Coin news 2011 05

1Coin news

ADVERTISERS INDEX—SEE PAGE 95

Editor’s Comment ...............................................2Coin news & views .......................................... 10View of the Bay ................................................. 18Around the World ............................................ 20New issues coin update ................................ 22Royal Mint Bulletin .......................................... 24Market Scene .................................................... 27Coin Clinic .......................................................... 60Price Guide to PENNIES................................. 62Coin of the month ........................................... 64Competition ...................................................... 67Banknote News ................................................ 71Price Guide to NORTHERN IRELAND .............. 77New issues banknote update...................... 80Letters .................................................................. 82Dealer Lists ......................................................... 85Diary dates ......................................................... 86Semi-display adverts ...................................... 89The Web Page ................................................... 91Classifi ed advertising ..................................... 93

In this issue

REGULARS

Front cover: An interview with Mark Richards, the man behind the Royal Wedding Commemorative coin—see page 44.

31 InsightA tribute to the canoe on Canadian coinageThe history behind a recurring theme

35 Detector’s notebookCoins from a Roman settlementResearching fi nds

39 SpotlightThe Elizabeth II Coronation CrownMarking the dawn of the second Elizabethan Age

41 Collector’s notebook Classical in� uenceFinding the origins of coin motifs

44 InterviewWilliam & Catherine’s special dayAn interview with Mark Richards, the man behind the Royal Wedding Commemorative coin

47 BackgroundThe life and times of Sweden’s platemoneyThe intricacies of Sweden’s numismatics

51 ViewpointAmerica’s largest coin year collection?A focus on 1933

55 Medallic miscellanyBirmingham celebratesMarking the 1911 Coronation

68 Back to basicsReplacement contagionSearching for the meaning in numbers

73 Banknote featureCarlisle BanksEnglish banking in the shadow of Scotland

76 Paper factsOn the noteHand signatures on notes of the Royal Bank of Scotland

Incorporating BANKNOTE NEWS

COIN NEWS

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

May 2011 Volume 48 No. 05Formerly Coin & Medal News incorporatingCoins & Medals, Irish Numismatics, and Banknote News

Published monthly by Token Publishing Ltd.

Available at your Newsagent, or by Annual SubscriptionWithin UK £34.00 for 12 issuesEurope and World surface mail £42.00 World airmail £52.00

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Managing Editor John W. Mussell, FRGSMember, British Numismatic Society, Numismatic Literary Guild, American Numismatic Association, International Banknote Society, etc.

Advertising Director Carol Hartman

Marketing Director Philip Mussell, BA DipM MCIM MIDM

Deputy Editor Janet Webber, BA Hons

Art Editor Lisa Camm-Keyte

Advertising Manager Celia Dunsford

Advertising Production Controller Klara Bodfi sh

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PUBLISHING FOR COLLECTORSSINCE 1983

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A tribute to the canoe on Canadian coinage

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www.tokenpublishing.com May 2011

Editor’s comment

JOHN W. MUSSELLGroup Managing Editor

Who are we…?THIS month’s cover features the new Royal Wedding Crown, and within the pages of the

magazine you will fi nd an interview with the designer of that Crown, Mark Richards. For those of you who collect new issues such an interview will be of great interest—to those of you who aren’t seduced by the offerings of the Royal Mint or similar it probably won’t appeal that much. In fact for those of you who collect ancients, Celtic, Hammered or even early milled, the sparkle and glitz of the new issues market is probably something you have little time for and fi nd that these new-fangled alloy pieces just aren’t for you, instead you prefer the purity of a numismatic item from history; you aren’t interested in a coin because it’s a little piece of metal used to buy something, you are interested in it because of its position in history. You’re a coin collector because coins are the most tangible evidence of an historical period that fascinates you and undoubtedly you surround yourselves with other items from that era too. Your home is a shrine to the Roman Republic, a tribute to the Celtic kings, a hallowed ground dedicated to the moneyers of the dark ages. Or maybe not. Undoubtedly some of you will have enhanced your collections with additional pieces from the era when your coins were minted, it is a period of history you will have an interest in and know something about and probably will have found a Roman lamp or Celtic amulet caught your eye at a fair or at auction and you can imagine that the person who used/wore it may very well have used some of the coins that now reside in your collection. But still more of you won’t have gone down that route, you will have coins, coins and more coins and nothing but. Not for you the wonderful antiquities you see at shows these days, you aren’t interested in anything other than the coins and that is fi ne but it does rather make me wonder just who we coin collectors are.

On the continent new issues are big business, they always have been, and the queues every year at the Dublin Coin Fair for the latest offering from the Irish Banks show that our cousins in the Emerald Isle have caught the new issue bug too. In the US the States quarters programme has caught the imagination of the public and has proved so popular it has been extended with a new programme covering National Parks and other areas. In the UK the new issues market has always been a little bit “different” from other areas of numismatics with many purists never dreaming of buying a modern coin or reading an article on one. Now that’s fi ne, if you’re a Roman or Greek collector, then a modern coin won’t sit well in your collection—any more than a collector of old photographic postcards would want a 2011 colour picture sitting in his album—but I have never quite understood the active dislike some seem to have for modern coinage or the aversion some people have with even acknowledging they are part of numismatics. If you are one of those collectors who collects “Roman” and has the lamp, the artefacts, the jewellery, the maps and everything and anything to do with Rome alongside his coins, then I can accept that modern crowns are going to be of no interest and you can gloss over the article on the Royal Wedding Crown with no censure from me whatsoever—Rome is your theme and coins are just part of it. However, if you are simply a collector of coins then may I suggest that you take a look at that article, and similar. Look a little bit more closely at other periods of history, other minting techniques and other types of coins because it is coins you are interested in and the new issues, regardless of whether you approve of them or not, are simply the successors to what you already own. New issues aren’t totally different products from the items that reside in your collections, they are simply different versions of them and really do deserve your attention, if not your devotion. Reading an article on how coins are minted now, how designs are worked on and rendered on today’s coinage may well give you a valuable insight into your own side of the hobby and you may well fi nd it more rewarding than you ever thought possible. The reverse, of course is true too, maybe even more so. If you are a new issues collector determined only to look at the coins minted in your lifetime then I implore you to look further afi eld, don’t ignore everything pre-decimalisation, don’t turn your nose up at those coins made by hand rather than a machine. Reading up on hammered pennies, Celtic gold and Athenean owls might not be something you would normally do readily but take some time to delve back in history a little and you will be amazed how the coins of yesterday have shaped your collection today. The simple fact is if you are a “coin collector” rather than someone purely interested in an historical period, then the more you know about coins, from whatever era, the more rewarding and fascinating your hobby will be.

May 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com 3Coin news

4 Coin news www.tokenpublishing.com May 2011







Delights from DowniesVARIETY and quality are always

the bench mark for sales held by Downies of Australia and their next

auction is no exception. Held on July 5–7 consignments include everything from rare medals

to choice coins and even unusual pieces of sculpture. Lots that particularly caught our eye are the three items

illustrated here: the Lord Anson Medal 1747 in gold by Pingo (est. A$2,000), an excellent example of a NSW Holey Dollar (est. A$15,000) and a NSW Dump of 1813 (est. A$5,000). Also featured is an example of the much sought-after 1940 HMAS Sydney Medal with a very reasonable estimate of A$1,500 as well as a good selecrtion of rare banknotes. For catalogue

details contact Downies at PO Box 888, Abbotsford, Victoria 3067, Australia (www.downies.com).

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to choice coins and even unusual pieces of sculpture. Lots that particularly caught our eye are the three items

illustrated here: the Lord Anson Medal 1747 in gold by Pingo (est. A$2,000), an excellent example of a NSW Holey Dollar (est. A$15,000) and a NSW Dump of 1813 (est. A$5,000). Also featured is an example of the much sought-after 1940 HMAS with a very reasonable estimate of A$1,500 as well as a good selecrtion of rare banknotes. For catalogue

details contact Downies at PO Box 888, Abbotsford, Victoria 3067, Australia (

Delights from DowniesV

by Downies of Australia and their next auction is no exception. Held on July 5–7

consignments include everything from rare medals

Secured for SomersetTHE FROME HOARD, the amazing hoard of Roman coins found by

metal-detectorist Dave Crisp in April last year, has been secured by the Museum of Somerset, the county where it was unearthed (see “Detecting Treasure: The Frome Hoard”, COIN NEWS, September 2010). The Hoard, the largest ever collection of Roman coins found in Britain in one pot, has been on display at the British Museum while the Museum of Somerset has been busily fund raising the £320,250 it needed to keep it in Somerset. The fund raising campaign saw a mixture of public donations and applications to organisations such as the Art Fund and The National Heritage Memorial Fund. Steve Minnit, Head of Museums at Somerset County Council, said he was “absolutely delighted”. The Museum is currently undergoing a £6 million revamp and the hoard will go on display there once works have been completed in the summer. The money used to purchase the hoard will, as per the terms of the Treasure Act, be split between the fi nder, Mr Crisp, and landowners Geoff and Anne Sheppard.

