and moved to Newcastle, NSW. Three sons were born to the couple. James Mayfi eld Merrington died on September 5, 1877 at his residence in Surrey Hills, Sydney, aged 49. His third son was born fi ve months after his death.

David Clarkson (Timaru): David Clarkson was born on May 24, 1828 at Chislehurst, Kent, England, the son of Joseph and Matilda Clarkson. He trained as a builder and in 1850 his entire family decided to immigrate to New Zealand. David Clarkson arrived in Lyttelton with his mother, sister, his wife Esther and their young son aboard the Labuan on August 14, 1851. David Clarkson and his wife had a total of three sons and four daughters. David and his father could get plenty of work as builders, and in 1853 the entire Clarkson family moved to Christchurch. Upon realising the strong demand for straw hats, David and his wife decided to establish a drapery business. In 1853 he secured a site in Cashel Street, upon which he built a small shop, named Dunstable House. In July 1863 Dunstable House was leased out to William Pratt. He then went into

While Heaton & Sons of Birmingham struck bulk amounts of tokens to a coin-like quality, a local Nelson tinsmith, John Varty, cut circular holes out of sheets of tin and zinc and stamped them with letters and numbers for local circulation. Needless to say, New Zealand did not possess the facilities for the production of tradesmen’s tokens.

The tokens of Clarkson & Turnbull showed a vision of the future. Construction did not begin on the breakwater at Caroline Bay until 1879. It was completed in 1887, minus the lighthouse depicted on the tokens.

Tokens


arms were struck by an unknown maker dated 1863. Samuel Beaven helped to establish the Chamber of Commerce and the Benevolent Institution in Invercargill, as well as being elected to the Town Board and serving as President of the Mechanic’s Institute. When the Southland Provincial Council found itself helplessly in debt, it proposed to issue Treasury notes in £1 and £5 denominations. This absurd proposal was made public and was ridiculed before any such “shinplasters” were ever issued. Samuel Beaven was made the scapegoat over this debacle,

and he resigned from the Southland Provincial Council in May 1864. In October 1866 Beaven’s ironmongery business went into liquidation and was sold off. Samuel Beaven then engaged in agricultural interests. In 1868 he moved to Fiji. By 1882 Samuel Beaven was in Brazil, where he was in business as a supplier of small machinery to the coffee industry, such as coffee pulpers. Samuel Beaven’s wife, Elizabeth Jane Beaven, died on April 8, 1884 at Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil, aged 44.

In concluding the New Zealand token series, mention must be made of two related items. The rare 1879 New Zealand fantasy penny was struck by Joseph Moore of Birmingham using designs copied from unsuccessful patterns he had submitted to the Royal Mint in 1860. The timing of this piece is surprising, given that suffi cient supplies of Imperial bronze coinage had arrived in New Zealand in 1876, thus alleviating any shortages. It is unknown who ordered these pieces to be struck. They were certainly not part of any offi cial proposal to adopt a New Zealand coinage, and they didn’t circulate as currency.

Thomas Holloway (1800–83) was a patent medicine vendor who used a worldwide mass advertising campaign to make a fortune selling pills and ointment that, in reality, had absolutely no medicinal properties whatsoever. He had a large number of halfpenny and penny tokens struck dated 1857 and 1858, and these were imported into the Australasian colonies. Despite being virtually unredeemable, Holloway’s tokens circulated extensively throughout New Zealand.

All of the information in this article is taken from an unpublished manuscript by the author, entitled “Merchants Making Money”, 2011.

Select bibliographyA Return of the Freeholders of New Zealand, 1882. Property

Tax Department, by authority of George Didsbury, Govt. printer, Wellington, 1884.

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand, vol. 1, Wellington, Cyclopedia Company Ltd, Wellington, 1897.

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand, vol. 4, Otago and Southland Provincial District, Cyclopedia Company Ltd, Wellington, 1905.

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand, vol. 6, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay and Wellington Provincial Districts, Cyclopedia Company Ltd, Christchurch, 1908.

HALL-JONES, F. G. Invercargill Pioneers, Southland Historical Committee, Invercargill, 1946.

MACDONALD, George Ranald, G. R. Macdonald Dictionary of Canterbury Biographies. Unpublished, presented to the Canterbury Museum in 1964.

McALOON, Jim, Nelson, A Regional History, Cape Catley Ltd in association with the Nelson City Council, Queen Charlotte Sound, 1997.

McCORMICK, E. H., The Friend of Keats, A Life of Charles Armitage Brown, Victoria University Press, Wellington, 1989.

OGILVIE, Gordon, Ballantynes, The Story of Dunstable House 1854-2004, J. Ballantyne & Co Ltd, Christchurch, 2004.

SCHOLEFIELD, G. H. (ed.), A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, vol. 1. The Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, 1940.

SMART, M. J. G., and BATES, A. P., The Wanganui Story, Wanganui Newspapers Ltd, Wanganui, 1973.

TURNBULL, Phillip, Richard Turnbull, A Timaru Pioneer. A privately unpublished family history, undated.

VENNELL, C. W., & WILLIAMS, Susan, Raglan County Hills and Sea, A Centennial History 1876-1976, Wilson & Horton Ltd, Auckland, 1976.

WARD, Louis E., Early Wellington, Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd, 1928. Reprint published by Capper Press, Christchurch, 1975.

New Zealand Marriages 1836-1956, version 2. NZ Society of Genealogists Inc, CD-ROM, 2006.

NSW Pioneers Index, Federation Series 1788-1888. Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, NSW, Australia.

New Zealand Death records.Anglican Church Marriage Register: St. John’s Church,

Invercargill.Electoral Rolls: Auckland, Nelson, New Plymouth, Raglan,

Thames.Parish Records of Scotland and England. Jesus Christ

Church of Latter-Day Saints, USA, 1988, microfi che.The (Melbourne) Argus, Auckland Star, Christchurch Press,

The Colonist, Hawera and Normanby Star, The (Florida) Independent, Nelson Evening Mail, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, New Zealand Herald, New Zealand Spectator and Cook’s Straight Guardian, New Zealand Times, Northern Advocate, The Observer, Otago Daily Times, Otago Witness, Southern Cross, Southland News, Southland Times, Sunday Star Times, Sydney Mail, Sydney Morning Herald, Taranaki Herald, Timaru Herald, Wanganui Chronicle, Wanganui Herald, Weekly Press, Wellington Independent. (newspapers)

Auckland Almanac, Cleave’s Auckland Directory, Harnett’s Dunedin Directory, Nelson Almanac, NZ Business Who’s Who, Post Offi ce London Directory, Southern Provinces Almanac, Taranaki Almanac, Wises NZ Directory.

http://www.ancestry.com. Retrieved May 15, 2009.http://archway.archives.govt.nz. Retrieved July 14, 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved July 15, 2010.http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com.

Retrieved May 15, 2009. www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/8816/merring.htm.

Retrieved May 15, 2009. {The Merrington Family” by Jim and Gaila Merrington.

http://www.historic.org.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2009. The NZ Historic Places Trust.

http://london-gazette.co.nz. Retrieved June 1, 2009.

Samuel Beaven only paid for one die to be engraved, so his obverse die was paired with a reverse die used for Australian tokens. Also shown is a contemporary illustration of the Southland Treasury notes, minus the fancy ornamentation. Such notes would have been illegal under New Zealand Ordinance.

Tokens

63Coin news

66 Coin news www.tokenpublishing.com December 201166 Coin news www.tokenpublishing.com December 2011December

Here we feature a selection of current books that should be on every collector’s Christmas list—order today for delivery in time for Christmas.

COIN YeArBOOK 2012:This is the latest edition of the best-selling price guide to the coins of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isles from early milled to the latest issues, with simplifi ed sections on Roman, Celtic and English hammered coinage—and much more besides. Published in October this year, the prices refl ect the current market trends including the volatile gold and silver issues.

In its 20th successful year and STILL ONLY £9.95MeDAL YeArBOOK 2012:In full colour this new edition is the only complete authoritative price guide to the medals of Great Britain and the major countries of the British Commonwealth. Each medal is fully described and illustrated, with award criteria, historical information and current market value. Also featuring a host of useful information for the beginner as well as the serious collector

Nearly 600 information-packed pages for ONLY £19.95

rOMAN COINS AND THeIr vALUeS—Iv: Here it is at last! This is the fourth and fi nal volume of the comprehensive range of catalogues of the Roman coinage undertaken by David Sear, the acknowledged authority. This long-awaited book completes the series with the coinage of the Tetrarchies and the Rise of the House of Constantine from Diocletian to Constantine I.

ESSENTIAL for every collector of ancient coins £45(The other three volumes are still available—

ask for special discount deal available)

UNUSUAL WOrLD COINS:If you have the other acclaimed World Catalog® titles from Krause Publications but can’t fi nd your coin, you may fi nd it in this useful publication which lists those strange items you come across but which don’t fi t the usual category of “coin”. Following the same format as the familiar Krause catalogs, which show prices in US dollars, this publication opens up a whole new world of collecting—and it’s fun to read!

Nearly 600 information-packed pages for ONLY £34.99(Ask for details of the other Krause All-World Catalogues)

WOrLD COINS 2001–date: For the collector of new issues this is an essential reference book. Literally every coin offi cially issued by every country in the world since 2001 is listed, illustrated and valued (in US$). This, the 6th edition, contains over 750 pages packed with information virtually impossible to fi nd anywhere else—keep your collection up to date with this essential catalogue.

Thousands of coins illustrated and catalogued for ONLY £34.99(Ask for details of the other Krause All-World Catalogues)

should be on every collector’s Christmas list—Here we feature a selection of current books that should be on every collector’s Christmas list—Here we feature a selection of current books that should be on every collector’s Christmas list—

This is the latest edition of the best-selling price guide to the coins of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isles from early milled to the latest issues, with simplifi ed sections on

The Editor’s choice

Ordering is easy—

Telephone 01404 44166Fax 01404 44788

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GEORGE III (1760–1820)

1817.......................................... 2,080,197 £200 £225 £350 £8001818.......................................... 1,030,286 £200 £225 £350 £8501820.......................................... 35,043 £200 £225 £350 £800

GEORGE IV (1820–30)

1821 First bust, ....................... ornate shield reverse ........... 231,288 £450 £1300 £2600 £42501821 — Proof ........................... unrecorded — — — £4000

1823 First bust, Plain shield rev. .............................. 224,280 £130 £220 £400 £8001824 — ..................................... 591,538 £130 £220 £425 £8001825 — ..................................... 761,150 £130 £220 £425 £800

1826 bare head, shield with full legend reverse ......... 344,830 £130 £200 £400 £8001826 — Proof ........................... unrecorded — — — £15001827 — ..................................... 492,014 £130 £200 £400 £8001828 — ..................................... 1,224,754 £130 £200 £400 £900

WILLIAM IV (1830–37)

1831 Proof only plain edge....... unrecorded — — — £23001831 Proof only milled edge ..... unrecorded — — — £52501834.......................................... 133,899 £175 £370 £700 £14001835.......................................... 772,554 £160 £400 £500 £12501836.......................................... 146,865 £180 £350 £600 £12501836 obverse from 6d die ........ incl. above £1200 £2500 £5000 —1837.......................................... 160,207 £175 £350 £600 £1250

Date F VF EF UNCDate Mintage F VF EF UNC

VICTORIA (1837–1901)YOUNG HEAD ISSUESShield reverse

1838 ......................................... 273,341 £130 £135 £300 £9001839 Proof only ....................... 1,230 — — — £22501841.......................................... 508,835 £130 £135 £300 £9001842.......................................... 2,223,352 £130 £135 £300 £6001843.......................................... 1,251,762 £130 £135 £300 £7001844.......................................... 1,127,007 £130 £135 £300 £6001845.......................................... 887,526 £140 £450 £1500 £27501846.......................................... 1,063,928 £130 £135 £300 £6501847.......................................... 982,636 £130 £135 £300 £6501848.......................................... 410,595 £130 £135 £300 £6501849.......................................... 845,112 — £135 £300 £6001850.......................................... 179,595 £160 £330 £800 £20001851.......................................... 773,573 — £135 £300 £600 1852.......................................... 1,377,671 — £135 £300 £6001853.......................................... 2,708,796 — £135 £300 £6001853 Proof ................................ unrecorded — — — £60001854.......................................... 1,125,144 Extremely rare1855.......................................... 1,120,362 £130 £135 £250 £5001856.......................................... 2,391,909 £130 £135 £250 £5001857.......................................... 728,223 £130 £135 £250 £5001858.......................................... 855,578 £130 £135 £250 £5001859.......................................... 2,203,813 £130 £135 £250 £5001860.......................................... 1,131,500 £130 £135 £250 £5001861.......................................... 1,130,867 £130 £135 £250 £5001862.......................................... unrecorded £500 £1400 £5000 —1863.......................................... 1,571,574 £130 £135 £250 £5001863 with Die number ............. incl. above £130 £135 £250 £5001864 — ..................................... 1,758,490 £130 £135 £250 £5001865 — ..................................... 1,834,750 £130 £135 £250 £5001866 — ..................................... 2,058,776 £130 £135 £250 £5001867 — ..................................... 992,795 £130 £135 £250 £4701869 — ..................................... 1,861,764 £130 £135 £250 £4701870 — ..................................... 1,159,544 £130 £135 £250 £4001871 — ..................................... 2,062,970 £130 £135 £250 £4001872 — ..................................... 3,248,627 £130 £135 £250 £4001873 — ..................................... 1,927,050 £130 £135 £250 £4001874 — ..................................... 1,884,432 £130 £135 £250 £4001875 — ..................................... 516,240 £130 £135 £250 £4001876 — ..................................... 2,785,187 £130 £135 £250 £4001877 — ..................................... 2,197,482 £130 £135 £250 £4001878 — ..................................... 2,081,941 £130 £135 £250 £4001879 — ..................................... 35,201 £130 £135 £250 £4001880 — ..................................... 1,009,049 £130 £135 £250 £4001880 no Die number ............... incl. above £130 £135 £250 £4001883 — ..................................... 2,870,457 £130 £135 £250 £3751884 — ..................................... 1,113,756 £130 £135 £250 £3751885 — ..................................... 4,468,871 £130 £135 £250 £375M below shield (Melbourne Mint)1873.......................................... 165,034 £130 £150 £700 — 1877.......................................... 80,016 £130 £120 £600 —1881.......................................... 42,009 £130 £200 £800 —1882.......................................... 107,522 £130 £135 £750 — 1884.......................................... 48,009 £130 £135 £750 —1885.......................................... 11,003 £130 £300 £1800 —1886.......................................... 38,008 £130 £135 £1800 —1887.......................................... 64,013 £150 £400 £1800 £6000S below shield (Sydney Mint)1871 ......................................... 180,000 (?) £130 £135 £8700 —

Coin price guideCoin price guideCoin price guide

The Price Guide is intended as a supplement to the highly acclaimed COIN YEARBOOK and we hope the prices quoted will provide a true refl ection of the market. The grading used in this price guide is strictly as the recognised English system. In the listing “—” indicates either : Metal or bullion value only; not usually found in this grade; or not collected in this condition.