News & views

Gold mohur restruckCO-INCIDING with the success of Peter Thompson’s book The East India Company and its coins,

published by Token Publishing Ltd, the Royal Mint have produced an outstanding collector’s edition of the EIC’s famous gold mohur. Inspired by the original mohur struck in 1835, the new coin

is dated 2010 and carries the well-known symbol or merchant’s mark of the East India Company on the obverse with the lion and palm tree design from the original coin on the reverse. Just 1,000 examples of the mohur have been struck in 22 carat gold, weighing 11.66g and with a diameter of 26mm, to highest proof standard. For further details of this issue contact the Royal Mint Sales Department on 0845 60 88 222 or visit the website www.theeastindiacompanygold.com. Copies of the book are still available from Token Publishing Ltd, telephone 01404 44166 or visit www.tokenpublishing.com.

Major gold exhibitionTHE world-renowned Goldsmith’s Hall in

London is to be the venue for the Goldsmith’s Company major landmark exhibition being organised to take place next summer. Opening on June 1 and running until July 28, 2012, the exhibition will be the most comprehensive and and ambitious ever staged, featuring many of Britain’s unique treasures from museums and collections across the country. Over 400 items dating from 2,500 BC to the present day will be on display at this once in a lifetime exhibition of international importance—“Gold: Britain’s Glorious Riches” is an event worth putting in the diary now to ensure the opportunity is not missed.

Loss of LibertyON March 31, 2011, a US court

sentenced Bernard von NotHaus, private producer of the “Liberty Dollar”, to 15 years in prison and a fi ne of $250,000. The company’s stock of gold valued at $7 million was also confi scated. The Liberty Dollar was the currency of a private community and was made of precious metal backed by gold. Since 1998 this currency had been issued and used within the community. Bernard von NotHaus, inventor of the Liberty Dollar explained that the notes and coins of this currency were numismatic objects or medallions enabling barter among the members of his community. US government agencies did not agree and meted out a harsh verdict against him. He was condemned for counterfeiting while the FBI labelled him a “domestic terrorist”!

(Item courtesy of coinsweekly.com)

the mohur have been struck in 22 carat gold, weighing 11.66g and with a diameter of 26mm, to highest proof standard. For further details of this issue contact the Royal Mint Sales Department on 0845 60 88 222 or visit the website from Token Publishing Ltd, telephone 01404 44166 or visit

Gold mohur restruckCedition of the EIC’s famous gold mohur. Inspired by the original mohur struck in 1835, the new coin

is dated 2010 and carries the well-known symbol or merchant’s mark of the East India Company on the obverse with the lion and palm tree design from the original coin on the reverse. Just 1,000 examples of the mohur have been struck in 22 carat gold, weighing 11.66g and with a diameter of 26mm, to highest obverse with the lion and palm tree design from the original coin on the reverse. Just 1,000 examples of the mohur have been struck in 22 carat gold, weighing 11.66g and with a diameter of 26mm, to highest

Far East treatCOLLECTORS of Japanese and Korean

coins will be in for a treat in September when Heritage Auctions sell the fabled collection formed by Dr Norman Jacobs, arguably the greatest expert on the series and author of the fi rst English-language book on Japanese numismatics. The sale will take place at the Long Beach coin show but much of the collection will be available to view at various events around the world long before the sale. More details are available from Heritage, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, Texas 75219-3941, USA, by visiting their website www.HA.com or by telephoning 001-800-872-6467.


Sunny HarrogateYORKSHIRE already has its fair share of good coin shows with

Eddie Smith’s monthly Leeds show and the twice yearly York Racecourse event always popular. The annual two day spring Harrogate Coin Fair at the Old Swan Hotel isn’t perhaps as busy as the other two but nevertheless it is now an established feature on the numismatic calendar and continues to attract dealers and collectors from across the country. Harrogate itself is a beautiful town and well worth the trip in its own right—combining it with a coin fair is an added bonus. For some reason the event always takes place on a gloriously sunny weekend and the 2011 show was no exception—a particular bonus as the show is held in the “Garden Room” of the hotel, a glass and steel “conservatory” construction that allows visitors to view coins in natural light as opposed to the fl uorescent bulbs we’re so often used to in venues. If you haven’t visited the fair before mark next year’s date in your diary now—it is being held on Friday and Saturday, March 26–27, 2012 . . . and if you can’t make it, plan a picnic, it’s bound to be sunny!

Clockwise: from left: Neil Paisley of Colin Cooke Ltd takes time out of the busy offi ce to attend the show; the Paul Davies’ stand “manned” by wife Kath and brother-in-law Phil enjoyed a sun-lit corner of the room; Derek Glover “thrilled” to have his photo taken! and Cambridge Coins’ impressive display.

News & views

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News & views

SOCIETY NEWSON March 18 the Essex Numismatic Society heard Megan Gooch from the Tower of

London speak on “The Viking coinage of York”. Megan started by giving a brief resume of Viking activity in Essex and East Anglia before concentrating on their coin-making activities which were centred on York. She emphasised that, whilst some design features could be traced to recent Anglo-Saxon designs, there was much evidence of original artistry. The talk was illustrated with slides and was followed by the usual question and answer session. The Society’s May meeting will be in the Chelmsford Museum at 7.30pm on Friday, May 27, when Rory Naismith of the Fitzwilliam Museum will be speaking on “Coinage in Southern England circa AD 750–865”. Visitors are always welcome and for further details visit www.essexcoins.org.uk or call Bob Thomas on 01277 656627.

AT the British Numismatic Society (BNS) meeting on May 24, Admiral John Myres will give a paper entitled Arctic and Polar Medals: rewards to the brave, the foolhardy and the shivering. The paper will tell the story behind the three series of British medals that have been awarded to polar explorers from 1818 to the present day. It remarks on some of the intrepid people who have received them. The talk will be followed by the Spring Reception for members and their guests. To fi nd out more about the BNS log on to www.britnumsoc.org.

THE 2011 Token Congress will be held at the AA Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells on the weekend of September 23–25. As always, a packed programme of events is planned. Also, looking ahead, plans are already in hand for the 2012 Congress at the Hilton Hotel in Northampton on the weekend of October 5–7. So put the dates in your diary and visit the Token Corresponding Society website at www.tokensociety.org.uk for more details.

Our regular Euro-correspondent David Addey advises that there has now been a change to the mintmark on the Euro coinage of France: the cornucopia has been joined by a pentagon bearing the initials AGMP.

THE latest list from Celtic specialist Chris Rudd, No. 116, features 50 lots of delightfully detailed coins for sale along with an informative article by John Talbot on the coinage of the Iceni. To fi nd out more about subscribing to Chris’ lists log on to www.celticcoins.com or telephone Liz Cottram on 01263 735 007.

CANADIAN $1 and $2 coins will be subject to a make-over if the Royal Canadian Mint has its way. It plans to switch to steel-plated blanks and opt for laser etching and edge lettering for improved anti-counterfeiting measures.

ONE of the stars of the Heritage Auctions March 17–20 Signature event at the Sacramento Convention Centre was an 1796 half dollar which made $207,000 including 15 per cent Buyer’s Premium. To fi nd out more about the prices realised go to www.HA.com.

THE latest list from Stephen Betts is the most comprehensive he has produced, covering coins, tokens, countermarks, jettons and medallions. To obtain a copy telephone 0116 286 4434.

IN BRIEF

SOCIETY NEWS

News & viewsNews & views

Native American dollarTHE Great Comet of 1811 was fi rst seen during the war

between the United States and the American Indian Confederacy led by the charismatic Shawnee leader Tecumseh and was thence nicknamed “Tecumseh’s Comet”. To celebrate the centenary of its sighting the Shawnee tribe have issued a silver dollar coin similar to those they have legally issued since 2002 and which are marketed by Panda America. For more information visit www.PandaAmerica.com/Shawnee.


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News & views

Rarities at auctionMELBOURNE, will be the setting for International Auction Galleries of Australia’s rarities

sale. Held on June 2, the sale is being heralded as one of the most signifi cant numismatic events in Australian auction history. A lot generating a great deal of interest is the fi nest known circulation penny of 1930 (left)—last seen at auction in 1987 and currently estimated at £275,000. A specimen Proof 1914H fl orin, one of only three known, has also been consigned with an estimate of £135,000. A large selection of gold items is also on offer including an impressive James I Rose gold ryal, one of the best examples seen and estimated at £30,000. A number of old collections have returned to the market with far too many individual gems to mention here suffi ce to say this is a sale not to be missed. Catalogues (Sale 74) will be available from May onwards and can be downloaded at www.iagauctions.com or write to IAG, PO Box 1380, Broadbeach, QLD, 4218, Australia.

A specimen Proof 1914H fl orin, one of only three known, has also been consigned with an estimate A specimen Proof 1914H fl orin, one of only three known, has also been consigned with an estimate of £135,000. A large selection of gold items is also on offer including an impressive James I Rose gold of £135,000. A large selection of gold items is also on offer including an impressive James I Rose gold ryal, one of the best examples seen and estimated at £30,000. A number of old collections have returned ryal, one of the best examples seen and estimated at £30,000. A number of old collections have returned to the market with far too many individual gems to mention here suffi ce to say this is a sale not to be missed. to the market with far too many individual gems to mention here suffi ce to say this is a sale not to be missed.

Number one auctionCENTRAL London is the chosen location for Westminster Auctions’ very fi rst

sale. Held at The Savoy Hotel on May 1, a healthy number of coins has already been consigned in part due to the generous 0% seller’s commission. Notable items include Commonwealth and James I unites, 1681 Elephant & Castle crown and halfcrown, 1746 proof crown, a collection of rare Victorian coins including 1839 and 1841 halfcrowns, 1854, 1862 and 1863 fl orins and an 1850 shilling. You don’t have to be in the room to bid either as the sale features “live” bidding with the-saleroom.com. For viewing details and full venue address see the main advert on page 7 or contact proprietor Chris Taylor on 01362 638045 or email [email protected].

Birmingham Mint movesAFTER its apparent demise and sale of its main premises in 2003 the Birmingham

Mint was snatched from oblivion by Birmingham City Council who entered into a deal with two companies to keep part of the operation going. Now the Mint, which was fi rst established in 1794, has moved to Kidderminster in Worcestershire where the company already has an offi ce. The Mint are at present engaged in producing numismatic souvenirs of the Royal Wedding and Managing Director Angus Law assures us that the name is safe as “The Birmingham Mint is known throughout the world and to change the name would be quite stupid for us”.

ANA offi cialTHE American Numismatic Associ-

ation which will hold its annual World Fair of Money on August 16–20 in Chicago, has appointed Stacks Bowers Galleries as the offi cial “Pre-show and Convention Auctioneers” for this year and for the 2012 and 2013 Conventions. The auctions will have an extensive audience since the recent amalgamation of Bowers & Merena Auctions, Ponterio & Associates and Stack’s, and already a number of major collections have been consigned. World and ancient coins can still be entered in any of the auctions provided details are received before May 16.

For more details of the auctions and for consignment arrangements contact the auctioneers at 123 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019 or visit their website at www.stacksbowers.com.


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News & views

SPOTLIGHTNew Zealand society celebrates

THIS year marks the 80th anniversary of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and we offer them our hearty congratulations on reaching this auspicious milestone. The actual

date of the fi rst meeting was July 20, 1931 but that chosen for the celebrations is June 17/18, just ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup. The fi rst patron was the then Governor-General Lord Bledisloe who took a keen interest in the fl edgling Society with its 17 active members. The Society was fortunate in being able to play an important role in the introduction of New Zealand’s own fi rst coinage in 1933 and continues to have a consultative role, maintaining informal links with the Reserve Bank and NZ Post. Today the Society, which received its “Royal” status in 1947 meets regularly on the last Wednesday of each month at Turnbull House, following the early tradition as the original meetings were held in the sumptuous Turnbull Library. The Society produces a regular newsletter for its members as well as an annual Journal, in addition the progressive website offers members a number of additional benefi ts.

In today’s internet era there are very few coin fairs as such in New Zealand and most trading is done via the internet but to celebrate the anniversary a fair is being organised on June 17/18, with almost all major New Zealand dealers promising to attend. Those affected by the devastating earthquake in Christchurch on February 22 are being offered free places at the fair—the fi rst in Wellington for fi ve years. Another part of the celebrations this year members

will enjoy a walking tour of Wellington, taking in all the sites of numismatic interest, many of which have changed little since those early days. In addition to mark the occasion of the anniversary the Society have arranged for a number of the Hardie $1 banknote AAA prefi x to be overprinted and a special “Challenge” commemorative coin to be issued and available at the fair.

For more details visit the Society’s website at www.rnsnz.org.nz.

Record price for Swedish coinMARCH 17 in Osnabrück was the setting for a record breaking

coin—the 6 ducat piece of Queen Christina of Sweden (pictured left, top) reached a hammer price of 260,000 euros at Künker’s auction. The estimate for the gold piece from Riga had been 30,000 euros, however, the amazing price realised on the day is considered an auction record for a Swedish coin or even a coin of the Baltic states. The coin from 1644 was described as “extremely

fi ne to brilliant uncirculated“, and came with an impressive provenance. The second most expensive object from the Hagander

Collection was the 14.6 kilograms copper plate (pictured right), part of the “Riga trove”. Estimated at 75,000 euros it was eventually knocked down for 180,000 euros. The Philip II aureus (pictured lower left) in extremely fi ne condition and estimated at 25,000 euros sold for a hammer price of 52,500 euro. Ancient coins as well as Russian gold and other accumulations and collections all fared extremely well during what must have been a hectic week for Künker of Germany.

For full details of this and future sales contact the auctioneers on 0049 541 962020 or log onto www.kuenker.com.

16 Coin news

Collection was the 14.6 kilograms copper plate (pictured right), part of the “Riga trove”. Estimated at 75,000 euros it was eventually knocked the “Riga trove”. Estimated at 75,000 euros it was eventually knocked

For full details of this and future sales contact the auctioneers on 0049 541 962020 or log onto

Prices excel at Gorny & MoschTOP of the lots on offer at the Gorny & Mosch three sales over March 7 to 11, was

an extremely rare aureus of Aurelian depicting the emperor riding his horse on the reverse (pictured right). The virtually brilliant uncirculated coin achieved 50,600 euros (including 15 per cent Buyer’s Premium) against an estimate of 12,000 euros. Another highlight in the sale was in the Greek section when a gold stater from Panticapaeum achieved 40,250 euros against an estimate of 25,000 euros. Across the three sales, estimates were exceeded time and time again and in total the sales realised 5.2 million euros compared with an estimated 3 million euros. The next auction week of Gorny & Mosch will be held from October 10 to 14. To fi nd out more about the results of this auction and the details of the next log on to www.gmcoinart.de.

three sales, estimates were exceeded time and time again and in total the sales realised 5.2 million euros compared with an estimated 3 million euros. The next auction week of Gorny & Mosch will be held from October 10 to 14. To fi nd out more about the results of this

17Coin news


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.

Belgian Congo 10 francs banknote dated September 10, 1937 in high grade with one fold and rare.—£275.

This was indeed a lovely note which was started at £1 attracting 18 bids from nine bidders. It was in a job lot at a provincial auction which reached a hammer price of

£90. The good news for the eBay seller is that another two similar notes were

included, closely viewing a run-of-the-mill mixed lot has paid off handsomely. It would

be interesting if one of the two remaining notes was consigned to a traditional auction

house and prices realised compared.An exceptional opportunity to acquire a superb example of the extremely rare Edward VII 1905 florin in UNC condition. This is a highly sought after coin, listed in Spink 3981 and ESC 923 (English Silver Coinage) with a rarity level of [R2]. Spink 2011 Coins of England catalogue suggests £1,650 in unc. However, despite this, we have commenced bidding at just one pound with no reserve.—£1,017.75.

This coin attracted 22 bids from eight bidders with the winning bid being placed

with 14 minutes of the auction to go, unusually no last minute bids were placed.

It did have a few bag marks but the buyer should be happy as the seller has feedback in

the 1,000s with no negatives in the last 12 months.

Imitation Regal copper half-pence token dated 1787 rare. A splendid collectable

example of this rare imitation Regal copper half-pence token. Obverse reads AUCTORI PLEBIS. Reverse reads R.F.INDEP : ET LIBER 1787.—£280.The word “rare” to describe an item on eBay

is greatly overused but on this occasion it was justified. This appeared to be a

Post-Colonial token of Connecticut in the USA but as this was not mentioned in the listing the seller may have been pleasantly

surprised by the result.George II contemporary counterfeit halfpenny 1741, there were no genuine coins issued for this year, crude on a very thin flan, diameter of 28mm, grades near fine.—£183.

Most likely another seller surprised by the selling price of a seemingly uninteresting token. Enough collectors must have been

of the opinion that it was an imitation produced in the USA for it to reach this

price. I wonder if any of these valuable little pieces of copper lie unidentified in dealers’

junk boxes at coin fairs?A superb King James II “Gunmoney” halfcrown from April 1689. Large size, laureate and draped bust facing left. Reverse: Crown over two sceptres dividing JR, XXX above, month of issue below (Apr:) Scottish/Irish Spink: 6579N Stunning grade.—£256.56.

As these coins were emergency issues they are normally found worn and very often

pitted but this one was a beauty. It attracted

an enormous 36 bids from nine bidders and it would be very difficult to find a nicer

example.Official bronze Coronation medal of 1831 for the coronation of William IV and the Queen consort Adelaide. In absolutely superb condition with no apparent wear, probably because it is still in its original silk lined box of issue. According to the Medal Yearbook, there were only 1,133 of these bronze medals struck.—£108.51.This lovely medal which measured 3.3cm in

diameter was started at £59.99 but despite this it attracted eight bids from four bidders.

This is a 1905 Edward VII halfcrown. This is one of a number of coins which were bought in auction from the Glose collection of coins from Cornubia Hall in Cornwall in the early 1960s. Some of these coins were very expensive even back then. This is one of a vast collection of coins which I am selling off on eBay. I am not going to grade the coins as grading varies from one person to another. The coin shown in the photograph is the coin you will receive so please look at the photograph and judge the grades for yourself.—£795.

As would be expected this coin attracted the attention of collectors with 12 bidders

placing 24 bids. With the obverse appearing to be in fine condition and the reverse closer to VF the seller must have been pleased with

this result.


CN05/11

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Around the World

Super-sized lunar gold waxes strongDR K. A. RODGERS

THAT recent sale by Stacks-Bowers of an Australian $30,000 10 kilo gold Year of the Dog coin for $517,500 (COIN NEWS, March 2011) led me to recall an

earlier sale of large-sized lunar gold for prices well above spot.