2012 EDITION

AVAILABLENOW

Price guide to: Half sovereigns

2012 EDITION

AVAILABLENOW

December 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com 69Coin newsDecember 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com 69Coin news

Date Mintage F VF EF UNC Date Mintage F VF EF UNC

Coin price guide

Coming next month—Price guide to sovereigns

1872.......................................... 356,000 £130 £135 £800 —1875.......................................... unrecorded £130 £135 £800 —1879.......................................... 94,000 £130 £135 £1000 —1880.......................................... 80,000 £130 £400 £1000 —1881.......................................... 62,000 £130 £135 £1000 —1882.......................................... 52,000 £200 £700 £4000 £120001883.......................................... 220,000 £130 £135 £1000 —1886.......................................... 82,000 £130 £135 £1000 —1887.......................................... 134,000 £130 £135 £1100 £3750

JUBILEE HEAD ISSUES

1887.......................................... 871,770 £130 £135 £140 £1601887 Proof ................................ 797 £130 £135 — £6001890.......................................... 2.266,023 £130 £135 £140 £6001891.......................................... 1,079,286 £130 £135 £140 £6001892.......................................... 13,680,486 £130 £136 £140 £6001893.......................................... 4,426,625 £130 £136 £140 £600M below shield (Melbourne Mint)1887 ......................................... incl. above £130 £136 £350 £8001893.......................................... 110,024 £130 £140 £550 —S below shield (Sydney Mint)1887 ......................................... incl. above £130 £135 £300 £6001889.......................................... 64,000 £130 £135 £300 —1891.......................................... 154,000 £130 £135 £300 —

OLD HEAD ISSUES

1893.......................................... incl. above £130 £135 £140 £1751893 Proof ................................ 773 — — — £6501894.......................................... 3,794,591 £130 £135 £140 £1751895.......................................... 2,869,183 £130 £135 £140 £1751896.......................................... 2,946,605 £130 £135 £140 £1751897.......................................... 3,568,156 £130 £135 £140 £1751898.......................................... 2,868,527 £130 £135 £140 £1751899.......................................... 3,361,881 £130 £135 £140 £1751900.......................................... 4,307,372 £130 £135 £140 £1751901.......................................... 2,037,664 £130 £135 £140 £175M on ground on reverse (Melbourne Mint)1893 ......................................... unrecorded Extremely rare1896.......................................... 218,946 £130 £135 £450 —1899.......................................... 97,221 £130 £135 £450 —1900.......................................... 112,920 £130 £135 £450 —P on ground on reverse (Perth Mint)1899.......................................... Proof Unique1900 ......................................... 119,376 £130 £300 £600 —S on ground on reverse (Sydney Mint)1893 ......................................... 250,000 £130 £135 £400 —1897.......................................... unrecorded £130 £135 £375 —1900.......................................... 260,00 £130 £135 £375 —

EDWARD VII (1902–10)

1902.......................................... 4,244,457 £130 £135 £140 £1501902 Matt proof ........................ 15,123 — — — £200

1903.......................................... 2,522,057 £130 £135 £140 £1501904.......................................... 1,717,440 £130 £135 £140 £1501905.......................................... 3,023,993 £130 £135 £140 £1501906.......................................... 4,245,437 £130 £135 £140 £1501907.......................................... 4,233,421 £130 £135 £140 £1501908.......................................... 3,996,992 £130 £135 £140 £1501909.......................................... 4,010,715 £130 £135 £140 £1501910.......................................... 5,023,881 £130 £135 £140 £150M on ground on reverse (Melbourne Mint)1906 ......................................... 82,042 £120 £130 £200 £5001907.......................................... 405,034 £120 £130 £200 £5001908.......................................... incl. above £120 £130 £200 £5001909.......................................... 186,094 £120 £130 £200 £500P on ground on reverse (Perth Mint)1904.......................................... 60,030 £120 £130 £700 —1908.......................................... 24,668 £120 £130 £700 —1909.......................................... 44,022 £120 £130 £600 —S on ground on reverse (Sydney Mint)1902 ......................................... 84,000 £120 £130 £140 £3501902 Proof ................................ Extremely rare1903.......................................... 231,000 £3001906.......................................... 308,00 £120 £130 £140 £3251908.......................................... 538,000 £120 £130 £140 £3251910.......................................... 474,000 £120 £130 £140 £325

GEORGE V (1911–36)

1911.......................................... 6,104,106 £120 £130 £140 £1501911 Proof ................................ 3,764 — — — £3001912.......................................... 6,224,316 £120 £130 £140 £1501913.......................................... 6,094,290 £120 £130 £140 £1501914.......................................... 7,251,124 £120 £130 £140 £1501915.......................................... 2,042,747 £120 £130 £140 £150M on ground on reverse (Melbourne Mint)1915.......................................... 125,664 £120 £130 £140 £150P on ground on reverse (Perth Mint)1911 ......................................... 130,373 £120 £130 £140 £2101915.......................................... 136,219 £120 £130 £140 £210 1918.......................................... unrecorded £200 £500 £1500 £2500S on ground on reverse (Sydney Mint)1911 ......................................... 252,000 £120 £130 £140 £1501912.......................................... 278,000 £120 £130 £140 £1501914.......................................... 322,000 £120 £130 £140 £1501915.......................................... 892,000 £120 £130 £140 £1501916.......................................... 448,000 £120 £130 £140 £150SA on ground on reverse (Pretoria Mint) 1923 Proof only ........................ 655 — — — £3501925.......................................... 946,615 £120 £130 £140 £1501926.......................................... 806,540 £120 £130 £140 £150

GEORGE VI (1937–52)

1937 Proof only ........................ 5,501 — — — £490

Later issues are included in the Decimal section

The Coin Yearbook contains a comprehensive price guide to the values of the coins of England, Scotland, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

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1907..........................................1908..........................................1909..........................................

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You should not believe everything a coin tells youPoor little Lorraine, squeezed between France and Germany. We do not need to go far back even

in modern history to sense what life must have been like for the people who lived there. Up to 1870 they were in France, with all school lessons and such like in French. Then in 1871 everything had to change to German as Germany annexed Alsace-Lorraine after the Franco-Prussian War. When Germany lost World War I in 1918 they became French again. Then back to German between 1940 and 1945 in World War II, and fi nally, after 1945, their province became once again an integral part of France.

To understand what was happening we do need a bit of history. In fact we need to go back to AD 843 when the Treaty of Verdun was signed. By the terms of this treaty Europe was divided up between the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious who himself had inherited the whole of the vast empire formed by the great Charlemagne. Louis’ son, Charles the Bald, inherited France. The next son, Louis the German, got Germany, while the remaining son, Lothaire, received the title of “Emperor” together with a long strip of territory between the lands ruled by his two brothers—a strip stretching from the North Sea down to Rome in Italy. Lothaire died in 855, and his lands were divided between his own sons, with Lothaire II receiving territory designated from his own name “Lotharii Regnum”, thence “Lotharingia”, then, fi nally, it took the name by which we know it today, “Lorraine”. The original Lotharii Regnum was much bigger than the modern province, but gradually, losing some territory here and another chunk there, it became the fairly small province it is now.

By the 17th century Lorraine WAS unimportant; but that was NOT the impression it wanted to give people handling its coinage! This month’s coin is a silver teston of Duke Charles IV of Lorraine, 1625–34, minted at Nancy, capital of the province. Never heard of him? Of course you haven’t—he was completely unimportant; but take a look at the shield-of-arms on the reverse, which consists of a top row of four parts; a bottom row of another four parts; plus a small shield (an inescutcheon) in the centre of the big shield. From left to right the four divisions along the top are (1) Barry of eight argent and gules (= silver and red) for the Kingdom of Hungary; (2) France ancient with label of three gules—for the Kingdom of Naples; (3) Argent, a cross potent between four plain crosses or (= gold); for the Kingdom of Jerusalem; (4) Or, four pallets gules—for the Kingdom of Aragon. So our friend Duke Charles IV is claiming to be King of four important Kingdoms—we surely ought to have come across him in our historical studies!! In reality he was not king of any of them. Now for the bottom row: (5) France ancient with bordure gules, for the Duchy of Anjou; (6) Azure (blue), a lion rampant sinister or, for the Duchy of Guelders; (7) Or, a lion rampant sable (black), for the Duchy of Julich; (8) Azure, two barbels (fi sh) or, for the Duchy of Bar. Charles IV didn’t possess Anjou, or Guelders, or Julich—though he WAS Duke of Bar, a second title to go with his main one as Duke of Lorraine, the arms of which are in the inescutcheon – Or, on a bend gules, three eaglets displayed argent. These are actually more interesting than any of the others! During the First Crusade before the capture of Jerusalem in June 1099, the leader of the Crusade, Godfrey de Bouillon, prayed for a sign from God that he would be victorious. One of his soldiers told him to take his bow and shoot down a bird. Godfrey shot and killed three birds rather than just the one with his single arrow—he thereupon added three eaglets to his heraldic arms, which in time became the arms of the Duchy of Lorraine.

You might not believe the story about Godfrey’s three birds, or about Charles’s many kingdoms and duchies; but at least he WAS Duke of Lorraine and Bar. And can we really talk when our own kings claimed to be kings of England and France for so many years?

Richard Plant

You should not believe everything a coin tells you

Richard Plant

COIN OF THE MONTH

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Horse-tradingDr Kerry roDgers contemplates a coin purchase or two . . .

These ten are better than anything I can come up with. I only wish I had known of them when I was making my first purchases.

Certainly it is essential to know what you want to buy and what the current retail price is. Hence you need the book—and your list. The Americans have it over us with their Red and Blue Books. One gives dealers’ current retail prices, the other the wholesale prices; selling and buying prices if you will. Knowing both for a target coin helps a would-be purchaser.

I find a list essential. Without a list I am notorious for buying dupes. Dealers delight when they see me coming. And that list must include current prices for different grades. Being on the ball with prices alerts me to both overcharging or markdowns. The latter may occur where a vendor is getting quit of a less than satisfactory item.

Dealers don’t know everything. I have scored some gems from dealers’ junk boxes over the years. And just look at some of the bargains obtained from “car-boot-sales” each week on the Antiques Roadshow.

It pays to be fully informed. Such knowledge may not only lead to getting a bargain but, if you are selling, avoid being taken for a ride.

And you are ultimately responsible for the grading of any coin in question; not the vendor and certainly not an independent

grader. If you disagree with a vendor, you can haggle over price but not the grade. Just don’t expect any favours.

If you are not satisfied that the coin is as represented, ask the dealer to open any holder so you can examine the coin before purchase. If you open the holder without the vendor’s blessing, either before or after purchase, regard the coin as yours.

My experience is that 99 per cent of dealers are straightforward and honest. They have to be. Their reputation is their livelihood. They want to encourage customers to come back. Yes, I have been ripped-off by the occasional operator but I have had far more hassles with fellow collectors. Get to know your dealers. They may well point out some who have tried to scam them, ones you need to be cautious around. And while regular customers can expect a discount now and again, don’t expect one to be offered until you have spent some decent dosh.

Herbert advocates buying big ticket coins and notes for your collection first. In an ideal world this would be the way to go. Those more expensive items tend to appreciate faster than more common pieces. However, most of us do not have the resources when starting out to be able to do this. And beginners need to take it slowly and be very sure of what they are buying and that the price is right on all counts.

Over the years I have gained much from the writings of some of the experienced hands of US numismatics. Among them, Alan Herbert is a guy I have a lot of time for. His statements are down to earth. The other day I came across the ten essential points he believes we all need to consider before making a coin (or note) purchase:

1. Buy the book before you buy—or sell—a coin. 2. Know more about the coin than the person selling it. 3. Know how to grade within a point. 4. Keep accurate records of every purchase and sale—especially as the taxman may be waiting. 5. Understand the minting process.6. Collect what you like and want, not what someone tells you to collect. 7. There are no dumb questions. 8. Don’t clean your coins - or notes.9. Walk before you run.10. Make a list.


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BANKNOTENewsTHE SPECIALIST

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VALUES ON THE RUNCONSULTING the award-winning

publication, the Banknote Yearbook VI, just got easier with the in-depth price guide now available as a download. The full colour pdf sections are available by country so if your interest is Scottish only you can simply log onto our site at www.tokenpublishing.com and purchase the relevant Scottish chapters of the book. The larger English section is available for £10, Scotland for £8 and the smaller Ireland and Island sections for £5. Lower resolution versions are available at considerably less. So if you want to check the price of a particular note with a simple click of a mouse or via your mobile phone, well now you can!

Swaziland syndicateSIX months ago a specimen of a new

E200 note disappeared from a safe in the Central Bank of Swaziland. Along with new banknotes launched in June, this specimen had been printed by the leading supplier of banknotes Giesecke & Devrient of Munich, Germany. All Swaziland banknotes are produced in Germany where the coins are also minted.The suspect is an accountant who allegedly sold the note to an Indian dealer based in South Africa. Interception of electronic correspondence revealed that the buyer tried to resell his acquisition abroad. The bank fears a syndicate might intend to forge the new notes using the specimen as its sample. Investigations are still pending.

Story courtesy of coinsweekly.com

New “Duggleby”SIMPLY, and some would say,

affectionately, known as “Duggleby” the eighth edition of English Paper Money is now available. The full colour guide to English banknotes runs to 336 pages with the white notes and Treasury sections dramatically improved. New chapters are included covering early white notes and Third Issue Treasury Essays. The pricing has been thoroughly reviewed and updated realistically covering three grades where applicable. Priced at £20 plus £3.00 p&p (UK), the new book is available from the publisher, Pam West, PO Box 257, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9WW (telephone: 0208 641 3224) or log onto www.britishnotes.co.uk.

Signing upTHE new £50 note which came into circulation on November 2, features

a new Chief Cashier’s signature, that of Chris Salmon. Chris, a graduate of Bristol University took up the position of Executive Director for Banking Services and Chief Cashier in April, replacing Andrew Bailey. Chris joined the Bank of England in 1991 and moves to his new post from running the Bank’s Sterling Markets Division.

The Boulton and Watt £50 banknote is the second in the Series F with the Adam Smith £20 banknote the fi rst (2007). The Houblon Series E £50 note was introduced in 1994. The previous £50 banknote design prior to the Houblon was the Wren banknote, introduced in 1981 and withdrawn from circulation in 1996. Prior to this there was a white £50 in issue between 1725 and 1943.

The new-style £50 banknote has the following enhanced features: green motion thread; more raised print areas; repositioned watermark of the Queen’s portrait, together with a bright £50, in the clear white area of the note; microlettering beneath the Queen’s portrait; ultra-violet features; see-through register visible on both sides; metallic thread now fully embedded in the note; serial numbers now featured on the back of the note. Chris Salmon commented: “The Boulton and Watt £50 banknote has new and enhanced security features which demonstrate the Bank’s commitment to its role of maintaining public confi dence in the currency. The motion thread security feature is one of the new measures which should help members of the public to identify genuine £50 banknotes”.

Signing up


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Banknote feature

THE Back to Basics article by Dr Kerry Rodgers in the April 2011 issue of COIN NEWS got me thinking about the numbering systems on Scottish banknotes.

For Scottish banks, the idea of simply issuing notes starting with the number 1 was far too straightforward! They developed a unique and complex numbering system which although occasionally seen elsewhere was never widely copied.

It seems to have started in the earliest days of Scottish paper currency issuance, i.e. back in 1695 when the Bank of Scotland was established. The principal factor seems to have been the practice of the printers of the day binding the notes into “books”. Numbering notes in a way which recorded both the book they came in and the sequential number of issuance must have made sense to clerks faced with the need to be sure the notes they issued could be correctly identifi ed when presented.

A further security measure dating back to the early years was the use of a printed panel down the left hand side of the note, through which the cut was made to separate the note from its counterfoil. When the note was presented for payment it would be checked against the counterfoil to make sure the two edges—as well as the numbers—matched.

What makes this relevant to modern collectors is the fact that the “fractional” numbering system, as the convention of placing one number over another has been described, survived long after printers had modernised their production methods and had become used to numbering notes into the millions.

In fact one of the earliest numbering machines was developed by John Oldham for the Bank of Ireland and fi rst

used in 1815. Oldham went on to refi ne his invention and was later employed by the Bank of England to help them to do away with the tedious business of numbering each note by hand. No “fractional” numbering systems for them (although they did develop a sophisticated system of prefi xes, or “ciphers” to deter forgers).

The numbering system we see on most Scottish notes well into the 20th century continued the original tradition of recording both a book number and a sequential number. The way it works is actually quite simple: the number 1/1 (1 over 1) was applied to the fi rst note of the fi rst book, the second note was 1/2, the third 1/3 and so on. Consecutive notes within a book would always have consecutive lower numbers. It follows that the fi rst note of the second book would be 2/1. On £1 notes, books most often comprised 500 notes.

There were two main variants of the system, fi rstly book sizes might differ and secondly some banks continued the running number from one book to the next. In this case the fi nal note of one book might be 1/500 and the next note to be issued would be 2/501 rather than 2/1, as might have been expected. To illustrate this further, where book sizes differed (they could sometimes comprise 200 or 1,000 notes), the 100,000th note of a particular sequence could be 200/500, this being the 500th note of the 200th book, it could be 500/200, i.e. the 200th note of the 500th book, or it could be 100/1000, the 1000th note of the 100th book. So far, so confusing! And all this before we talk about prefi x letters.

Each Scottish bank seems to have modifi ed and developed this basic system to suit its own needs so we need to take a look at how the main banks numbered their notes. This review also addresses the alphabetic or alphanumeric prefi xes used by some of the banks because these too varied greatly from bank

to bank.Starting with the Bank of Scotland

and their earliest issues we are immediately presented with a problem in trying to decode exactly how book sizes and sequential numbers relate to

JONATHAN CALLAWAY

SCOTTISH BANKNOTENUMBERING SYSTEMS

to bank.

and their earliest issues we are immediately presented with a problem in trying to decode exactly how book sizes and sequential numbers relate to

BOS £10 1924 Rose: Bank of Scotland £10 note with fractional prefi x and four digit number. Above: A close up of Bank of Scotland serials.

Clydes £5 1948: This Clydesdale Bank £5 note did not need a seven digit numbering machine – only 5,000 note per prefi x were produced.

Banknote featureBanknote feature


Banknote feature

each other. It seems likely that sequential numbers continued over multiple books but divining book sizes has proved a challenge in the absence of their note registers. This may of course be the result of too many of the surviving notes being forgeries with realistic-looking but fi ctitious numbers.

After 1885 the Bank of Scotland moved away from the old book numbering system to a new one where the prefi x, also fractional, changed every 10,000 notes. The fi rst £1 notes under the new system started at 1/A 0001 and progressed to 100/A 10000, a total of 1,000,000 notes. For the second million notes the prefi x started with a curious-looking 0/B (zero over B) and continued to 99/B. The series continued until 1927 and ended with prefi x 9/AU. The higher denominations used a similar system and stuck with it until 1969. The £1 notes by contrast had moved to the more conventional million notes per prefi x when they were reduced in size in 1929.

The British Linen Bank, established as the British Linen Company in 1746, also had a diffi cult-to-fathom book numbering system on its earliest notes, again probably due to the number of surviving forgeries. They used the book numbering system until 1926 on their £1 notes, with single prefi x letters and 1,000 notes per book. Higher denominations appear to have had book sizes of 500 each and used the book system for rather longer, at least until 1951. Prefi xes were originally also single letters but after using A to Z the bank sometimes began the alphabet again and sometimes moved to an alphabet over number prefi x, starting with A/1, running to Z/1, then A/2 to Z/2 and so on. A transitional method was introduced in 1951 on higher value notes when the fractional numbering format was replaced with an in-line one using a diagonal line to separate the two components. Later the diagonal line was dropped but only on the £5 note.

The Caledonian Bank used the standard book numbering system throughout its life until it was absorbed

by the Bank of Scotland in 1907. There were 50,000 £1 notes per prefi x divided into books of 500 notes each so notes were numbered from 1/1 to 100/500.

The Clydesdale Bank scarcely used the traditional book numbering system and possibly from as early as 1870 employed a seven digit numbering machine on all their notes. On the £1 notes the fi rst million notes had no prefi x at all but then the letter A was used. On the higher denominations they opted for a letter-over-letter prefi x which is believed to have started with A/A, ran on to Z/Z and then moved to A1/A, A1/B and so on. What is misleading is that the seven digit numbering machine was still used even though there were only 5,000 notes per prefi x combination on the £5 notes (and only 1,000 on notes before 1923) and just 500 per prefi x on most £20 and £100 notes. The long row of initial zeros has led to some notes being offered as “low number” specials when of course they all had low numbers.

After 1950 the Clydesdale adapted the former North of Scotland Bank’s system where note runs seemed to be sized by monetary value despite using a more modern prefi x and six digit number combination. Thus, with 200,000 £5 notes, 100,000 £10 notes, 50,000 £20 notes and 10,000 £100 notes per prefi x, the value of each prefi x was a constant £1,000,000. Of course there were exceptions to this but this approach continued from 1950 until the mid 1990s.

to a new one where the prefi x, also fractional, changed every 10,000 notes. The fi rst £1 notes under the new system started by the Bank of Scotland in 1907. There

December

BLB £5 1951 C9: British Linen £5 note dated 6 Feb 1951 with classic fractional prefi x and numbers.

BLB £5 1951 D9: A revised numbering format is introduced on the next printing of the British

Linen £5 note dated 7 March 1951. The prefi xes C/9 and D/9 are consecutive.

Nat £1 1957: This National Bank £1 note is the 800th of the 1,000th book, i.e.

sequentially the 999,800th. Above: A close-up of the National Bank serial number.

Banknote featureBanknote feature


The Commercial Bank of Scotland was another bank whose numbering system was modernised early on, though they too introduced their own quirks. For example they used a “Set” system from the 1830s which acted in part as an identifi er of each major note design. Set numbers would be combined with a prefi x letter so £1 notes of Set 18 would start at 18/A while the numbering itself used the book system. Until 1927 and the size reduction there were 100,000 £1 notes per alpha-numeric prefi x in books of 500 notes, so prefi x 18/A notes would be numbered 1/1 to 200/500. From the 1920s to the 1940s prefi x letters were used in reverse alphabetic order so the short run of the last square £1 notes (Set 22) ran from 22/Z to 22/X and £5 notes ran from 14/Z in 1924 to 14/A in 1943, then 15/Z to the fi nal prefi x of 15/M in 1944. The last Commercial Bank notes used modern numbering but the Set numbers continued to the very end.

The National Bank of Scotland also used the conventional book-over-sequential-number system but modifi ed it in 1893 when they started to issue 1,000,000 notes per prefi x. From that date until they merged with the Commercial Bank in 1959 the note numbering started with 001-001 and ended with 1000-1000, this being the millionth note of each prefi x. It can be seen that this was an echo of the old system.

The North of Scotland Bank employed the old book numbering system too. After their 1910 merger with the Town & County Bank there were 1,000,000 £1 notes per prefi x running from 0001/0001 to 1000/1000. Prior to the merger they evidently used a different method as they employed fractional prefi xes, e.g. A/U, A/V etc, with single, double or treble digit fractional numbers. The notes are not common but observations suggest there were 100,000 notes per prefi x in books of 1,000.

The Royal Bank of Scotland introduced yet more complexities for collectors to grapple with. For many years the bank’s £1 notes had used the conventional book system but researchers noticed that both book number and sequential number on the fi nal square notes were invariably within a certain three-digit range. The bank’s records state that there were 400,000 notes per prefi x and that book numbers ran from 201 to 1000 with 500 notes per book. The expected numerical range on the notes should therefore be 201/1 to 1000/500, however, observations suggest otherwise. Sequential numbers above 500 have been recorded. Did they sometimes run to 1,000? Did they not always start at 101? No one or two digit sequential numbers have been seen on any of these notes and it is not at all clear what was going on.

Book numbers over 1000 have also been seen and this has muddied the waters further, but recent research has told us that on one or two dates there were “overs” and book numbers ran on to 1010. Royal £1 notes from this period (1900 to 1927) with four digit book numbers are very scarce and consequently are sought after by specialist collectors.

The higher value Royal Bank notes have their own tale to tell. Here, the sequential numbers run to 10,000 in books of 200 each, with the result that book/sequential number combinations can run from single digit over single digit up to fi ve digits over fi ve, with all combinations in between. Initial zeroes were not used except, it is believed, on a few specimens.

The highest book numbers are seen in the £5 note F prefi x series whose total issue was 6,977,400 notes. The fi nal note was 34887/7400. Just how did this break down? The sequencing is complex: it started with 1/1, ran to 1/200 then moved to 2/201 to 2/400, 3/401 to 3/600 and so on until the sequential number 10000 was reached. This note would have been numbered F 50/10000. Those who have read this far will of course have guessed that the next number sequentially was F 51/1. The £10, £20 and £100 notes used a similar system but far fewer notes were issued.

Finally, we should look at the notes of the Union Bank of Scotland. The usual book-over-sequential-number system was used with modernity fi rst breaking out on the fi nal square £1 notes of 1921. Thereafter, and with the introduction of reduced size £1 notes in 1924, there were 1,000,000 notes per single letter prefi x. The quirk with this bank is that they decided late on in prefi x G to move to fractional prefi xes. This resulted in the note G 750000 being followed by G/31 750001 and the fi nal G prefi x note being G/40 1000000. Researchers studying the bank’s note registers have confi rmed that from that point onwards £1 notes changed their fractional prefi x every 25,000 notes.

The higher value notes stuck with the book system but in the 1940s the numbering moved from a fractional format to an in-line one with a diagonal line to dividing the two elements. The book system remained, though, so that the fi nal 1954 issue of the Union Bank £100 note with the William Watson signature ran from A 021/001 to A 030/100, i.e. 1,000 notes spread over 10 books of 100 notes each. This makes the note one of the scarcest 20th century notes in the Scottish series especially as it is possible that not all 1,000 notes were actually issued.

Nobody knows for sure why these systems remained so complex and diverse for so long but it must surely have made life more diffi cult for potential forgers. Indeed it can’t have been that easy for the printers either! Where forgers did occasionally

RBS £100 1966: This low number on this Royal Bank £100 note refl ects its very short print run.

RBS £5 1962: The Royal Bank £5 notes from the early 1960s had the highest book numbers on modern notes.

RBS £1 1923 serials: Royal Bank square £1 serial numbers rarely ran to four digits.

Banknote featureBanknote featureBanknote feature

80 Coin news www.tokenpublishing.com December 2011www.tokenpublishing.com December 2010Coin news

try their luck the anomalous prefi xes and numbers they tended to use must have made their efforts easy to spot for most bank tellers.

The author hopes readers who have made it through this rather dense thicket of numbers will share my fi nal conclusion: the more closely you look at a Scottish banknote the more fascinating it gets! Any comments, corrections or other observations on this article will be gratefully received. There is clearly plenty more to be learnt about the numbering systems used by the Scottish banks.

ReferencesDOUGLAS, James, Scottish Banknotes (1975).DOUGLAS, James, 20th Century Scottish Banknotes Vol. I

(1984).DOUGLAS, James and PRINGLE, Robert, 20th Century

Scottish Banknotes Vol. II (1986).JONES, Trevor, 20th Century Scottish Banknotes Vol. III (1998).TWYNHOLM, David and MURPHY, David, 20th Century

Scottish Banknotes Vol. I, 2nd Ed. (2002).

UBS £100 1954: Only 1,000 notes of the Union Bank £100 note signed by William Watson were printed.