Last August, Texas-based, Heritage Auction Galleries, announced Chinese coins had taken the top three slots in their world coin sale at Boston’s World’s Fair of Money. What made this report remarkable was that all were modern Lunar New Year coins. All were 1 kilo gold PRC 10,000 yuan. All were graded “Gem Ultra Cameo Proof” and all sold for well above the spot price of gold that was then running at about $38,500/kilo.

A Year of the Dog 2006 led the pack with a price of $162,627. It was closely tailed by a 2002 Year of the Horse and a 2005 Year of the Rooster, both of which brought $161,000.

Each of these pieces bore the highly auspicious number 8 that made them highly desirable for any Chinese collector. Each coin came with a numbered certifi cate of authenticity, as is the norm with collector issues these days, but each also had the number “008” stamped into the edge of the coin.

Today that number 8 is especially signifi cant. Classical Flying Star Feng Shui recognizes 20 year cycles identifi ed by numbers. Each cycle imparts different energies to one’s environment and fortune. The energies of some cycles invoke prosperity, some misfortune. At the moment we are in cycle 8. The Olympic Games opened on 8/8/8 not just because of the date but because we are in cycle 8. Hence, right now, coins specifi cally numbered 8 are the bee’s knees for Chinese collectors.

In addition these 10,000 yuan lunar coins came with high rarity value. The original mintage of each was 15 but rumour has it several of each have already gone into the melt pot increasing the rarity value of survivors.

I made a rapid mental note of all the above at the time but paid little more attention to the story until the Stacks-Bowers auction in January this year. Although there may have been earlier sales of large-sized lunar bullion, this was the next of which I was aware. By the way, that 2006 $30,000 10 kilo gold Year of the Dog “gem cameo proof” was #1 from an actual mintage of 7. At the time, gold was fetching $43,000/kilo.

But there was more! Three weeks later a PRC Year of the Snake 1989 brilliant proof 1,000 yuan containing 12oz of gold took $48,194 in Spink’s Hong Kong sale. This was coin #0000173 in a mintage of 200. The gold fi x on the day was $1,343/oz giving the coin a bullion value of $16,166.

Readers who fi nd this bemusing and perhaps indicative of something odd in the lunar waters, should remember that us collectors are a funny breed. Stateside, collectors cheerfully pay 4–5 times over spot for MS-70 slabbed 2010–11 silver eagles and up to $400 over spot for MS-70 slabbed 2010–11 gold buffalos. Just have a look on eBay.

While we are talking about eBay, it was here two years ago an Australian 2008 Rolf Harris $10 kangaroo 1/10th oz gold proof sold for an eye-watering $2,660. Gold was then selling for approximately $810/oz giving the coin an intrinsic value of just $81. Issue price was just twice spot A$175 and the mintage was 1,000.

There is a clear collectors’ market out there for rarer large gold—and silver—coins. If they are lunar-related and come with an “8” stamped on the side, so much the better. And, by the way, in Flying Star Feng Shui the number 5 is most inauspicious. Perhaps mints need to avoid using it on lunar coins, rather like avoiding Room 13 in hotels.

In passing, it seems many catalogues treat these larger sized gold coins with some disdain. Few bother to list them. The Krause Standard Catalog lists some but not others. The obvious desirability of these larger issues suggests cataloguers may wish to reconsider their approach.

Perth’s 2006 $30,000 10 kilo gold Year of the Dog. Sale price: $517,500; gold value: $430,000. (Image courtesy Stack’s-Bowers.)

China 1 kilo gold 10,000 yuan. From left: 2006 Year of the Dog sold for $162,627,2002 Year of the Horse sold for $161,000, 2005 Year of the Rooster sold for $161,000.

Gold value of each: $38,500. (Images www.ha.com)

(Image courtesy Stack’s-Bowers.)



Latest issues AUSTRALIA CZECH REPUBLIC

Theme: Treasures of Australia—PearlsMint: Perth MintDenomination: $1Diameter: 36.1mm (gold), 46mm (silver) Metal: Gold and silverMintage: 65,000Contact: Perth Mint, www.perthmint.com.au

Theme: 600th anniversary of the construction of the astronomical clock in Prague’s old town

Mint: Czech MintDenomination: 200 CrownDiameter: 31mm Metal: Silver and cupro-nickelMintage: 10,800Contact: Czech National Bank, www.cnb.cz

BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY ISRAEL

Theme: Royal wedding of HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton

Mint: Pobjoy MintDenomination: £2Diameter: 38.6mm Metal: SilverMintage: 10,000Contact: Pobjoy Mint Ltd, Millennia House, Kingswood Park,

Bonsor Drive, Kingswood, Surrey, KT20 6AY. www.pobjoy.com

Theme: 2012 Olympics—Israeli athletesMint: Bank of IsraelDenomination: NIS 1, NIS 2, NIS 10Diameter: 30mm (NIS 1), 38.7mm (NIS 2), 30mm (NIS 10)Metal: Silver (NIS 1 and NIS 2), gold (NIS 10)Mintage: 1,800 (NIS 1), 5,000 (NIS 2), 555 (NIS 10)Contact Coin Invest Trust, Rietstrasse 7,9496, Balzers,

Liechtenstein, www.coin-invest.li

CANADA LITHUANIA

Theme: HRH Prince WilliamMint: Royal Canadian MintDenomination: $15Diameter: 36.15mm Metal: Silver and cupro-nickelMintage: 10,000 Contact: Royal Canadian Mint, www.mint.ca

Theme: 150th anniversary of the birth of Gabriele Petkevicaite-Bite (writer and activist)Mint: Lithuanian MintDenomination: 50 LituDiameter: 38.61mmMetal: SilverMintage: 10,000Contact: Bank of Lithuania. www.lb.lt

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

Treasures of Australia—PearlsTheme:

Mint:

Theme: HRH Prince William

Theme: Royal wedding of HRH Prince William and Catherine Royal wedding of HRH Prince William and Catherine Royal wedding of HRH Prince William and Catherine Theme: 2012 Olympics—Israeli athletes2012 Olympics—Israeli athletes


24 Coin news

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News & views

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

London 2012—the “public’s” 50psTHE next round of designs of the new 50p coins issued to

celebrate London 2012 are featured in this month’s Bulletin. The 29 new coins, struck from designs submitted by the general public, depict the sports of the Olympic and Paralympic Games This month we feature the designs for a rather diverse range of disciplines—Handball, Rowing, Sailing and the Modern Pentathlon. In next month’s issue we will feature the remaining Olympic coins struck to commemorate this important and historic event. For full details of the London 2012 coin programme and their designers write to the Mint at the address below or go to their main website at www.royalmint.com.

Working for wildlifeFOUNDED back in the swinging sixties, the World

Wildlife Fund (WWF) has worked tirelessly to highlight and safeguard endangered species from around the world. To mark this important milestone in the Charity’s history, the Mint has issued a commemorative silver Proof 50p depicting a “naive” image of animals and plants under threat. The reverse design is by Matthew Dent and the incorporation of the Fund’s enigmatic Panda logo in the very centre of the coin is a nice touch. The obverse bears the familiar portrait of Her Majesty the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley, FRBS. Maximum coin mintage is 40,000. A portion of the purchase price will be donated by the Mint to the World Wide Fund for Nature. Further details can be found at www.royalmint.com/CNAPRB or call 0845 6088555.

Elizabeth I fi ne sovereignTHE fi ne sovereign of Elizabeth I pictured here was purchased from the

London coin dealer Lincoln for the Royal Mint Museum on 9 February 1914. It is a handsome coin and is one of only two sovereigns of

Elizabeth’s reign in the collection, but its signifi cance for the Museum extends beyond the addition of a new type of Tudor sovereign.

In August 1913 William Hocking was appointed as the fi rst Curator and Librarian of the Museum, in large part as recognition of his substantial contribution evidenced through the publication a few years before of his two-volume catalogue of the collection. His responsibility for the Museum having thus been recognised, he thought it appropriate to set up a new system of recording additions and an Accessions Register was duly established in 1914, the fi rst entry being this fi ne

sovereign of Elizabeth I. From that time on funds were made available for further additions under Hocking’s direction and as

a result a number of rare and interesting items now have a home in the Museum.

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.

TLondon coin dealer Lincoln for the Royal Mint Museum on 9 February 1914. It is a handsome coin and is one of only two sovereigns of

Elizabeth’s reign in the collection, but its signifi cance for the Museum extends beyond the addition of a new type of Tudor sovereign.

fi rst Curator and Librarian of the Museum, in large part as recognition of his substantial contribution evidenced through the publication a few years before of his two-volume catalogue of the collection. His responsibility for the Museum having thus been recognised, he thought it appropriate to set up a new system of recording additions and an Accessions Register was duly established in 1914, the fi rst entry being this fi ne

sovereign of Elizabeth I. From that time on funds were made available for further additions under Hocking’s direction and as

a result a number of rare and interesting items now have a home in the Museum.

The Royal Mint offers limited edition, gold, silver and base metal collector coins along with a range of precious art


26 COIN NEWS www.tokenpublishing.com May 2011

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May 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com 27COIN NEWSMay 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com 27COIN NEWS

Market scene

JOHN ANDREW

A good solid marketThere was one very happy vendor in this month’s round-up. Having purchased an album of banknotes at a general sale, he sold the “best” to pay for it and consigned what remained as an odd-job lot to a specialist auction house. He was a little surprised to receive a call to say that two of the notes would be offered in a single additional lot and was even more surprised when the two notes sold for a hammer price of £19,000. While there was good material on offer during the period of our review there was not a crop of choice rarities that the market currently loves. Although there was insuffi cient pieces to see a trend, I feel that “standard pieces” are a little soft at present.

The best place to see what is going on at an auction is from the auctioneer’s podium. The results of this sale refl ect the strength of the market, but the thing that struck Stephen Lockett in his role as auctioneer is that a year or two ago the then relatively new collectors dominated the market. Today they are being consistently outbid by a new wave of players.

Traditionally the coin market always becomes more buoyant when the bullion markets are lively. As Stephen commented after the sale, “Gold and silver prices being at record-breaking levels helps the coin market, and silver recently passed the £21.50 per ounce record set in 1980”. Apparently there seems to be an air of confi dence that silver will rise even further. It is felt that the real value of silver is still low compared to its 1980 high. There is also the view that the historical ratio of 16: 1 between gold and silver being quoted as “normal” means that silver should be over £50 an ounce. At the sale this resulted in the bullion silver lots being fi ercely contested. I seem to remember that in the late 1960s pre-1919 currency coin were worth a modest multiple of its face value. It was therefore interesting when “about £2” of sterling silver issues were offered described as “generally low grade, some damaged”. The lot sold for £140. Even more surprising was when a sum approaching £50 face value in pre-1947 silver (which is 500 fi ne as opposed to sterling) sold for £1,755.

Two English hammered coins caught my eye. The fi rst was a James I second coinage rose ryal with the rose mintmark for 1605–06. Described as a “strong and pleasing Good VF”, it was offered with a respectable £7,000–9,000 estimate but it failed to sell. Then there was a James I fourth bust unite with the cinquefoil mintmark for 1613–15. Apart from a striking weakness below the reverse crown and on the corresponding area on the obverse (but not as pronounced), overall the example is nearly extremely fi ne. Estimated at a punchy £1,500–2,000 it sold just below estimate at £1,638. This should not have been too much of a disappointment for the vendor. The English hammered silver was not particularly good and there were several passes. However, a pleasing Edward VI 1551 crown with a few minor edge nicks of no consequence, which was otherwise described as “bold GVF/VF”, sold for a respectable £3,042.

Best of the English milled gold was a 1688 second bust fi ve guineas. Apart from a slight striking weakness below the crown above the

London Coins Auctions—General Sale—March 5–6, 2011

English shield on the reverse, this piece that was described as having “much eye appeal”, was otherwise graded as “about VF/GF”. It sold just above estimate at a respectable £7,020. Top price in the British milled silver was for a 1934 crown. In fact, it was a top joint price as two were offered. Both coins had been graded by Coin Grading Service (CGS) as Unc 80, which is currently the joint fi nest of the nine wreath crowns so far in CGS’s Population Report. However, the coins were not the same—one was a currency issue, the other a proof. Both sold for the lower estimate of £4,680. The Coin Yearbook does not list a proof. However, Coincraft’s 1999 Standard Catalogue did list both the currency and proof issues—at £1,300 and £4,000 respectively in Unc. Whoever purchased the much rarer proof had the better buy. It is strange how sometimes the market does not differentiate between degrees of rarity.

In the world section there was plenty of interest in the Chinese offering when a small run of 20th century silver dollars were offered. Top price here was for a 1912 undated issue by Li Yuan-hung relating to the founding of the Republic. The variety on offer was with CIIINA instead of CHINA in the legend. Graded as 65 EF by CGS, it sold for triple its top estimate at £7,020. A US bidder who follows the Chinese market told Stephen Lockett that certain Chinese coins had increased 10 fold in the last year or two.

However, the surprise of the sale was in the banknote section. Having purchased an album of banknotes from a general furniture and paintings saleroom in the south of England, he sold what he believed to be the better notes to “get his money back”. He consigned what remained to London Coins Auction as a “job lot”. He was surprised to be contacted by the auctioneers before the sale to be told that two of the notes would be offered as a single lot with an estimate of £5,000–10,000. The remainder of the album was offered with an estimate of £50–100. Listed in the world banknotes section, it was described as containing “mixed grades and types with some higher European denominations”, it sold for £94.

The two notes that were destined to be sold as a single lot were both issued by the Malaya Board of Commissioners of Currency 1940 and feature the portrait of King George VI. One was a $1 and the other a $5, and both had low serial numbers (A/1 000128 and 144 respectively). Additionally both were stamped in red NOT

£1,638 was paid for the James I gold unite.

Edward VI silver crown dated 1551 sold for £3,042.

28 COIN NEWS www.tokenpublishing.com May 201128 COIN NEWS

Market scene

LEGAL TENDER and SPECIMEN ONLY NO VALUE. The notes were accompanied by an internal memo from the Singapore branch of The Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation to the bank’s Bangkok branch, together with an offi cial envelope for the latter branch. Apart from some rust marks and multiple pinholes at left, the notes are otherwise in good extremely fi ne to uncirculated state. Described by the cataloguer as “extremely rare and desirable”, the lot was contested to £22,230.

The banknote section also included 186 lots of English provincial notes, including a good representation from the north. Of these 161 were

from a single collection. The market proved to be a little thin in places and there were a number of unsolds. However, thanks to press releases sent to the local media, considerable interest was generated in certain areas (for example from local museums) and several notes surpassed all expectations. For example a cancelled Bedale branch £5 of Swaledale & Wensleydale Banking Company Ltd dated 1884 was offered with its signature cut but in about fi ne state. It sold for £515 against a top estimate of £200. Despite the unsolds, the owner of the main collection reached his target with those that did sell.

The sale totalled £514,603.

Dix Noonan Webb—Commemorative Medals—March 15, 2011

This sale began with the offering of the collection of British commemoratives

formed by David Corrick over 42 years. The 2,000-plus medals were

offered in 284 lots and realised £84,858. David had a passion for history but the trigger for becoming a collector was an article in Coin Monthly in 1967 and the chance purchase of a copy of a 1937 Illustrated London News that had an article on the Coronation medals for that

year. By the time David started his careeer in banking in 1971, he

was already a subscriber to Spink’s Numismatic Circular and Seaby’s Coin

& Medal Bulletin. Highlight of the early medals was a

silver medal by R. Arondeaux of 1685 that marked the execution of the Dukes of Monmouth and Argyll. Monmouth was an illegitimate son of Charles II and was living in exile in Holland when James II came to the throne. In 1685 he sailed to England, landed at Lyme Regis in Dorset (where there were many Protestant supporters) and laid

claim to the throne. There was to be a simultaneous rebellion by the Duke

of Argyll in Scotland. Needless to say, it all ended in tears and the two aristocrats

were beheaded at the Tower of London. Monmouth’s execution is famous for being

the most botched beheading undertaken at the Tower. The executioner was the bungling Jack

Kelch who was from all accounts not up to the job. Arriving on the scaffold, Monmouth picked up the axe asking Kelch if it was sharp enough. He begged him to expedite his demise giving him six guineas with a promise for the same sum again if he succeeded (how that was to be paid is a fl aw in the story). This unnerved Kelch and the fi rst blow just grazed the Duke’s neck. Having refused a blindfold the Duke turned and stared at Kelch, who became even more nervous. After a further two failed attempts, the executioner threw down his axe and offered 40 guineas to anyone in the crowd “to fi nish the job”. The Sheriff of Middlesex, who was offi ciating at the execution, threatened Kelch with the death sentence if he did not complete his duty. Following a further two unsuccessful blows, the executioner fi nished the Duke off with a knife. Having undergone this indignity, there was yet more for the Duke to endure. His family retrieved the body and had his head sewn back on so his portrait could be painted! Apart from a few minor marks, the medal is otherwise in extremely fi ne state. Estimated at £700–900, it was contested to a hammer price of £2,400, which is £2,880 with the Premium. Mr Corrick secured it from Glendining’s in November 1990 when the hammer price was a more modest £350. It would take an annual return of 9.25 per cent for this growth to be achieved. At the 1990 sale it was described as “a nice example”—and indeed it is despite the gruesome aspects of Monmouth’s end.

The top price in the collection was a mint state Edward VII 1902 Coronation gold medal. In its original Royal Mint leather case it was the top lot of the sale at £3,600 (£3,000 hammer). It

The $5 and the $1 brought an unexpected £22,230 for their lucky owner.

Highlight of the early medals was a silver medal by R. Arondeaux of 1685

that marked the execution of the Dukes of Monmouth and Argyll. Monmouth was an illegitimate son of Charles II and was living in exile in Holland when James II came to the throne. In 1685 he sailed to England, landed at Lyme Regis in Dorset (where there were many Protestant supporters) and laid

claim to the throne. There was to be a simultaneous rebellion by the Duke

of Argyll in Scotland. Needless to say, it all ended in tears and the two aristocrats

were beheaded at the Tower of London. Monmouth’s execution is famous for being

This sale began with the offering of the collection of British commemoratives

formed by David Corrick over 42 years. The 2,000-plus medals were

offered in 284 lots and realised £84,858. David had a passion for history but the trigger for becoming a collector was an

Newsthe Coronation medals for that the Coronation medals for that

year. By the time David started his careeer in banking in 1971, he

was already a subscriber to Spink’s Numismatic Circular

& Medal BulletinHighlight of the early medals was a

Numismatic Circular & Medal Bulletin

Highlight of the early medals was a

The Monmouth Execution medal sold for £2,880.