Banknote featureBanknote featureBanknote feature


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F VF

SC423a Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Accountant) and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 12/Z dated 31.10.1924 and 1.5.1925.RareSC423b Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Cashier) and A. Robb (General Manager) Prefi x 12/Z dated 1.5.1928 to prefi x 12/X dated 1.8.1931. ............................................... £400 £700SC423c Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Cashier) and Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 12/X dated 31.7.1935 to prefi x 12/V dated 25.10.1937 ............................................ £280 £550SC423d Signatories: James Thomson (Cashier) and Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 12/V dated 2.8.1940 to prefi x 12/Q dated 4.1.1943. ............................................... £250 £450

VF EFSC424aSignatory: Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 13A dated 2.1.1947 to prefi x 13K dated 2.1.1953 ................................................ £180 £400SC424b Signatory: I. W. Macdonald (General Manager) Prefi x 13K dated 2.1.1954 to prefi x 13P dated 2.1.1958. ............................................... £180 £400

ONE HUNDRED POUNDSSC431 Signatories: handsigned p. Accountant and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 10/A dated 2.1.1907 .no known examples extantSC432a Signatories: handsigned p. Accountant and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 10/A dated 2.1.1908 to prefi x 10/A dated 2.1.1913 ...........................................................RareSC432b Signatories: L. M. Mackay (Accountant) and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 10/A dated 2.1.1914 to prefi x 10/A dated 2.1.1923 ...........................................................RareSC433a Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Accountant) and handsigned p. Manager. Prefi x 11/Z dated 31.10.1924 and 1.12.1928. ........RareSC433b Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Cashier) and A. Robb (General Manager). Prefi x 11/Z dated 30.9.1937. .......................£1100 £2000SC433c Signatories: James Thomson (Cashier) and Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 11/Z dated 1.8.1940 to prefi x 11/Y dated 2.1.1943. ............................................... £750 £1400

Coming next month—Price guide to:

The National Bank of Scotland Limited

F VF

F VF F VF

ONE POUNDSC401 Signatories: L. M. Mackay (Accountant) and handsigned p. Cashier. Prefi x 18/A dated 2.1.1907 to prefi x 18/E dated 2.1.1908 ........................................................... RareSC402aSignatories: L. M. Mackay (Accountant) and handsigned p. Cashier. Prefi x 18/F dated 2.1.1909 to prefi x 18/Q dated 3.1.1911 ....................................................£380 £650 Prefi x 19/A dated 2.1.1912 to prefi x 19/Q dated 2.1.1915 (red serial Nos.) .........................£280 £550SC402b Signatories: L. M. Mackay (Accountant) and G. Riddell (Cashier) Prefi x 19/A dated 2.1.1912 to prefi x 19/Q dated 2.1.1915 (red serial Nos.)............................£280 £550 Prefi x 20/A dated 2.1.1915 to prefi x 20/Q dated 2.1.1917 (black serial Nos.) ........................£280 £550 Prefi x 21/A dated 2.1.1918 (red serial No.) ..£300 £600 Prefi x 21/B dated 2.1.1918 to prefi x 21/I dated 2.1.1923 (black serial Nos.)..............................£280 £500SC403 Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Accountant) and H. M. Roberts (Cashier) Prefi x 22/Z dated 31.10.1924 to prefi x 22/W dated 1.11.1926 ..................................................£300 £500

VF EFSC404a Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Accountant) and H. M. Roberts (Cashier) Prefi x 23A dated 1.12.1927 (Serial letter in Gothic capitals) ......................£250 £400SC404b Signatories: P. Irving (Accountant) and R. R. Thomson (Cashier) Prefi x 23B dated 1.6.1928 to prefi x 23C dated 1.12.1928 (Gothic capitals) ...................£100 £220SC404c Signatories: P. Irving (Accountant) and R. R. Thomson (Cashier) Prefi x 23D dated 2.12.1929 to prefi x 23Z dated 30.11.1936 ..................................................£65 £110 (Serial letters now in Roman capitals), and Prefi x A/24 dated 2.9.1937 to prefi x P/24 dated 4.5.1939. ....................................................£65 £110SC404d Signatories: P. Irving (Chief Accountant) and James Thomson (Cashier) Prefi x Q/24 dated 6.8.1940 to prefi x Z/24 dated 4.6.1941 .....................................................£40 £85 Prefi x A/25 dated 4.6.1941, and .......................£45 £90 Prefi x 25B dated 4.6.1941 to prefi x 25N dated 2.12.1944 ...................................................£40 £85

EF UNCSC405 Signatory: Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 26A dated 2.1.1947 to prefi x 26V dated 2.1.1953 .....................................................£45 £85SC406 Signatory: I. W. Macdonald (General Manager) Prefi x 27A dated 2.1.1954 to prefi x 27R dated 1.7.1958 .....................................................£40 £75

FIVE POUNDSSC411 Signatories: handsigned p. Accountant and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x13/A dated 2.1.1908. ................................. RareSC412a Signatories: handsigned p. Accountant and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 13/A dated 2.1.1909 to prefi x 13/B dated 2.1.1913 ................................................ £600 £1050SC412b Signatories: L. M. Mackay (Accountant) and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 13/C dated 2.1.1913 to prefi x 13/M dated 2.1.1923 ................................................ £550 £900SC413a Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Accountant) and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 14/Z dated 31.10.1924 to prefi x 14/W dated 1.11.1926. ............................................. £300 £550

VF EFSC413b Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Cashier) and A. Robb (General Manager) Prefi x 14/W dated 1.12.1928 to prefi x 14/R dated 1.8.1931 ................................................ £300 £450SC413c Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Cashier) and Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 14/R dated 30.4.1934 to prefi x 14/K dated 20.11.1937 ............................................ £160 £350SC413d Signatories: James Thomson (Cashier) and Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 14/K dated 3.8.1940 to prefi x 14/A dated 5.1.1943 .................................................. £130 £320 Prefi x 15/Z dated 5.1.1943 to prefi x 15/M dated 1.12.1944 ............................................... £130 £320SC414a Signatory: Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 16A dated 2.1.1947 to prefi x 16Z dated 2.1.1953 .................................................. £50 £100SC414b Signatory: I. W. Macdonald (General Manager) Prefi x 17A dated 2.1.1954 to prefi x 17Z dated 2.1.1957 .................................................. £50 £100 Prefi x 18A to prefi x 18F dated 2.1.1958 ........ £50 £100

F VFTWENTY POUNDSSC421 Signatories: handsigned p. Accountant and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 11/A dated 2.1.1907 no known examples extantSC422a Signatories: handsigned p. Accountant and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 11/A dated 3.1.1910 to prefi x 11/A dated 2.1.1913 .................................. RareSC422b Signatories: L. M. Mackay (Accountant) and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 11/A dated 2.1.1914 to prefi x 11/B dated 2.1.1923 ................................... Rare

The Price Guide is intended as a supplement to the highly acclaimed BANKNOTE YEARBOOK and we hope the prices quoted will provide a true re� ection of the market. The grading used in this price guide is strictly as the recognised English system. In the listing “—” indicates either: not usually found in this grade; or not collected in this condition.

Price guide to: The Commercial Bank of Scotland Ltd

New7th Edition

now available

Banknote prices

www.tokenpublishing.com December 2011Coin news82

Banknote prices


F VF

SC423a Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Accountant) and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 12/Z dated 31.10.1924 and 1.5.1925.RareSC423b Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Cashier) and A. Robb (General Manager) Prefi x 12/Z dated 1.5.1928 to prefi x 12/X dated 1.8.1931. ............................................... £400 £700SC423c Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Cashier) and Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 12/X dated 31.7.1935 to prefi x 12/V dated 25.10.1937 ............................................ £280 £550SC423d Signatories: James Thomson (Cashier) and Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 12/V dated 2.8.1940 to prefi x 12/Q dated 4.1.1943. ............................................... £250 £450

VF EFSC424aSignatory: Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 13A dated 2.1.1947 to prefi x 13K dated 2.1.1953 ................................................ £180 £400SC424b Signatory: I. W. Macdonald (General Manager) Prefi x 13K dated 2.1.1954 to prefi x 13P dated 2.1.1958. ............................................... £180 £400

ONE HUNDRED POUNDSSC431 Signatories: handsigned p. Accountant and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 10/A dated 2.1.1907 .no known examples extantSC432a Signatories: handsigned p. Accountant and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 10/A dated 2.1.1908 to prefi x 10/A dated 2.1.1913 ...........................................................RareSC432b Signatories: L. M. Mackay (Accountant) and handsigned p. Manager Prefi x 10/A dated 2.1.1914 to prefi x 10/A dated 2.1.1923 ...........................................................RareSC433a Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Accountant) and handsigned p. Manager. Prefi x 11/Z dated 31.10.1924 and 1.12.1928. ........RareSC433b Signatories: R. R. Thomson (Cashier) and A. Robb (General Manager). Prefi x 11/Z dated 30.9.1937. .......................£1100 £2000SC433c Signatories: James Thomson (Cashier) and Sir J. M. Erskine (General Manager) Prefi x 11/Z dated 1.8.1940 to prefi x 11/Y dated 2.1.1943. ............................................... £750 £1400

Coming next month—Price guide to:

The National Bank of Scotland Limited

F VF

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Banknote prices


LATEST ISSUESBy our banknote correspondent, TREVOR WILKIN


Trevor Wilkin can be contacted at: PO Box 182 | Cammeray | NSW 2062 | Australia | Telephone/Fax ++61-2-9438-5040. Email: [email protected] | website www.polymernotes.com

Please see Trevor Wilkin’s advert on page 80

BRUNEI On July 15, 2011 Brunei released newly designed 1, 5 and 10 Ringgit notes in polymer. In accompanying press releases they

are stated to be commemorating the 65th birthday of Sultan Hassanil Bolkiak (Bolkiah I) which fell on that day, however there is nothing to distinguish them as commemoratives. They are simply dated 2011.

Whilst the issuer is the recently established Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD), the successor to the Brunei Currency & Monetary Board, its name does not appear on the notes. As is traditional, they carry the country’s offi cial name of Negara Brunei Darussalam—meaning “State of Brunei – Abode of Peace”.

Being similar to the notes they replace the new 1, 5 and 10 R will slip seamlessly into circulating currency stocks. Colourwise they are virtually identical (same basic colour but a paler shade) to the old notes and from the front they are very similar with an updated portrait of the Bolkiah I in national attire. Each denomination retains a fl ower on the front however it is a different one to that used previously, they tend to be not quite so dominating and this time there is an emphasis on the bloom. They vary from value to value and each is given its local and Latin name.

Other aspects of the front design include Brunei’s national coat of arms which previously featured in the window and is now in red on a coloured patch to the right of the Sultan in the same manner as on the 50, 100, 500, 1000 and the 10000 R polymers. Various intricate background patterns based on traditional designs are introduced.

The backs are quite different—local fl ora featured on the original 1, 5 and 10 R polymers however these notes show prominent buildings some of which have appeared on earlier issues. For the pale blue 1 R there is an aerial view of the capital Bandar Seri Begawan—including a mosque and several other buildings—which was simply known as Bandar Brunei (Brunei Town or Port Brunei) until 1970 when it was renamed to refl ect the abdication of Sultan Sir Omar Ali Saifudden in favour of his son, the present sultan. Begawan comes from Sanskrit and is a title given to Brunei monarchs who have abdicated. The mosque shown is the Sultan Omar Ali Saifudden royal mosque built in 1958 refl ecting Islamic and Italianate styles. With a golden dome and a tall minaret, it dominates the city’s skyline. It also appears on the polymer 50 R introduced in 2006.

On the back of the green 5 R is the Lapau or Royal Ceremonial Hall also in Bandar Seri Begawan where Bolkiath was crowned on August 1, 1968 and where other royal ceremonies are held. Adjoining the Lapau is old

parliament house or Dewan Majlis; a new parliament house complex was opened a few years ago and appears on the back of the polymer 10000 R of 2006. Parliament is somewhat of a misnomer for Brunei as it is an absolute sultanate with the Sultan paying lip service to the democratic process. The constitution has been suspended for much of his reign. It was reviewed and re-introduced in 2005 retaining the Sultan as Head of State and Head of Government who appoints all 32 members of parliament for up to fi ve years serving at his pleasure. There is provision to move to the popular election of 15 members but no date has been set.

For the salmon 10 R, there is the Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque also in Bandar Seri Begawan built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Bolkiah’s coronation. It was offi cially opened some two years later in July 1994. With a blue roof, golden domes, classical minarets and surrounded by peaceful gardens reminiscent of heaven, it is adjudged by some to be the most splendid mosque in Asia. A glimpse of its splendour may be gained from its representation on this note.

Security wise there are changes with irregularly shaped partly coloured windows containing an abbreviated image of the main building which features on the back of the respective value. To the top right of the window is a latent image of the Sultan and a perfect registration of a fl ower. All are signed by Bolkiah I as Sultan and undoubtedly are printed by Note Printing Australia in Melbourne.

national coat of arms which previously featured in the window and is now in red on a coloured patch to the right of the Sultan in the same manner as on the 50, 100, 500, 1000 and the 10000 R polymers. Various intricate background patterns based on traditional designs are introduced.

the successor to the Brunei Currency & Monetary Board, its name does not appear on the notes. As is traditional, they carry the country’s offi cial name of Negara Brunei Darussalam—meaning “State of Brunei – Abode of Peace”.

circulating currency stocks. Colourwise they are virtually identical (same basic colour but a paler shade) to the old notes and from the front they are very similar with an updated

representation on this note.

containing an abbreviated image of the main building which features on the back of the respective value. To the top right of the window is a latent image of the Sultan and a perfect registration of a fl ower. All are signed by Bolkiah I as Sultan and undoubtedly are printed by Note Printing Australia in Melbourne.

parliament house or Dewan Majlis; a new parliament house complex was opened a few years ago and appears on the back of the polymer 10000 R of 2006. Parliament is somewhat of a misnomer for Brunei as it is an absolute sultanate with the Sultan paying lip service to the democratic process. The constitution has been suspended for much of his reign. It was reviewed and re-introduced in 2005 retaining the Sultan as Head of State and Head of Government who appoints all 32 members of parliament for up to fi ve years serving at his pleasure. There is provision to move to the popular election of 15 members but no date has been set.

Trevor Wilkin can be contacted at:


TREBEHOR, PORTHCURNO, PENZANCE, CORNWALL TR19 6LX • Tel: 01736 871263 •

Coins sent on 7-day approval against payment. P&P £1 buyers risk. Reg Post £5~ Up-to-date computer quotes available for coins and banknotes ~

Please note that all stock is in the bank which may cause a slight delay in sending.