Strap

May 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com 29COIN NEWS

Market scene

29COIN NEWS

was acquired at St James’s Auctions in October 2004 for a hammer price of £1,050. To achieve this growth over seven years would require an annual return of 14 per cent. This neatly illustrates the impact of the bullion price on the market.

Elsewhere my attention was drawn to an 1908 Olympic Games participant’s silver medal. Un-named, it is in very fi ne condition. Estimated at £600–800, it sold for £276. Clearly we are not yet in Olympic mode.

The sale totalled £139,578. There were 59 vendors and 99 successful buyers.

This was a small but excellent sale which featured three collections as well as consignments from a further 79 individuals. First on the block was the third part of the collection of sixpences formed by the late Alfred Bole which realised a total of £77,922. The highlight here was a James I sixth bust sixpence with the lis mintmark for 1623–24. The coin leapt out from the page as being “distinctive”. In nearly very fi ne state, it is what I call a “good portrait” piece as the image of the King is pleasing, but that is just one aspect that makes this coin special. This is no ordinary currency issue, but an extremely rare piedfort. From the Earl of Duncie (1949) and later from the H. M. Lingford Collection (1951) this extremely rare piece was offered with an estimate of £1,200–1,500 but was contested to £4,680.

There were some very good coins in this collection. Although weak in places, the Edward VI sixpence with the tun mintmark for 1551–53 appealed as its portrait of the forward-facing “Boy King” is well-struck. With a general good very fi ne obverse and a nearly very fi ne reverse, it sold for £780. Another appealing piece was a 1562 Elizabeth I milled sixpence with bust D. Described as being better than very fi ne, it nearly doubled its top estimate at £900.

Top of the milled portion of the collection was a 1658 sixpence by an “unknown artist working in the Low Countries”. Apart from extensive die fl aws (particularly on the reverse) the piece is otherwise in about extremely fi ne state. It sold for more than double its top estimate at £4,200 (£3,500 hammer).

The Bole offereing was followed by the Jeffrey Gardiner Collection of Silver Coins of Elizabeth I. Top price here was for a shilling with the lis mintmark for 1558–60 and the 2A bust. Although the legends are a little weak in places the piece is otherwise in good very fi ne condition. It was contested to £1,260. There was a particularly good 1561 three-farthings on offer which is about the size of a shirt button. The legends are a little weak in places, but it is otherwise in very fi ne or better condition and has a good portrait. It sold for £264.

The third and fi nal collection placed on the block was the “property of a gentleman” and

was devoted entirely to the coinage of Edward VII. A 1902 proof set comprising the 13 coins from the gold £5 to the silver penny, sold for £3,600. Apart from showing some loss of its matt surface, the set is otherwise practically as struck. The top price was for a 1905 halfcrown which apart from a few surface marks and having been lightly cleaned at some stage, is otherwise nearly extremely fi ne. It realised £3,960. There was considerable interest in a 1905 shilling. Apart from a few rim nicks and a patchy bloom, it is otherwise in good extremely fi ne state. It was contested to £2,400. The collection totalled £22,932.

In the world section, there were strong prices from the African continent. Top price for the sale was the £20,400 paid for an unusual Griquatown (a country town in the Northern Cape Province)

rectangular gold ingot countermarked with

the town’s arms. Weighing 49.98 grams the ingot also has a later fi neness stamp of 999.9 and the impressed letters TJ and 31. A Thomas Burgers 1874 “fi ne beard” pond graded as fi ne or

better, was contested to £3,840 despite having

been removed from a mount at 12 o’clock and having other rim nicks and marks. An 1892 Paul Kruger currency set in a modern fi tted case also drew plenty of attention. Comprising the nine coins from the pond to the penny

(including the crown with a single shaft), the grading varied from very fi ne to extremely fi ne. The set soared to £3,120. There was also interest in the two German

East Africa coins offered. Both were Wilhelm II 1916 gold 15 rupien in about extremely fi ne state. They each sold for £2,640.

There was nothing particularly outstanding in the English/British section. However, what did catch my eye was an 1821 shilling described as “practically as struck with peripheral toning”. Estimated at an undemanding £150–200, it found a new home at £432. This was a good result for the vendor.

The 854 lots totalled £293,370 and there were only 36 unsolds. There were 173 successful buyers.

countermarked with

better, was contested

The piedfort James I sixpence was contested to £4,680.

German East Africa 15 rupien sold for £2,6740.

Top price of £20,400 was paid for the gold ingot from

Griquatown

Dix Noonan Webb—British and World Coins—March 16, 2011

1905 shilling realised £2,400.

Market sceneMarket scene

was devoted entirely to the coinage of Edward

The Edward VII Coronation medal realised the top price of £3,600.


Market scene

Brett Hammond’s e-mail said it all, “Yesterday’s auction was our most successful sale!” TimeLine’s sumptuous catalogues make me want to collect antiquities, but I must remain focussed! The top lot in the sale was for a William II cross in quatrefoil type penny issued at London and struck by the moneyer Bartholomew during the period 1089–92. This is an exceptional coin as it is near “as struck” on a full round fl an. It is enhanced by a light golden tone. Choice examples such as this are very rare. Not surprisingly the piece was well contested and the successful buyer had to pay £2,530.

Top of the ancients was a stater struck at Argos Amphilochikon, Akarnania (a district of Western Greece between the River Achelous and the Ionian Sea) circa 375–300 BC. Its reverse features the helmeted head of Aphrodite, the obverse Pegasos fl ying. In extremely fi ne

state, it was contested to £748, more than double its top estimate. Two examples of the very rare Brutus (“Caesar’s Assassin”) gold staters were

offered. Issued at Koson, Thrace, in the mid-1st century BC, the obverse features Brutus

standing between two lictors. Both are in extremely fi ne condition and they both sold for the lower estimate £748.

The best of the English milled was a William and Mary 1689 halfcrown (with only the caul of the crown frosted). Described as being “near

extremely fi ne, reverse better, some mint bloom, rare thus”, it sold for £748,

its top estimate. There was a very nice curiosity on offer: a Victorian 1862 penny with Victoria’s bust engraved to represent Mrs Ethel Cole wearing a bonnet, shawl and reading glasses. Mrs Cole was a leading character in the women’s

suffrage play How the Vote was Won written by Cicely Hamilton in

1909. The host coin is about fi ne, the engraving “fresh and skilful”. This rare and interesting piece of suffrage memorabilia was fought over to £207.

IMPORTANT NOTEUnless otherwise stated, the above prices are inclusive of the Buyer’s Premium. In other words, they are the hammer price plus the Premium. At London Coins the Premium is 17 per cent, while at DNW it is 20 per cent and at TimeLine it is 15 per

cent. Value Added Tax at 20 per cent is payable on the Premium.

TimeLine Auctions—Coins & Antiquities—March 18, 2011

Greece between the River Achelous and the Ionian Sea) circa 375–300 BC. Its reverse features the helmeted

extremely fi ne, reverse better, some mint bloom, rare thus”, it sold for £748,

its top estimate. There was a very nice curiosity on offer: a Victorian

suffrage play Won

1909. The host coin is about fi ne, the engraving “fresh and skilful”. This

sumptuous catalogues make me want to collect antiquities, but I must remain focussed! The top lot in the sale was for a William

fl an. It is enhanced by a light golden tone. Choice examples such as this are very rare. Not

Brutus (“Caesar’s Assassin”) gold staters were offered. Issued at Koson, Thrace, in the mid-

1st century BC, the obverse features Brutus standing between two lictors. Both are in

extremely fi ne condition and they both

extremely fi ne, reverse better, some extremely fi ne, reverse better, some

William & Mary halfcrown fetched £748.

William II’s “Cross in quatrefoil” type penny sold for £2,530.

£207 secured this engraved Victorian penny.


Insight

A silver, twenty-dollar commemorative coin of the “National Parks Series,” 2006, showing a canoe in Georgian Bay Islands (Lake Huron) National Park.

Many historians claim that without the canoe there would have been no fur trade, the profi table business that stimulated the exploration of the new country. It is noted that the fur-trading companies in Canada used canoes to carry their goods to distant trade posts and to bring back bales of beaver pelts. Beaver hats were the height of fashion in those days and the hat-making industries generated the incomes and wealth of many Canadians.

The aboriginal Canadians, now called the “First Nations” and mistakenly referred to as the “Indians” in the 16th to 20th century, invented the birch-bark canoe sometime before the 14th century. Apparently, the word “canoe” comes from the native term “kenu”, meaning a dugout tree trunk, the fi rst

type of water craft used by the early North Americans. The canoe was an ingenious vessel, made up of a wood frame of pine or cedar ribs, bent to shape and covered with the bark of birch trees. These trees grew throughout most of Canada but sometimes spruce and cedar bark were used. Interestingly from a numismatic point of view, early historians reported that the bark skin of a canoe was the thickness of an ecu, the contemporary French coin circulating in Canada, just three millimeters (1/8 inch) thick. The pieces of bark were stitched together with thin pine tree roots and the seams were sealed with melted pine or spruce sap, a natural resin. Repairs to damaged canoes could be easily made on voyages because all the materials needed were available in the surrounding forests.