SOVEREIGNS1902 PERTH UNC £3451902 SYDNEY UNC £3351902 MELBOURNE UNC £3451902 LONDON UNC £3451903 MELBOURNE UNC £3451903 SYDNEY UNC £3351903 LONDON UNC £3351903 PERTH UNC £3451904 SYDNEY UNC £3351904 LONDON UNC £3351904 MELBOURNE UNC £3351904 PERTH UNC £3451905 SYDNEY UNC £3351905 LONDON UNC £3351905 MELBOURNE UNC £3451905 PERTH UNC £3451906 SYDNEY UNC £3351906 PERTH UNC £3351906 LONDON UNC £3351906 MELBOURNE UNC £3351907 SYDNEY UNC £3351907 LONDON UNC £3301907 MELBOURNE UNC £3351907 PERTH UNC £3351908 PERTH UNC £3301908 MELBOURNE UNC £3351908 LONDON UNC £3351908 SYDNEY UNC £3351909 PERTH UNC £3351909 LONDON UNC £3351909 MELBOURNE UNC £3351910 LONDON UNC £3351910 SYDNEY UNC £3351910 MELBOURNE UNC £3351910 CANADA AUNC £7251910 PERTH UNC £3351911 PERTH UNC £3251911 LONDON UNC £3251911 MELBOURNE UNC £3251911 SYDNEY UNC £3251911 CANADA UNC £3751912 LONDON UNC £3151912 MELBOURNE UNC £3251912 SYDNEY UNC £3251913 PERTH UNC £3351913 LONDON UNC £3251913 SYDNEY UNC £3251913 MELBOURNE UNC £3251914 MELBOURNE UNC £3251914 SYDNEY UNC £3251914 LONDON UNC £3151914 PERTH UNC £3251915 MELBOURNE UNC £3251915 PERTH UNC £3251915 SYDNEY UNC £3251916 SYDNEY UNC £3251916 LONDON UNC £3851916 PERTH UNC £3351916 MELBOURNE UNC £3651917 MELBOURNE UNC £3251917 PERTH UNC £3251917 SYDNEY UNC £3251917 CANADA UNC £3751918 MELBOURNE UNC £3451918 INDIA AUNC £3251918 CANADA UNC £3751918 PERTH UNC £3251918 SYDNEY UNC £3251919 SYDNEY UNC £3251919 CANADA UNC £395

1919 PERTH UNC £3251919 MELBOURNE UNC £6251920 PERTH UNC £3251921 PERTH UNC £3251922 PERTH UNC £3251923 MELBOURNE UNC £3951923 PERTH UNC £3251924 MELBOURNE UNC £4451924 PERTH UNC £3951925 LONDON UNC £3201925 SOUTH AFRICA UNC £3251925 MELBOURNE UNC £3251925 PERTH UNC £4451925 SYDNEY UNC £3251926 SOUTH AFRICA UNC £3251926 MELBOURNE UNC £4451926 PERTH UNC £1,4951927 PERTH AUNC £4501927 PERTH UNC £5451927 SOUTH AFRICA UNC £3201928 SOUTH AFRICA UNC £3201928 PERTH UNC £3951929 SOUTH AFRICA UNC £3251929 PERTH UNC £3351930 SOUTH AFRICA UNC £3251930 PERTH UNC £3201930 MELBOURNE UNC £4751931 PERTH UNC £3251931 MELBOURNE UNC £6751931 SOUTH AFRICA UNC £3251932 SOUTH AFRICA UNC £3451937 PROOF FDC £1,9751937 PROOF UNC £1,8751957 LONDON UNC £3051958 LONDON UNC £2951959 LONDON UNC £3051962 LONDON UNC £3001963 LONDON UNC £3001964 LONDON UNC £2951965 LONDON UNC £2951966 LONDON UNC £2951967 LONDON UNC £2951968 LONDON UNC £2951974 LONDON UNC £2851976 LONDON UNC £2851978 LONDON UNC £2851979 LONDON UNC £2851980 LONDON UNC £2851981 LONDON UNC £2851982 LONDON UNC £2852000 LONDON UNC £3052001 LONDON UNC £3052002 LONDON UNC £3252003 LONDON UNC £3102004 LONDON UNC £3102005 LONDON UNC £3102006 LONDON UNC £3102007 LONDON UNC £3102008 LONDON UNC £3102009 LONDON UNC £3102010 LONDON UNC £3102011 LONDON UNC £3201979 PROOF CASED FDC £3451980 PROOF CASED FDC £3201981 PROOF CASED FDC £3251982 PROOF CASED FDC £3451983 PROOF CASED FDC £3451984 PROOF CASED FDC £3451985 PROOF CASED FDC £3851986 CASED NO CERT FDC £3451986 PROOF CASED FDC £385

• Above prices subject to gold prices change •

R I C H A R D W. J E F F E R YThe name in coins and banknotes for over 40 years

~ O F F E R S F O R S A L E ~

WANTED FOR CLIENTS—TOP PRICES PAIDSOVEREIGNS SHIELD

VF TO EFLONDON 1838-1839

EF TO UNCLONDON 1842-1850

MELBOURNE 1871-74-81-81-83SYDNEY 1871-72-73-75-80

81-82-83-87

SOVEREIGNSEF TO UNC

CANADA 1909-1913-1914SYDNEY 1921-1924

VICTORIA ST. GEORGEEF TO UNC

SYDNEY 1872-73-74-75-76 80-81-82-83


Turks & Caicos Islands and on searching through my catalogue was quite amazed to see that according to Krause the issue of the 25 crowns denomination ends at 1995 and starts again in 2001. I have a number from the dates in-between this and now I begin to question what else is missing from the catalogues. Is this deliberate or simply bad editing?

Peter Moss

We know from our own experiences with the Coin Yearbook just how problematical it is to produce a truly complete catalogue, so we do sympathise with the editors of the Krause series who have a gargantuan task to do. However, it is always worthwhile writing to them as, if they are not aware of the shortcomings they cannot correct them for the next edition.—ED.

New variety?

Dear EditorI have been studying a 1696 crown in

my collection and note that although it has the straight breastplate as S.3472 in the Standard Catalogue, 46th edition, 2011, page 300, it is also without the stops on the reverse. It also seems to be a fi rst harp but the crown (the four small crowns on the reverse) of my coin does not have the same crown type as that shown on S.3472 but seems to have the same crown type as that shown on only some of the small crowns on S.3470, i.e. the top small crown and the right side small crown with fi ve small dashes (pearls?) at the base of the crown. Although the catalogue lists a “No stops on obverse” type, there is no mention of a “No stops on reverse” type in English Silver Coinage or any other literature I have studied, so I am confi dent that I have found a new variety—or does anyone else know of an example?

Victor Mateer

Dear Editor

Letters to the EditorWrite in and tell us your views on numismatically-related topics

Whilst we endeavour to replyas quickly as possible

this can take some time.Here we publish a selection from the postbag.

Please send your letters to: Token Publishing Ltd., Orchard House, Duchy Road, Heathpark,

Honiton, Devon, EX14 1YD,or to [email protected]

If a reply is required,please enclose an SAE.

Dear Editor,I thought I’d share with you an

exceptionally and unusually worn 1935 GB Rocking Horse Crown. This one was rescued from a scrap silver lot destined to be melted. I have collected British coins for over 30 years and have never come across this coin much below VF, never mind VG to Poor which this one certainly is.

These Crowns were sold at a premium in 1935 to commemorate George V’s Silver Jubilee and I doubt many entered circulation for long. Like the elusive Olympic 50 pences, they would have been salvaged from change and kept, or possibly given as birthday or Christmas gifts. 5 shillings in 1935 would have been the equivalent of a generous grandparent’s gift to a child today.

I’d be interested to know what readers think caused the coin to be worn so badly. It has not been abrased or artifi cially worn down, so I can only assume someone carried it in their pocket for half a century. What a story it could tell!

Devin Scobie

Silver bubbleDear Editor

It’s now possible to get 24 times face value for pre-1947 UK silver coins as they have a silver content of 50 per cent. During the silver boom of around 30 years ago the best that could be got was around 10 times face. The press, including numismatic, run stories that silver is now at an all time high, but is it? Around 1981 I sold £5.60 of pre-1947 silver for £56.00 which was a useful sum 30 years ago. If the same face value was sold now I could get £134.40, however, adjusted for infl ation I would have to receive £160 to have the equivalent of a 1981 £56. I would have to receive almost 29 times face to receive, adjusted for infl ation, the ten times face of 1981. Regarding how collectors’ buying habits have had to be adjusted for the increase in the price of silver, a regular advertiser in COIN NEWS has had to increase his price for a set of nine halfcrowns 1893–1901 in fair to near fi ne condition

Dear Editor,

A story to tell from £70 to £100 over the last 12 months. If I collected low grade silver coins I would be selling now and not buying as a few years down the line I will be able to buy similar coins for less, once the silver price bubble pops, as it did 30 years ago.

William McCreath

Another � nd

Dear EditorFurther to my extended article in COIN

NEWS February 2011 issue, another important variety has come to light. I thought it important to let the readership know of another obverse legend error, this time on an 1862 shilling. The coin was recently auctioned by London Coins with an O over the C in VICTORIA noted by the cataloguer. Although not a great specimen overall, it is the only one of its type that is known to either myself or the cataloguer. If any of your readers has such a coin in their collection in FINE or above that they would be prepared to part with then do please invite them to get in touch with me via your editorial offi ce.

Chris Tasker

Two headsDear Editor

As a subscriber to your magazine I would like to bring to the attention of other readers an item that was sold recently on eBay, item no. 160643000341. This was entered as a “rare George III mis-strike halfpenny double headed”. The monarch’s head appears clearly on both sides of the coin, with opposite die axis. I thought this might be a contemporary fake as I can’t fi nd it mentioned in any literature. It eventually sold for £837. Does any reader have any thoughts on just what this might be?

Chris Halliday

Lost coinsDear Editor

I regularly purchase the Krause All-World catalogues from you and fi nd them invaluable. However, the latest edition of the 2001 to Date volume has left me wondering. I have a number of modern issues from the


AIREDALE COINS, PO Box 7, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16 1XU. Modern coins.ANCIENT & GOTHIC, PO Box 5390, Bournemouth, BH7 6XR. July/August list No. 268—Coins and antiquities.A. H. BALDWIN & SONS LTD., 11, Adelphi Terrace, London WC2N 6BJ. Fixed pice coin list.ARGHANS, Unit 9, Callington Business Park, Tinners Way, Moss Side, Callington, Cornwall PL17 7SH. April list of world banknotes.STEPHEN J. BETTS, 4, Victoria Street, Narborough, Leicester LE19 2DP. List T&M 26 world coins.BARRY BOSWELL, 24 Townsend Lane, Upper Boddington, Daventry, Northants NN11 6DR. World banknotes.JAMES & C. BRETT, 17 Dale Road, Lewes, Sussex BN7 1 LH UK. Light Blue List 11. 28pp of world coins.STEVE BURKINSHAW , 19 Oak Lodge Road, High Green, Sheffi eld S35 4QA. Hammered and milled .CAMBRIDGESHIRE COINS, 355 Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8JG. Coins and accessories.NIGEL CLARK, 28 Ulundi Road, Blackheath, London SE3 7UG. List of 17th c. tokens. COINCRAFT, 45 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3JL. “The Phoenix”. Large newspaper-style list containing coins, banknotes, books, etc. COINS HISTORIC, PO Box 5043, Lower Quinton, Stratford upon Avon CV37 8WH. Email: [email protected]. Catalogue No. 1 of ancient coinsCO L I N CO O K E , P O B ox 602, Altrincham, WA14 5UN. Hammered/milled coinage.CNG, 14 Old Bond Street, London W1S 4PP. 11pp list of numismatic books.DAVID CRADDOCK, PO Box 3785 Camp Hill, Birmingham B11 2NF. List of British coins for sale.IAN DAVISON, PO Box 256, Durham DH1 2GW. 18pp list available—hammered and milled coins from 1066–1910.DEI GRATIA, PO Box 3568, Buckingham, Bucks MK18 4ZS. Coins and antiquities.

CLIVE DENNETT, 66 Benedicts Street, Norwich NR2 4AR. Shop open 9.30am to 4.30pm. Closed Thurs & Sun. List of banknotes.DORSET COIN CO. LTD, 193 Ashley Road, Parkstone, Dorset BH14 9DL. Lists of British coins, world banknotes and gold coins.JEAN ELSEN, Avenue de Tervueren, 65, Brussels, 1040 Belgium. List 258 (October–December)—ancient, medieval, modern and oriental coins. GK COINS LTD, 17 Hanover Square, London, W1S 1HU. List No. 5. List of British and world coins.GALATA, The Old White Lion, Market Street, Llanfyllin, Powys SY22 5BX. 130 pp of books.B. GOULBORN, PO Box 122, Rhyl LL18 3XR. Lists of English coins and notes.IAN GRADON, PO Box 359, Durham DH7 6WZ. Internet list—world paper money. ANTHONY HALSE , PO Box 1856, Newport, S. Wales NP18 2WA. Autumn List—12 pp of English, foreign coins and tokens.MUNTHANDEL.G.HENZEN , Po s t b u s 4 2 , N L- 3 9 5 8 Z T Amerongen. Tel: +31 (0) 343-430564. Email: [email protected]. List 227 , world coins. List 216, Dutch coins.ALVIN HOUSE, 4 Carpenters’ Terrace, Martock, Somerset, TA12 6HF. British coins.IRISH BANKNOTES, PO Box 99, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland. 16 Page list containing Irish banknotes. www.irishpapermoney.com.R. INGRAM, 206 Honeysuckle Road, Bassett SO16 3BU. List 92: 28pp of hammered, milled and modern. Separate 6pp list of foreign coins.DMITRI KHARITONOV, Gen. Janouska 900, 19800 Praha 9, Czech Republic. Email : [email protected]. Russian banknotes.K. B. COINS, 50 Lingfi eld Road, Martins Wood, Stevenage, Herts SG1 5SL. 105 pp of English coins.K & M COINS PO Box 3662, Wolverhampton WV10 6ZW, or 07971 950246. British and World coins and tokens. Please email: for details: [email protected].

KLEEFORD COINS, 42b Shop Lane, Nether Heage, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 2AR. List available, email: [email protected]. F R I T Z RU D O L F Kü N K E R , M ü n z e n h a n d l u n g Gutenbergstrasse 23, 49076 Osnabrück. List No. 195. World coins, ancient to modern.LIGHTHOUSE (Duncannon Partnership), 4 Beaufort Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 9DJ. 24pp catalogue of coin accessories.LINDNER, 3a Hayle Industrial Park, Hayle, TR27 5JR. 60pp. catalogue of accessories.M A N N I N C O L L E C T I O N S LIMITED, 5 Castle Street, Peel, Isle of Man IM5 1AN. September colour l ist of Is le of Man banknotes.GIUSEPPE MICELI, 204 Bants Lane, Duston, Northampton NN5 6AH. British/foreign coins.TIMOTHY MILLETT LTD. PO Box 20851, London SE22 0YN. www.historicmedals.com. Historical medals (£10, refundable on purchase).PETER MORRIS, PO Box 223, Bromley BR1 4EQ. List No. 13 Banknotes; No. 8 Foreign coins, world coins, books; No. 56 British coins; No. 37 medals.COLIN NARBETH & SON LTD, 20 Cecil Court, Leicester Square, London, WC2N 4HE. 28pp list of world banknotes available.NOTABILITY BANKNOTES, E m a i l : i n f o @ n o t a b i l i t y -banknotes.com. List of world notes.GLENN S. OGDEN, 53 Chestnut Cresc, Culver Green, Chudleigh TQ13 0PT. List No. 50. 18pp 19th/20th c. English coins. ROGER OUTING, PO Box 123, Clayton West, Huddersfield HD8 9WY. List 18—Cheques, b a n k n o t e s , b a n k i n g memorabilia.PETERCOINS, PO Box 46743, London SW17 0YF. Regular lists of low cost British Coins. MARK RASMUSSEN, PO Box 42, Betchworth RH3 7YR. List 21 contains English and World coins.RODERICK RICHARDSON, The Old Granary Antique Centre, King’s Staithe Lane, King’s Lynne PE30 1LZ. 18pp. Hammered & milled.

F. J. RIST, PO Box 4, Ibstock, LE67 6ZJ. 2011 Summer list of ancient & early English coins.CHRIS RUDD , PO Box 222, Aylsham NR11 6TY. November list 120: 24pp of Celtic coins. Liz’s List No. 55 : Celtic coins—all under £200.SALTFORD COINS, Harcourt, Bath Road, Saltford BS31 3DQ.. 6 lists per year of coins, tokens & medallions. Postal only.STUDIO COINS , 16 Kilham Lane, Winchester, Hampshire S022 5PT. Numismatic list no 84.THE COLLECTOR’S BAY, 18 Ross Road, Wallington, Surrey SM6 8QB Tel: 0775 925 3127. List of coin accessories.THE LONDON COIN COMPANY LTD, PO Box 57635, London NW7 0DS. British & world coins. www.thelondoncoincompany.com.MICHAEL TRENERRY, PO Box 55, Truro TR1 2YQ. (December) Ancient/ hammered.JOHN WELSH, PO Box 150, Burton on Trent, Staffs DE13 7LB. 16pp list of British coins.D. S. WELTON, 13 Monmouth Road, Harlington, Dunstable, Beds LU5 6NE. List 21—8pp of British coins.PAM WEST , PO Box 257, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9WW. 20pp list Irish notes.JOHN WHITMORE, Teynham Lodge, Chase Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcs WR13 6DJ. November List of coins, tokens, etc.TIM WILKES , PO Box 150, Battle TN33 0FA. List No. 13, medieval/Islamic coins.WORLD TREASURE BOOKS, PO Box 5, Newport, IOW PO30 2JG. List 24. D. YA P P , P O B o x 4 7 1 8 , Shrewsbury Mail Centre SY1 9EA. 11pp list of banknotes of the world.

EACH month a bewildering selection of lists are offered by dealers featuring all aspects of the hobby. To help collectors decide which lists are of interest to them and to save valuable time and frustration on the part of the dealer, we give a brief review of the lists seen (and the inland price where applicable). When sending for lists a large S.A.E. is always appreciated. Dealers: we are happy to include lists received from advertisers, free of charge—a nominal charge of £5 per issue is requested from non-advertisers.

DEALERS LISTS

DEALERS—Please send your current list to

Token Publishing Ltd, Orchard House, Duchy Road,

Heathpark, Honiton, Devon EX14 1YD

DEALERS—Please send your current list to

Token Publishing Ltd, Token Publishing Ltd, Orchard House, Duchy Road,

Heathpark, Honiton, Devon EX14 1YD


DATE EVENT VENUE CONTACTDecember(every Saturday)

Charing Cross Market—Coins, Stamps and Collectables

1 Embankment Place, London, (opposite Embankment Tube Station) 01483 281 771

Dec 3 Coin Fair Bloomsbury Hotel, Great Russell Street, London LINDA MONK FAIRS 020 8656 4583

Dec 4 Collectors Fair Cresta Court Hotel, Church Street, Altrincham NATIONWIDE COLLECTORS FAIRS 01484 866777

Wolverhampton Coin Fair Social Club, Church Road, Bradmoor, Wolverhampton 07971 950246CollectorsFair The Regency Hotel, Gloucester Road, Cheltenham,

(on the road to Staverton, o� the A40) 01452 501098

Dec 7 Coin and Collectables Fair Stowmarket Football Club, Bury Road, Stowmarket CLICKCOLLECT 01485 578118 (David James)

Dec 10 Collectors Fair City Hall, Cardi� 01792 415293Coin and Collectables Fair Large Parish Hall, De La Warr Road, East Grinstead 01342 326317

Dec 11 Patchway Stamp & Coin Fair

Patchway Community College, Hempton Lane, Almondsbury, Bristol 01522 857343

Midland Coin Fair National Motorcycle Museum, Bickenhill, Birmingham 01694 731781 (Mike Veissid)Dec 14 Coin and Collectables Fair Stanway Football Club, New Farm Road, Colchester CLICKCOLLECT 01485 578118

(David James)Dec 18 Collectors Fair Cresta Court Hotel, Church Street, Altrincham NATIONWIDE COLLECTORS FAIRS

01484 866777Dec 28 Collectors Fair Royal Clifton Hotel, The Promenade, Southport NATIONWIDE COLLECTORS FAIRS

01484 866777Jan 5–8 New York International

Numismatic ConventionWaldorf Astoria Hotel, 301 Park Avenue, New York NYINC +414 807 0116

www.nyinc.infoJan 20–21 York Coin Fair The Grandstand, York Racecourse 01793 513431/020 8946 4489/

01425 656459 www.stampshows.net

FAIR

S/EV

ENTS

AU

CTIO

NS

DATE AUCTION LOCATION CONTACTDec 1 Coin Sale Penrith PENRITH, FARMERS & KIDDS 01768 890781

www.pfkauctions.co.uk

Dec 3–4 Coins, Banknotes, Tokens, Medals etc. London LONDON COINS 01474 871464 www.londoncoins.co.uk

Dec 7 The Matthew Rich Collection of Celtic Coins London DNW 020 7016 1700 www.dnw.co.uk

Dec 14 Coins, Tokens and Banknotes Leominster BSA AUCTIONS 01568 6100620 wwwbirmauctions.co.uk

Dec 10 Auction 111: World Coins Brussels JEAN ELSEN +32 27346356 www.elsen.be

Dec 13–14 Auction 199–200 Osnabruck KÜNKER +49 541 96 20 20 www.kuenker.com

Dec 14 British and Foreign Coins and Banknotes Warwick WARWICK & WARWICK 01926 499031 www.warwickandwarwick.com

Coins, Banknotes, Medals and Bonds London BONHAMS 020 7393 3914 www.bonhams.comDec 17 Coins, Banknotes and Medals Postal/Online KLEEFORD COINS 01773 856900

www.kleefordcoins.webs.comDec 18 Coins, Banknotes and Medals London SOVEREIGN AUCTIONS 07890 764453, or 07854 547371

[email protected]

Diary datesDiary datesDiary dates

Please email dates for the diary page to [email protected], giving at least two months’ notice.

Thank you!

Please email dates for the diary page to [email protected], giving at least two months’ notice.


ENQUIRIES: Eddie Smith 01522 684681

WAKEFIELD FAIRCOINS, MEDALS, BANKNOTES AND MILITARIA

Come and see us at our superb venue, Cedar Court HotelDenby Dale RoadCalder Grove, Wakefi eldWF4 3QZAt Junction 39 off the M1

TO BE HELD ON THE LAST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH

November 27thNo Fair in December

Approximately 35 dealers

WE ARE NOW IN THE CEDAR SUITE

Admission: £1 Adults Children under 14 free Free car parking (Park in the main car park at reception)

9.30-14.30

In addition to the Coin Dealers present, there are also stamps and postcards on show. Open 07:30 to 14:30.

Enquiries 01483 281771E-Mail: [email protected]

Open EVERY Saturday at1 Embankment Place, LondonOpposite Embankment Tube Station.

Est 1974

will be held on

Sunday November 20that the Carisbrooke Hall, The Victory Services Club,

63/79 Seymour Street, London W2 2HF9.30am to 2.00pm

For further details tel: 01404 46972 or visit www.tokenpublishing.com

BRITANNIA MEDAL FAIR

BritanniaMedalFair

Free entry to Coin

News Subscribers!

BRITANNIA MEDAL FAIR


DATE VENUE SUBJECT/EVENT CONTACTDec 1 The Eagle & Child, Maltkiln Lane,

Bispham Green, OrmskirkSociety Christmas Dinner ORMSKIRK & WEST LANCS NS

01704 531266

Wallace Humphrey Room, Shelthorpe Community Centre, Loughborough

“Bygone Loughborough”’ by Christine Harris. Seasonal light refreshments

LOUGHBOROUGH COIN & SEARCH SOCIETY 01509 261352 www.norwichcoinandmedalsociety.co.uk

Dec 2 The Raven Inn, Poulshot, Near Devizes, Wiltshire

Christmas Dinner WILTSHIRE NS 01225 703143

Dec 4 Fairkytes Art Centre, Billett Road, Hornchurch

Christmas Social HAVERING NS 07910 124549

Dec 5 Nursery Inn, 258 Green Lane, Heaton Norris, Stockport

Exhibition Evening and Colin Cooke Cup Presentation

SOUTH MANCHESTER NS 0161 432 2044

Please call for Venue Details Social Evening and Fun Auction SOUTH WALES & MONMOUTHSHIRE NS 02920 561564

Please call for Venue Details Winter Bourse and members Evening READING COIN CLUB 01753 516390 www.readingcoinclub.co.uk

The Albert Hotel, Victoria Lane, Hudders© eld

“My First Coin” by a Member HUDDERSFIELD NS 01484 866814

St Martin’s Church Hall, Erith Road, Barnehurst, Bexleyheath, Kent

“Have I got News for You!” by Philip Mussell

BEXLEY COIN CLUB 020 8303 0510

Dec 6 The Edward Wright Room, Beaufort Community Centre, Beaufort Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth

Winter Auction WESSEX NS 020 7731 1702

Please call for Venue details Christmas Meeting BATH AND BRISTOL NS 07793 905035

Dec 7 Belsize Community Centre, Celta Road, Woodston

Annual Dinner PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT NS 01733 567763, 0R 01733 562768

Dec 8 Please call for venue details Monthly Meeting BEDFORDSHIRE NS 01234 870645Surbiton Library (Small Hall), Ewell Road, Surbiton

86th Members Auction KINGSTON NS 020 8397 6944

Dec 12 The Raven Inn, Poulshot, near Devizes, Wiltshire

Annual Auction and Ra¬ e WILTSHIRE NS 01380 828453

The White Horse, Trowse Annual Auction and Ra¬ e NORWICH COINS & MEDALS SOCIETY 01603 617127 www.norwichcoinandmedalsociety.co.uk

The Friends Meeting House, St Helen’s Street, Derby

Short Talks by Members DERBYSHIRE NS 01283 223893

Dec 13 The Cecil Roberts Room, Central Library, Angel Row, Nottingham

The Ernest Danson Lecture—”Royal Jubilees and The Royal Mint” by Graham Dyer

NS OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 0115 9257674

Crewe Memorial Hall, Church Lane, Wistaston, Crewe

Members Short Talks and Annual General Meeting

CREWE & DISTRICT COIN & MEDAL SOCIETY 01270 569836

Dec 14 RAF Assoc. Eric Nelson House, 16 Bewick Road, Gateshead

Society Meeting TYNESIDE NS 01661 825824 www.tynesidecoinclub.info

Dec 15 St Paul’s Centre, Chapel Road, Worthing Christmas Bring and Buy WORTHING & DISTRICT NS 01634 260114

Dec 16 The White Hart, Margaretting, Tye Christmas Supper ESSEX NS 01277 656627

Dec 19 Nursery Inn, 258 Green Lane, Heaton Norris, Stockport

Christmas Meal SOUTH MANCHESTER NS 0161 432 2044

Dec 21 The St James Centre, Stadium Way, Pinhoe, Exeter

Social Evening DEVON & EXETER NS 01395 5688830

SOCI

ETIE

S

SECRETARIES—Please send details of your meetings to Token Publishing Ltd,

Orchard House, Duchy Road, Heathpark, Honiton EX14 1YD or email: [email protected] giving at least two months’ notice.

Thank you.

Diary datesDiary datesDiary dates

[email protected] giving at least two months’ notice. [email protected] giving at least two months’ notice. [email protected] giving at least two months’ notice. [email protected] giving at least two months’ notice.

Please send details of your meetings to Token Publishing Ltd, Orchard House, Duchy Road, Heathpark, Honiton EX14 1YD or email:




Please check details with Secretaries before setting o� on your journey as venues and subjects can change after we have gone to press


BLOOMSBURY HOTEL16-22 Great Russell Street

London WC1 3NNAdmission £2.00

Dealers in English, Foreign, Ancient, Antiquities, Tokens, Medallions and Banknotes

December 3rd 2011(9.30 am - 2.00 pm)

NEXT FAIR:JANUARY 7TH 2012

Enquiries: Tel: 01694 731781

BLOOMSBURYCOIN FAIR

Second Sunday of EVERY Month10.00 am to 3.30 pm

Admission £2Running continuously for over 25 years!!

December 11thJanuary 8th

The Midland Coin FairNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM

Bickenhill, Birmingham, B92 0EJOpposite the NEC on the M42/A45 junction.

Free parking. Refreshments

All enquiries to Mike Veissid

Midland Coin FairHobsley House, Frodesley

Shrewsbury, SY5 7HDTel: 01694 731781

www.coinfairs.co.uk

The Largest Monthly Coin, Medal & Banknote Fair

in the Country


01430 879060 / 07905 467650Specialists in Modern Gold and Silver Proof

Coins and SetsVisit our e-shop and order on line at

www.weightoncoin.co.uk

FORMATAlthough we specialise in foreign coins,

we also buy and sell BritishFormat

Second Floor, Burlington Court, Lower Temple Street, Birmingham.

Tel: 0121 643 2058 Fax: 0121 643 2210

Roman, Celtic, English Hammered Coins,17th Century Trade Tokens

Write or telephone for a free copy of our large sales catalogue in which almost

every item offered is illustrated.Michael Trenerry

PO Box 55, Truro, Cornwall TR1 2YQTel: 01872 277977 Fax: 01872 225565

HUGE FREE LISTSEnglish Hammered and Milled coins

023 - 8032 - 4258206 Honeysuckle Road, Soton SO16 3BU

PETER MORRIS1 STATION CONCOURSE, BROMLEY NORTH

BR STATION, KENTOpen: Monday to Friday 10am–6pm

Closed Wednesday Saturday 9am–2pm

and other times by arrangement

Write for free copy of latest coin list:FREEPOST (no stamp needed)

PO BOX 223, BROMLEY, KENT BR1 4EQ

Telephone 020 8313 3410Visit our web site: www.petermorris.co.uk

E-mail: coins @petermorris.co.uk

Coins For Sale

GLENN S. OGDENEnglish coins, send for a FREE list

53 Chestnut Crescent, Culver Green, Chudleigh TQ13 0PTTel: 01626 859350 Mobile: 07971 709427Email: [email protected]

MOORE ANTIQUITIES01243 824232 07850 037091www.mooreantiquities.com

[email protected] AND FOR SALE:

Bronze Age, Celtic, Roman, Saxon, Viking, Medieval & later coins & artefacts up to 18th Century

• Whole collections or single items purchased •Unit 12, Ford Lane Industrial Estate, Ford, Nr. Arundel,

West Sussex BN18 0AA

A Comprehensive selection of British Coins

New list available now

K. B. COINS50 LINGFIELD ROAD, MARTINS WOOD,

STEVENAGE, HERTS SG1 5SLTEL: 01438 312661 FAX: 01438 311990

COINS

Specialists in Buying and Selling Modern,

Gold and Silver Coins from the UK and Around

the World.