The fi rst European to recognize the potential of the canoe as transportation in Canada was Samuel de Champlain, the founder of Quebec City and the governor of New France in 1620–29. He became familiar with this vessel from his trade relations with the Montagnais, Algonquian, Huron and Iroquois tribes living in what is now Quebec, Ontario and New York State. Champlain was an astute politician, successful fur merchant, accomplished cartographer and famous explorer, often called the “Father of New France”. He travelled into the unknown territories and several cities, rivers and lakes in North America were named after him.

The fi rst Canadian coin to formally illustrate a canoe was the silver, crown-sized dollar, issued in 1935 to celebrate the Jubilee of King George V. Often called the “Voyageur Dollar”(above), this coin was designed by the Canadian sculptor, Emanuel Hahn and featured a canoe fi lled with bales of fur pelts,

The famous “Voyageur”, Canadian silver dollar showing the canoe used in early Canada.

NOVICE coin collectors, more familiar with the elaborate and grand designs engraved on coinage, are sometimes surprised to fi nd that the reverses of many Canadian coins display a simple,

aboriginal birch-bark canoe. In fact, over the centuries the canoe has become a symbol associated with Canada and a short review of history will show why such a modest craft is an appropriate theme for the national coinage. History books record that the canoe was the only practical method of transportation in early Canada and was used to open up the country for commerce and exploration. Most nations in those days relied on the horse to perform this task but early eastern Canada was a rugged land of dense forests and impenetrable underbrush so horses were useless as beasts of burden. Fortunately, this rugged terrain was interconnected by numerous streams, ponds, rivers, lakes and inland seas, and the native birch-bark canoe could travel through all these bodies of water. For this reason, the canoe became a part of Canada’s heritage and could be considered an emblem for the nation far superior to the maple leaf or the beaver, the two most commonly used symbols. Up until the 1970s, almost everyone in Canada was familiar with the traditions of the canoe, and to own or just paddle one was a “rite of passage” for all young Canadians. Many coin collectors have fond memories of their youthful canoe trips through the beautiful and rivers and lakes of the National Parks in Canada and appreciate the coins struck by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2006 that commemorated the parks and pay homage to these great open spaces and the canoes used to explore them.

coin collectors, more familiar with the elaborate and grand designs engraved on coinage, are sometimes surprised to fi nd that the reverses of many Canadian coins display a simple,

aboriginal birch-bark canoe. In fact, over the centuries the canoe has become a symbol associated with Canada and a short review of history will show why such a modest craft is an appropriate theme for the national coinage. History books record that the canoe was the only practical

The famous “Voyageur”, Canadian silver dollar showing the canoe used in early Canada.

MARVIN TAMEANKO

A TRIBUTE TO THE

CANOE ON CANADIAN COINAGE


Insight

paddled by a French-Canadian and a First Nations tribesman. The coin is a simple but elegant and balanced composition that is pleasing to the eye and captures the essence of the Canadian wilderness. The canoe is shown passing an island in a lake with the “Northern Lights”, the Aurora Borealis, shimmering in the sky behind. This design became the popular canoe reverse used on most Canadian silver dollars and many other coins in later years.

The fi rst silver dollar struck in Canada in 1935 commemorating the Jubilee of King George V, and showing a canoe in a Canadian setting.

While most fur merchants waited comfortably in Montreal for the arrival of the First Nations middlemen who collected the beaver pelts from the distant tribes, other enterprising, French-Canadian traders, canoed into the far north and traded for pelts directly with the more remote natives. These adventurers were called “coureurs de bois”, translated as “wood-runners”, a name often used as a derogatory term to imply “outsiders.” These men were tough, hardy travellers unafraid of the wilderness; two of the most famous coureurs de bois were Pierre Esprit Radisson and Medard Chouart Groseilliers. They paddled their canoes far into the north to trade with the Illinois, Sioux and Cree tribes living around Lake Superior and they also mapped several of the large rivers that fl owed into Hudson Bay, then called “the North Sea”. This large body of water merged with the Arctic Ocean and had been discovered in 1610 by the English explorer, Henry Hudson. In 1670, these two French-Canadian woodsmen convinced the English in London to establish the Hudson’s Bay Company and to purchase furs by establishing trading posts, called factories, at the mouths of the rivers emptying into the Bay. From these depots, the English intercepted the furs being carried south to the merchants in Montreal and shipped them directly to England through the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans.

The coureurs de bois became so successful as independent traders that the Montreal merchants commissioned them as agents to trade on their behalf. In response to this, the English fur trading companies, such as the Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company, hired them as employees to

A painting by J. H. De Rinzy, 1897, showing Samuel de Champlain on a canoe trip with two First Nations companions.

A painting by Frances Anne Hopkins of Voyageurs shooting the rapids, 1879.

carry goods to the First Nations and bring back beaver pelts. These company men, called “voyageurs”, were remarkable frontiersmen, usually of French-Canadian or Scottish origin. Ironically, historians commented that only the Canadians and Highland Scots had suffered from enough hardship and poverty to qualify for the tough life in the canoe. The companies expected their Voyageurs to work their paddles at an average rate of 45 strokes per minute, for 12 hours a day, and then hauled one of the 40-kilogram (90 pounds) packs of trade goods or pelts on their backs overland on long portages. Some men carried two or even three packs, earning a bonus payment of a silver, Spanish “Pillar Dollar” for each additional bundle. To honour the hard-working Voyageurs, the Royal Canadian Mint struck a commemorative 25 cent piece in 1999, showing them hard at work in their canoe.

25 cent coin struck as part of the 1999 “Commemorative Series”: the month of May coin, honouring the Voyageurs by showing them paddling a canoe across a lake.

The most diffi cult work for the voyageurs was “shooting the rapids”. Rapids are fast fl owing stretches of rough, falling water full of rocks, and paddling a canoe through them required skill and bravery. This was the most dangerous part of a voyage and artists often pictured a canoe shooting the rapids to illustrate the hardships of a voyageur’s life. Perhaps the best known painting of a canoe in the rapids was painted in 1879by an English woman, Francis Anne Hopkins, the young wife of the chief “factor” (offi cer) of the Hudson’s Bay Company, who often accompanied her husband on his inspection tours through Canada.

Mrs Hopkins became one of the fi ne artists depicting early life in Canada and her dramatic paintings inspired the reverse designs of some of the Canadian commemorative coins. For example, a non-circulating, 200 dollar gold coin was struck in 2005 showing voyageurs shooting the rapids in a scene similar to the one painted by her in 1879.


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Canadian 200 dollar gold coin of the “Art Series”, struck in 2005, showing voyageurs shooting the rapids. Inspired by the 1879 painting by Frances Anne Hopkins.

The fur companies used two sizes of canoes, the largest poetically called the “canot du maitre”, the “canoe of the master”. This boat, the freighter of the company’s fl eet, was 12 metres (40 feet) long, crewed by 8 to 12 men, and could carry 2,700 to 3,600 kilograms (3 to 4 tons) of cargo. The boat was so strong and light that, when taken overland “on portage” between bodies of water, it could be carried by only four men. In addition, it was extremely buoyant, with so shallow a draught that, fully loaded, it fl oated in only 30 centimeters (one foot) of water. Fortunately for historians, Frances Anne Hopkins painted a fi ne picture in 1867 of a Hudson Bay Company canot du maitre with herself and her husband sitting in the vessel.

A painting of a “canot du maitre” crossing a lake, 1869. The female passenger to be seen in the centre of the vessel is the artist of the painting, Frances Anne Hopkins.

The smaller type of canoe was called the “canot du nord”, the “canoe of the north”. It was paddled by no more than six men and was used to trans-ship smaller loads, usually of only 1,400 kilograms (1½ tons), up rivers to the more remote trading posts. It was also used as an express canoe to carry messages, passengers and explorers.

Remarkably, the basic design and construction of the canoe remained unchanged for 1,000 years and in 1750 Canadians established the fi rst factory to mass produce birch-bark canoes in Trois-Riviers, Quebec, making canoe building the oldest manufacturing industry in the country.

From the ranks of the coureurs de bois and voyageurs came the great Canadian pathfi nders. These men began by seeking new tribes to trade with but later expanded their activities into mapping the land, exploring unknown regions and discovering new routes to the west. Several of these explorers are famous in North American history. Samuel de Champlain in 1615 paddled up the Ottawa River to Lake Huron and became the fi rst European to see this large inland sea that led to the West. Also in 1615, a coureur de bois named Etienne Brule was the fi rst European to set foot on the north shore of Lake Ontario at the site of the modern-day City of Toronto. This was an assembly area for the First Nations coming down from Lake Huron before traveling to Montreal. Some historians believe the name Toronto comes from the Indian term for “meeting place” but others suggest it is derived from the Mohawk (Iroquois) word “tkaronto”, meaning “where there are trees standing

in the water”. In 1984, to mark the sesquicentennial (150th anniversary), of the incorporation of the city of Toronto, the mint struck a commemorative silver dollar showing a canoe on Lake Ontario with the modern-day skyline of Toronto behind.