UK Freephone: 0800 085 2933/Int Tel: +44 208 343 2231Email: [email protected]

Visit our Secure On-line Shop onwww.thelondoncoincompany.com

PO Box 57635, London, NW7 0DS

British, Roman and Ancient Greek Coins Bought and Sold

www.glenelycoins.co.ukTel: 01793 750307 07739 426194

Email: [email protected]

GLENELY COINS

1-206-232-2560, PO Box 7568, Dallas TX 75209, USA

See us at: Coinex, Dublin Fair & Simmons Fair, Baltimore & NYC Inc

Irish Hammered, coinage of the Great Rebellion, Irish coppers, Silver Gun Money, Free State coinage Proofs and Morbiducci Patterns, Irish Art Medals and Irish Paper Money.

I r e l a n d 4 0 Pa g e N e t P r i c e L i s t N o w Av a i l a b l e

Del Parker Email: [email protected]

Separate lists of English coins for beginners to established collectors. Send for your free copy.

EVANS, 80 Aberfan Road, Aberfan, Mid Glam CF48 4QJ Tel: 01443 690452

– VALDA COINS –

Raise the pro� le of your business with an entry in this section—generous discounts available (see page 99 for details)

DORSET COIN COMPANY LTDDealing in British Coins, Sets, Proofs, Foreign

Coins and Banknotes.Send for latest list

193, Ashley Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH14 9DL. Tel: 01202 739606

BRITISH COINS FOR SALE Crowns to fractional farthings.

Copper and bronze specialist. Some foreign.DAVID CRADDOCK

PO Box 3785, Camp Hill, Birmingham B11 2NFTel/Fax: 0121 773 2259

Send for free list

R.P. COINSCOINS, BOOKS, CATALOGUES & ACCESSORIES

Bought & Sold. Please visit our website -

www.rpcoins.co.ukor call Rob Pearce on 07802 713444, fax 0161 798 7428RP Coins, PO Box 367, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 9ZH

Log on to our website at www.tokenpublishing.com for all the latest news, views, events, books, accessories and much more . . .

Never miss an issue of COIN NEWS.Take out your subscription today and save over £8 per year!Tel: 01404 44166

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www.coinsandtokens.comANTHONY HALSE

A large selection of coins from budget priced date fi llers to coins for the advanced collector.

Send for a free list of English, Foreign and Tokens

PO BOX 1856, Newport South Wales, NP18 2WA01633 413238

Buying and selling English hammered coins,British milled coins and British tokens.Meet me at the fairs. Large ebay stock. Email: [email protected]

Tel: 01903 239867. Mobile: 07814 793312www.johnnewmancoins.com

NOVEMBER LIST NOW AVAILABLEOver 1,000 GB & World coins, proofs, sets, tokens and medallions. Priced from 50p.

Free UK Postage and half cost World PostageTel: 01253 311090 Email:[email protected]

ANDREW’S COINS

Raise the pro� le of your business with an entry in this section—Raise the pro� le of your business with an entry in this section—

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A subscription to Coin News makes an ideal Christmas present!

Simply call 01404 44166.

If you haven’t yet sent us your coins/ banknotes/tokens for

our 85th Auction Sale (March/April), you need to do so no later than the Christmas week

Catalogues FREE. B. FRANK & SON, 3 South Ave.,Ryton, NE40 3LD

0191 413 8749 Email: [email protected]

B. FRANK & SON Numismatic Auctioneers

(Est 1983)

A wide range of Numismaticaccessories are available online from

www.tokenpublishing.com

Accessories

A list of forthcoming auctions can be found on page 90

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For a comprehensive catalogue of Ancient Greek, Roman, Judaean, Parthian, Sasanian, Byzantine, Early

British, European and Crusader Coins, please write or telephone for a free copy

F. J. Rist, Po Box 4, Ibstock, Leics LE67 6ZJTel: 01530 264278

F. J. RIST

UNIVERSAL CURRENCY COIN EXCHANGEBuying Swiss 80%, Can 80% and Ireland 80%Contact: Universal Currency Coin Exchange,

UCCE, PO Box 57648, Mill Hill, NW7 0FE Tel: 07831 662594 E-mail: [email protected].

www.coinsonline.co.uk

Colin Narbeth & Son Ltd20 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4HE

Paper Money DealersVisit our Web site at:

http://www.colin-narbeth.comA wide range of notes on offer

An invitation to view our websitewww.pdmedallions.co.uk

• Buy historical medals on line. • British, European, World medals available. • Browse through our current stock. • Regular up-dating of items for sale.

We buy single or collections of medals.

• Viewing arrangements now include Saturday & Sunday• NEW Catalogue format available• Call us or check out our new website for more information

LONDON COINS4 - 6 Upper Street South • New Ash Green • Kent • DA3 8JJ

Tel: 01474 871464 • Email: [email protected] • Website:www.londoncoins.co.uk

Next Auction: Keep a look out for details!

LONDON COINSAUCTION

Probably the biggest selection in the UK, mostly high grades.

BRADBURY to LOWTHERFree up to date computer listing.

Tel: 01736 871263Trebehor, Porthcorno, Penzance, Cornwall TR19 6LX

BRITISH BANKNOTES

Coins Wanted

Coin Shops

ArghansAfrican banknotes – sensible prices

List from Arghans, Unit 9, Callington Business Park, Tinners Way, Moss Side, CALLINGTON PL17 7SH. Tel: 01579-382405 e-mail: [email protected]

British NotesBuying/Selling

Quality British NotesPam West, PO Box 257, Sutton,

Surrey. SM3 9WWTel/Fax: 0208 641 3224

Email: [email protected]

Quality British Notes

Auctions/Fairs/Societies

A Free list of World and British banknotes is available from

D. YAPPPO Box 4718, SHREWSBURY, SY1 9EA

Tel: 01743 232557www.david-yapp.com

Coins Wanted. Gold-Silver-Copper-Collections. Over 5,000 Coins for sale on-line.

Coin Trays – Capsules – Albums – Books.

www.cambridgeshirecoins.comBuying and selling for over 20 years

[email protected] 503073

Ye Olde Banknote ShoppeWe stock a huge range of Banknotes and Coins from UK and around the World, also Tokens and Medals,

Roman & Celtic and a host of other collectables. View our current catalogue online at www.oldbanknoteshop.co.uk

Contact email: [email protected]

Roger OutingPO Box 123 Hudders� eld HD8 9WY

Tel: 01484 [email protected]

www.banknotes4u.co.uk

Specialising in British banking history: cheques, books, banknotes and all

banking memorabilia

CHARLES RILEYCOINS & MEDALS

Professional Numismatist since 1990Coins and medallions bought and sold

PO Box 733, Aylesbury HP22 9AXTel: 01296 747598 email: [email protected]

www.charlesriley.co.uk

IAN GRADON WORLD NOTESBanknotes bought and sold. Bulk lots, collections and single items wanted.

Tel: 0191 3719 700email: [email protected]

website: www.worldnotes.co.uk

Postal auction with monthly catalogues UK, Foreign & Ancient Coins

Tokens, Medals, Banknotes, etc

MATT HOOD MEMORIAL COIN AUCTION

For a free catalogue contact: Tim Barna, PO Box 335, Lyndhurst, Hants SO40 0DA. Tel: 07833-692956

[email protected]

MEMORABILIAWe stock all types of Manx memorabilia

including banknotes, coins, postcards etc.Shop open 10-4 Mon–Sat21 ST PAULS SQUARE,

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN Email:[email protected]

Tel: 01624 818303/07624 492484

Banknotes

Crowns, halfcrowns wanted, G, VF ++Charles to George II, lists of what you have to Twyford Antiques Centre, Evesham. Tel: 446923

A wide range of NumismaticA wide range of Numismatic

Medallions

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www.danielfearon.comBritish and World Historical Medals and

Medallions, Art Medals and all related pieces. Changing stock listed for sale

Specialising in British milled coinage from 1662 to date

All coins pictured on the websiteSecure on-line payment

www.argentumandcoins.co.uk/

View our stock on-line. Vast selection from Roman to modern. Exclusive gold site and many collector items.

Proofs and bullion. Many special offers.Links to all other Chard websites

www.chards.co.uk

Coins Ancient coins, Greek, Celtic, Roman, Byzantine, Saxon, Viking, English, Irish, Scottish, Tokens.

Antiques as before including Bronze-age, Iron-age, Dark-age, Medieval pottery, glass etc.

www.gilliscoins.com

www.coinsofbritain.comLloyd Bennett. A good selection of British coins from

Saxon times to the present day. English hammered coinage, occasionally Celtic, Roman and Anitquities.

All items illustrated and updated weekly.

www.coincraft.comBritish coins, World coins, British banknotes, World banknotes, Roman coins, Greek coins, antiquities,

medallions, supplies, Edward VIII bought and sold.For everything you need to

know about Petition Crowns log on to:

www.petitioncrown.com

The Biggest selection of English coins on the Web. An extensive selection of Hammered including

Gold as well as a vast range of Milled from 1656 to date. 023 80324258

www.ringramcoins.com

Over 4,000 certifi ed coins

foreigncoin.com

Increase the tra� c to your site with an entry in this section. All entries are hot-linked in the digital issue so new collectors are just a click away! See page 99 for details.

Classical Numismatic Group offers continuous on-line auctions of Greek, Celtic, Roman,

Byzantine, Medieval British and World coins.

www.cngcoins.com

www.saltfordcoins.comTry the rest

Then try the best

www.saltfordcoins.com

www.pennycrowncoins.co.uk

An extensive catalogue mostly comprised of English and United Kingdom milled issues

Each coin illustrated using high-quality photographs

www.davidseamancoins.co.ukSimple to use. Screen sized photographs of each piece. Mainly British milled with a selection of

hammered and good selection of maundy sets and odds.

irishcoins.com

Irish Coins and Notes Ancient Greek & Roman

Del Parker

Web directoryWeb directoryWeb directoryIncrease the tra� c to your site with an entry in this section. All entries are hot-linked

in the digital issue so new collectors are just a click away! See page 99 for details.Increase the tra� c to your site with an entry in this section. All entries are hot-linked

in the digital issue so new collectors are just a click away! See page 99 for details.

www.HistoryInCoins.com

Hammered to Milled: English, Irish & ScottishCatering for beginners right through to serious collectorsEstablished February 2001. Fresh additions EVERY Tuesday3,000+ ITEMS FOR SALE (all with obverse & reverse images)

Mention this advert and buy the coin for £1520. Tel: 07944 374600

Classical Numismatic Group offers continuous on-line auctions of Greek, Celtic, Roman,

Byzantine, Medieval British and World coins.


Coins WantedBuying and selling for over 20 years

Over 5,000 coins online

www.cambridgeshirecoins.com

01223 503073 [email protected]

Subscribe to COIN NEWS today and receive the digital version free of charge.

For further details go to www.tokenpublishing.com

www.tokenpublishing.comThe one stop shop for all your collecting needs

plus latest news and much, much more.Log on now to www.tokenpublishing.com.

www.tonyharmer.orgCoins and banknotes,

postcards,stamps and Collectables

www.weightoncoin.co.ukSpecialists in Modern Gold and Silver

Proof Coins and SetsSovereigns of different dates and Mint

marks always available.

Banknotes

COINS, BANKNOTES, MEDALS, STAMPS AND BOOKS – THE COMPLETE ONLINE

SERVICE FOR THE COLLECTOR.

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Quality Ancient Coins and Antiquities

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Bi-monthly sales of English, Foreign and Ancient Coins, Medallions, Tokens and Banknotes.

See our website for free on-line catalogue.

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Australia’s largest coin dealer, specialising in Australian coins and banknotes, world coinage, stamps, medals and quality

numismatic material.Visit our website for online shopping and free catalogue

www.downies.com

Roman, Ancient British, English, Scottish & Irish Hammerd Coins

~Professional Numismatist~

www.yorkcoins.com

www.celticcoins.comChris Rudd sells more Celtic than anyone else worldwide.For a free catalogue phone

01263 735 007

NUMISMATIC BOOKS, COINS AND TOKENS Books for metal detectorists and beginners a

speciality. We even write them ourselves. Website updated twice weekly

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Auctions

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w w w.war wickandwar wick.comFree valuations without obligation on specialist collections and single coins, old accumulations, dealers’ stock, hoards and even unpopular and obscure material

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Accessories

Books

www.gbgoldcoins.comBuyers and sellers of World and British

Gold Coins—Fair prices paid for Sovereigns and Krugerrands

www.douglassaville.comOut of Print, Secondhand and Rare Books on Coins, Tokens, Medallions, Orders, Decorations and Medals. Easy to use Website listing books for sale. All areas of the subject.

www.douglassaville.com

www.David-yapp.com

www.David-yapp.com

British and World Banknotes

Buying and selling English hammered coins,

British milled coins and British tokens.

www.johnnewmancoins.com

Peter Nichols, Cabinet MakersFull range of coin cabinets available.

Workshop: 0115 922 4149 Email: [email protected]

www.coincabinets.com

Buying & Selling Ancient Coins & Antiquities

www.denofantiquity.co.uk

Tel: 01223 863002Email: [email protected]

We buy and sell British and Foreign coins of all ages and reigns in our easy to use website

www.clickcollect-coins.co.uk

www.petercoins.comYour local coin shop on the net!

www.petercoins.com

Simon Chester Coins.com

Dealing in British Milled Coinswww.simonchestercoins.com

Miscellaneous

www.jecoinsandnotes.com

British Coins, Tokens and Banknotes

A wide range of Numismaticaccessories are available online from


Web directoryWeb directoryWeb directory

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The one stop shop for all your collecting needs plus latest news and much, much more.

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Coins for saleW W W C O I N S O N A B U D G E T. CO.UK A great site for new collectors, also for fi lling in those elusive gaps. Great prices: new items being added all the time. Wants lists welcomed—a fast friendly service. Contact me on the above website. (12/11/03T)ENGLISH AND UK COINS. Please ask for list— G. Ogden, 53 Chestnut Crescent, Culver Green, Chudleigh TQ13 0PT Tel: 01626 859350. (12/11/12A)ANCIENT AND HAMMERED C O I N S P L U S C L A S S I C A L ANTIQUITIES for sale. Large display at The Ginnel Antiques Centre, Harrogate. Odyssey PO Box 61, Southport, PR9 0PZ. Tel: 01704 232494. (02/12/06T) ROMAN, CELTIC, ENGLISH HAMMERED AND BRITISH COINS BEFORE 1895 for sale and wanted—ring anytime or write for mail order sales catalogue, or visit our stall at antiques fairs in the South. Ancient & Gothic, PO Box 5390, Bournemouth, BH7 6XR. Telephone: 01202 431721. Est. 1977. (01/12/12T)FREE ENGLISH—FOREIGN LISTS. Crowns to farthing fractions. Proof—BU sets. Maundy odds. Banknotes. Tel: 01709 526697. (10/12/24T)C L O U D “ 9 ” C O I N S A N D BANKNOTES. Down to earth coins and notes at down to earth prices. Twentieth century circulated coins bought and sold. CLOUD “9”, 4 Queen’s Row, Cheddar Gorge. 01934 741358. (04/12T)FREE CATALOGUE! FREE COINS! FREE BANKNOTES! Extensive range of coins, ancient to modern, tokens, banknotes, antiquities and related items. Low to medium grades our speciality! (UK only) Contact: Dei Gratia, PO Box 3568, Buckingham, Bucks., MK18 4ZS (stamp appreciated). Tel: 01280 848000. Email: [email protected]. Go to website at: www.dgcoins.freeserve.co.ukwww.dgcoins.freeserve.co.uk. (02/12/06T)MERLINS OF GODALMING, Bridge Street, Godalming, Surrey. Celtic, Roman, hammered, milled. 01483 426155. Sorry no lists. (05/12/12T)ELIZABETH II Royal Mint proof sets 1971–2005. Offers. Tel: 01234 306580 (Bedford). (12/12)PETERCOINS—your local coin shop on the net! Selling a wide range of British coins. www.petercoins.www.petercoins.com. SAE for list to: PO Box 46743, London, SW17 0YF. (11/12/12T) MAUNDY SETS 1904, 1905, 1914, 1915 UNC toned in red dated boxes. Ex. condition. 01473 414646. (04/12)PRESTIGE NUMISMATICS the place for all types of premium World coins. Customer satisfaction is our priority. Visit the website: www.prestigenumismatics.comwww.prestigenumismatics.com.(11/11/03T)US COINS National Park quarters, State quarters, Presidential dollars, NAD dollars, Kennedy halves, Lincoln cents, Proof sets etc. Mark—01924 255738. Email: [email protected]. (02/12)

WORLD AND BRITISH COINS. Please send for a free list. James & C. Brett, 17, Dale Road, Lewes, Sussex BN7 1LH. Web list available from [email protected]. (12/11/06T)ONE GOLD ROMAN COIN for sale, good condition. Tel: 07790 914877. (12/11)WORLD COINS: Medieval and modern. Tokens, Countermarks, Jettons, medallions etc. Please send an SAE for latest list to: Stephen Betts, 4 Victoria Street, Narborough, Leicester LE19 2DP. (12/11/06T)SP ASIMI, selling BRITISH MILLED coins 1662–1946. Visit our cabinet at: THE EMPORIUM, 112 High Street, HUNGERFORD, Berkshire RG17 0NB, 01488 686959.(01/12/12T)ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN COINS. Free catalogue. Great for beginners and budget minded collectors. For more info contact T. Barna, PO Box 335, Lyndhurst, SO40 0DA. Email: [email protected] (03/12/06T) BRITISH COINS FREE LIST of inexpensive coins plus details of free gift. Des Welton, 13 Monmouth Road, Harlington, Dunstable, Beds, LU5 6NE, or email: [email protected]. (12/11/06T)EARLY ENGLISH MILLED: The most extensive date range available anywhere. 1658–1967 Farthings—Gold virtually every date. Free list tel: 023 80324258, write to 206 Honeysuckle Rd, Southampton SO16 3BU, please email: [email protected]. www.ringramcoins.comringramcoins.com. (10/12/12/A)UNUSUAL ERROR on proof 1/2d sealed by the Royal Mint and packed in a red wallet, 1970. Also has white hair across penny. Please contact: E. Saunders, 24 Bridger Close, Watford, WD25 9PB. (02/12)COLLECTION OF COINS—1997 Four Coin Sovereign Collection Gold Proof Set Cert No. 0145. 1996 HM Queen Elizabeth 2nd 70th Birthday Gold Proof Crown Cert No. 1169. 1996 HM Queen Elizabeth 2nd 70th Birthday Silver Proof Crown with Certifi cate. 1996 Proof Decimal 9 Coin Collection with Certifi cate. 1997 Proof Decimal 10 Coin Collection with Certifi cate. Eight other uncirculated Elizabeth £5-00 coins, fi ve uncirculated Elizabeth Jubilee crowns and fi ve uncirculated Churchill crowns, three Elizabeth+HRH Prince of Wales anniversary. Also other half crowns, pennies, half pennies, threepenny bits, etc. Best offer over £4000. Email Ray Nock, [email protected]. Tel: 01902 657407, or 07768 652202. (02/12)BULLION SOVEREIGNS for private sale, limited amount available for immediate delivery once payment in cash is received. £330 each coin. Email: [email protected]. (02/12)

Coins WantedSELECTED BRITISH COINS forall tastes. Fast, friendly and effi cient service. British coins bought and sold. View coins online in the shop. Contact Barry Kemp on 01706 344520. (06/12/06A)RING MOUNT to hold 1/20th gold angel. Tel: 01359 250012. (01/12)

WANTED DONATIONS OF BRITISH or foreign coins, banknotes. Please send to to Dogs for the Disabled, The Frances Hay Centre, Blacklocks Hill, Banbury, Oxen OX17 2BS. Charity No: 1092960 (05/12/12C)HALFPENNIES—1865, 1915, 1922. Farthings—1865, 1874 & 1875, 1915. High grade only. Peter, 01489 577121. (04/12 )SPANISH COINS IN GOLD AND SILVER, especially “COBS”. (Portuguese and Dutch coins also wanted). Please contact: Beachcomber Trading Company (BTC) PO Box 8, Newport, Isle of Wight, P030 5JW. Tel: 01983-740712, or fax: 01983 740800. (04/12/12T)BRITANNIA AS OF HADRIAN (BMC 1174) wanted in high grade (GVF or above). Any reasonable price considered. C/O Lawrence Chard 521 Lytham Road Blackpool. 01253 342081. (RTC)SHIPWRECK COINS, any wreck, any quantity. Also shipwreck auction catalogues. BTC, PO Box 8, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5JW. 01983 740712. Fax: 01983 740800. (04/12/12T)BUYING PRE-47 SILVER AT 24x face; Call/write for latest price. Buying obsolete but redeemable banknotes/coins of Switzerland, Ireland, Germany & most other countries. Collectable coins/tokens wanted. Please contact: Taylor, 4 Sherwood Avenue, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 7XL. Telephone: 01895 638885. (11/11/06T)BUYING PRE-47 SILVER 24x FACE, PRE-20 40x FACE. USA Pre-1965 10 cents to 1$ £8 per $. CANADA Pre-1965 £6 per $. Wanted REDEEMABLE NOTES of Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, France, Belgium, Portugal. COINS/NOTESof Spain, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland. Taylor, 4 Sherwood Avenue, Ruislip, Middx. HA4 7XL. Tel 01895 638885. (12/11/06T)AUSTRALIAN PRE-1966 SILVER AND COPPER COINS WANTED. tel: 0794191 9686, email: [email protected]. (03/12/06T)BRITISH COINS wanted by collector. Almost anything considered. Phone Chris on 01793 750307/07739 426194. (06/12/12T)PRE-47 & PRE-20 silver wanted. Also modern 925 silver crowns or ingots. Top prices paid. Contact: 01935 824878. (12/11/12A)DANZIG WANTED. High grade coins 1923 onwards. Top prices paid. Please emails details to: [email protected]. (12/12)

BLACK CAT COINS. Buying English Milled coins. Gold, silver, copper, bronze, proof sets, Maundy money. We are located in the Oxfordshire area and can arrange a home visit to you at your convenience. Tel: 01844 279832 or email: [email protected]. (12/11/12T)REGISTERED CHILDRENS C H A R I T Y 2 9 5 7 3 2 . R e q u i re donations of coins , tokens, banknotes, anything saleable. Please send to W. E. Cornish, 70 Downham Gardens, Tamerton Folit, Plymouth PL5 4QF. (02/12/12C)

WORLD AND BRITISH gold coins wanted. Fair prices paid. Tel: 07917 160308. (01/12/06A)PRE-1947 silver coins wanted. Pre-1920 also. There are probably many adverts in this column wanting these coins so if you phone around PLEASE PHONE US LAST for the best possible offer you will get! Est. 1966. 07879 865 118 or email: [email protected] Web: www.uk-mint.com. (11/11/12T)PRIVATE COLLECTOR SEEKS BULLION SOVEREIGNS. I am a private collector looking to buy small quantities of bullion sovereigns as a hedge against coming bad times. I will pay the spot price for gold. Email: [email protected] (12/11)WE BUY SOVEREIGNS—best prices paid. Please telephone Paul on 07779 461929. (12/11/06A)

BanknotesWORLDWIDE BANKNOTESAND COINS at great prices. Please visit: www.collectorscurrency.comwww.collectorscurrency.comor email: [email protected]. (04/12/12T)QUALITY BANKNOTES from the British Isles & Commonwealth. www.notability-banknotes.comwww.notability-banknotes.com, or , or email: [email protected]. (03/12/06A)

TokensSOUTHWOLD HALF PENNY trade token, dated 1668, £30. Tel: 01359 250012. Chris Britton, 122 Shepherds Grove Park, Stanton, Suffolk, IP31 2BN. (02/12)

Cheques & EphemeraCheques & EphemeraARE YOU INTERESTED INCOLLECTING Old Cheques, other Financial Instruments or Banking Ephemera? Then why not join the British Banking History Society. Tel: Keith for info: 020 83605665. (11/11)

MiscellaneousNZ AND AUSTRALIAN postcardswanted to buy. Tel: 0794 1919686. (03/12/06T)TYNESIDE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY: Meeting second Wednesday every month. New members welcome. . If you collect coins, banknotes, cheques etc., telephone: 0191 2582042, or 01661 825824 . (01/12)COLLECT@HOME, Copy of Collect@home, mine is damaged and cannot install on new computer, please help. Tel: Terry, 01264 400493. (12/11)COIN MAGS FOR SALE—Vol. 1, No.1–Vol. 48. 545 in total. All in binders. Don’t wish to break up but will if need be. Offers? Buyer collects. Mr J. Price, 60 Gerraint Road, Downham, Bromley, BR15 5DX. 020 8516 3461. (02/12)COUNTERFEIT COINS OF ROMAN BRITAIN. New, 200 pages full of information, interest and illustrations for just £25 (+ £2.50 p&p). Leafl et available. See page 14 of September Coin News. Envoy Publicity, 8 Kings Road, Biggin Hill, Kent, TN16 3XU. Tel: 01959 573686. Email: [email protected] (02/12)

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For Sale Wanted Banknotes Tokens Medals Books Auctions Miscellaneous

Advertisers IndexABC Coins and Tokens.................................... 70Airedale ............................................................... 43Argentum............................................................ 72ATS Bullion Ltd .................................................. 73Allgold Coins .................................................... 51Baldwins Auctions .....................................19, 25R. P. & P. J. Beckett ............................................ 86Birchin Lane Gold Coin Company ............. 57Bloomsbury Coin Fair ..................................... 93Yves Blot .............................................................. 73BNTA ........................................................................4Bonhams ............................................................IBCBarry Boswell ..................................................... 81Britannia Fair ...................................................... 91B. S. A. Auctions ................................................ 58Cambridge Coins & Jewellery ..................... 48Cambridgeshire Coins ................................... 72Cathedral Court Medals ................................ 58Chards .................................................................. 27Charing Cross Market ..................................... 91The Celator ......................................................... 80CNG ...................................................11, 20, 54, 70Coinage of England ........................................ 43

Coincraft .......................................... IFC, 9, 45, 81Colin Cooke ...........................................................7Croydon Coin Auctions ................................. 90Paul Davies Ltd.................................................. 14Paul Davis Birmingham Ltd .......................... 67Clive Dennett .................................................... 80DNW ...................................................................... 39Dorset Coins ...................................................... 72Roger Dudley..................................................... 86The Duncannon Partnership ....................... 40Educational Coin Company ......................... 81Christopher Eimer ............................................13Format .................................................................. 40GB Gold Coins ................................................... 45G K Coins ............................................................. 48Goulborn ................................................................8Ian Gradon ...........................................................74A. D. Hamilton ................................................... 85History in coins ................................................. 96IAPN ....................................................................... 18R. Ingram Coins .......................................... 64, 65Richard Jeff ery .................................................. 86K. B. Coins ............................................................ 48

Kate’s Paper Money .........................................74Kleeford Coins ................................................... 91Knightsbridge Coins ....................................... 71Künker .....................................................................5Liberty Coins & Bullion .................................. 43Lindner/Prinz Publications........................... 50The London Coin Company .................. 24, 96The London Coin Fair ..................................... 93M A Shops ........................................................... 72Midland Coin Fair ............................................. 93Morton & Eden ...................................................17Peter Morris ........................................................ 63Colin Narbeth & Son Ltd.................................74NGC ....................................................................... 23Peter Nichols ...................................................... 57Notability ............................................................ 81Numismatica Ars Classica ............................. 67NYINC ................................................................... 89Orpington Coins & Medals ........................... 50PF&K ...................................................................... 45David Pratchett ................................................. 67Mark Rasmussen Numismatist ................... 51Roderick Richardson....................................... 40

Royal Australian Mint ........................................3Royal Mint ................................................ 29, OBCChris Rudd .............................................................2Saltford Coins .................................................... 58Douglas Saville ................................................ 67Scoin Shop .......................................................... 63Silbury Coins ...................................................... 22Stack’s, Bowers & Ponterio ........................... 85Stamp & Coin Mart ...........................................74St James’s Auctions ..........................................15Token Publishing Ltd ...................................... 76Treasure Hunting ............................................. 85Michael Trenerry Ltd ...................................... 63Wakefi eld Fair .................................................... 91Warwick & Warwick .....................................6, 30Weighton Coin Wonders............................... 58West Essex Coin Investments...................... 10Tim Wilkes ........................................................... 51Trevor Wilkin ...................................................... 80York Coin Fair ..................................................... 91York Coins ........................................................... 48

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