A commemorative silver dollar struck in 1984 for the sesquicentennial of the City of Toronto showing the traditional canoe design in honour of Etienne Brule.

Other explorers such as Cavalier de La Salle, crossed Canada by canoe to the source of the Mississippi River, and in 1682 paddled down that great waterway to its delta in the Gulf of Mexico. Pierre, Sieur de La Verendrye, mapped the system of rivers and streams that crossed the prairies from the Great Lakes and reached Wyoming by canoe in 1734, becoming the fi rst European to see the Rocky Mountains from the landside. Samuel Hearne, an employee of the Hudson’s Bay Company, crossed the Great Lakes by canoe, discovered the rivers fl owing into Hudson Bay and explored down the Coppermine River in 1771 until he reached the Arctic Ocean. Alexander Mackenzie, another employee of the Company, discovered the mighty Mackenzie River that fl owed into the western Arctic Ocean. In addition, in 1793 he crossed Canada by canoe to reach the North West Pacifi c Ocean, fully 12 years before the more famous expedition of the Americans, Meriwether and Clark, travelled overland and reached the shore of the Pacifi c. A silver dollar commemorating the discovery of the Mackenzie River was struck by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1989 showing Mackenzie and his crew shooting the rapids of the river.

A commemorative silver dollar coin struck in 1989 to commemorate the discovery of the Mackenzie River.

All these famous explorers used the canoe on their expeditions, sometimes for distances as long as 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles). Undoubtedly, after he reached the Pacifi c, Mackenzie commemorated the strength and reliability of his canoe when he mixed vermilion powder with grease and proudly wrote on a cliff face, “Alexander Mackenzie, from Canada by land, the twenty-second of July, 1793”.

In that year, when Mackenzie’s canoe slid out of the rainy Bella Coola River in modern-day British Columbia, into the North Pacifi c Ocean, he was completing a voyage undertaken by Christopher Columbus, 301 years earlier, who set out to fi nd a route to the Far East but instead, discovered a new continent. Mackenzie’s voyages defi ned the north and west limits of this enormous land mass and mapped its boundaries. Unfortunately, the canoe Mackenzie used on his expedition had no name, such small vessels were never given one, but if it did have a name it would be inscribed in history alongside all the other famous ships that participated in the discovery of North America.

34 COIN NEWS

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Detector’s notebook

So when I stumbled upon a small rural Roman site in 2007 I decided to put some time and effort into meticulously searching the site whilst identifying as many of the coins as possible. And what an eye opening exercise this turned out to be, with several surprises along the way, not least the fact that becoming an emperor of Rome was not always a good career move because it was often a precarious and short-lived occupation.

Early Roman coins are not common fi nds so it is always pleasing when they turn up in reasonable condition, such as the lovely 31mm bronze Faustina Senior sestertius (Fig. 2) bearing the obverse legend “DIVA FAVSTINA”. Faustina was popular and did charitable work especially providing education for the poor girls of Rome. She died in AD 141 and was much mourned by her husband Antoninus Pius who had her deifi ed and then produced an enormous number of coins in her honour. This particular sestertius was struck around or after AD 147 and weighs 26.4g so you wouldn’t want too many of these in your pocket when near water.

The site delivered a second sestertius but this time in more typical condition (Fig. 3). It is another issue of Antoninus Pius with a reverse depicting Annona standing right with her left foot on the prow of a ship whilst holding the rudder and a modius. Although only about 15 years younger, this coin

measures 28.5mm and weighs 24g and is made from brass rather than bronze.

The 2007 searches produced about 60 bronze coins, mostly too damaged to identify other than to see that some were rather common Constantine dynasty issues with soldiers either side of one or two standards, or Valens with Victory advancing left holding a palm. There were three exceptions though, the fi rst being a small coin (Fig. 4) which is a bit of an enigma for numerous reasons.

For a start it is in the style of a denarius but made from a dark, almost black, copper alloy implying that it is a contemporary forgery that was once silver plated. Sadly it has been heavily clipped, perhaps as the result of the forgery being discovered, so now measures just 14mm. This in turn has rendered the obverse legend very diffi cult to read clearly, but it does seem to spell out “IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG” making it a coin of Gordian I.

If so, then this is a special coin despite being a forgery. Gordian was an octogenarian when he came to power in AD 238, but almost as soon as he accepted the purple he had to send his co-emperor son to quash an uprising. This culminated in the battle of Carthage where the son was killed. Just 21 days after taking offi ce Gordian got news of his son’s death and promptly committed suicide. It is impressive to think that

COINS FROM AROMAN SETTLEMENT

JOHN BROMLEY

DESPITE having a few years of metal detecting experience under my belt, during which time I have found many Roman coins, I have to admit that for me identifying Roman coins was always a bit of a nightmare. This is because most metal detector found coins, especially bronze ones, come out of the soil in appalling condition with illegible

legends and only the faintest relief detail remaining (Fig. 1) making it diffi cult to even identify the various reverse designs.

Figure 1. Selection of typical 4th century Roman Grots.

Figure 2. Faustina Senior sestertius Rome AD 147.

Figure 3. Antoninus Pius sestertius AD 160s.

Figure 4. Gordian I denarius forgery AD 238.

36 COIN NEWS

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www.tokenpublishing.com May 201136 COIN NEWS www.tokenpublishing.com May 2011


even within three weeks his coinage was being copied by the forgers and one such coin found its way to a farmstead in rural Gloucestershire.

The second coin was a 21mm antoninianus of Victorinus (Fig. 5) who was a usurper emperor in the western empire between AD 268 and 270. This coin has the obverse legend “IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG” and the reverse legend “PIETUS AVG” whilst also depicting Pietus standing left with an altar at his feet. Like most of Victorinus’s coins this one was minted at Cologne. However Victorinus was murdered by one of his own offi cers in Cologne after two years in power.

The third coin was another antoninianus, this time a 22mm issue of Allectus minted AD 293–96 (Fig. 6). The reverse has a mintmark of “C” in the exergue which is an uncertain mint, although many believe that it stands for Camulodunum (Colchester). It also shows Fides standing left whilst holding two military standards with the legend “FIDES MILITUM” meaning “the faithfulness of the army”. This legend is a bit ironic considering so many emperors took power through military force and usually lost it again through military force. Like many emperors, Allectus was no saint. He assassinated his predecessor Carausius but was then himself killed in battle at Silchester in AD 296 by the forces of Constantius who was determined to break Allectus’ control in the west.

Like many Roman sites it also produced some Bronze Age axe fragments and a superb late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age fl int scraper during those fi rst few searches in 2007. I also found two pieces of late Bronze Age pottery which hinted at early occupation, so even then I thought to myself that there might be Celtic coins in the soil.

The searches of 2008 produced a small number of bronze coins and another Bronze Age axe fragment, once again bringing thoughts of Celtic coins to mind. Sadly modern farming methods sees soil disked to a depth of 4–6 inches, rather than a deep plough turning the soil over, and as most metal detector coin fi nds are in the top 4–6 inches I did wonder if the site was “searched out” after my intensive 2007 searches. So when I returned in the autumn of 2009 after the fi eld had been disked again, I was not expecting too much. However when a number of small bronze coins surfaced I began another methodical search of the site.

Then it happened, on a sunny September morning. A typical contact left me holding a 13.25mm silver coin and clearly visibly on the reverse was a triple tailed horse (Fig. 7). At last the site had delivered a Celtic coin by way of an uninscribed silver unit of the Dobunni. But things just got better because 10 yards away there was another Celtic coin quietly awaiting my coil, this time a 12.5mm uninscribed “Selsey Dahlia” type quarter stater of the Atrebates (Fig. 8). Sadly the reverse is struck off-centre, so part of the horse’s head is missing, but it is a lovely coin nonetheless.

By now it was obvious that most of the coins were coming from a specifi c line through the fi eld and I wondered if this was a former track leading to the main habitation area. So I approached the owner of the adjacent farm where I explained my theory. He kindly gave me search permission so I quickly extended my search into the relevant fi eld.

Sadly the fi eld was devoid of Roman fi nds but I did spot a pottery scatter in an adjacent fi eld so turned my attentions there. Within minutes Roman coins and artefacts were popping out of the ground. One was a 22mm follis of Maximinus II (Fig. 9) minted AD 308–13 depicting Genius standing left and holding a patera. The legend reads “GENIO POP ROM T F” which is an abbreviated form of the “The Genius of the Roman People” in celebration of the fl eets of ships bringing corn from Africa to feed the huge population of Rome.

The reign of Maximinus ended during an internal power struggle for control of parts of the empire between himself and three other emperors. His army suffered a massive defeat and he fl ed to Tarsus when he became besieged by the troops of Licinius. Maximinus became ill but it is unknown whether it was through disease or poisoning and he died a miserable death in Tarsus in AD 313.

There followed two more folles, both of Constantine I, both with Sun and the reverse legend “SOLI INVICTO COMITI”, which translates as “to the sun, my invincible companion”, which is indicative of pagan sun worshipping. The fi rst, minted between AD 310 and 313 is 22mm, whilst the second coin (Fig. 10), minted AD 316, is a “reduced” follis of only 20mm. The mint mark “BTR”, for the Trier mint, is clearly visible on this coin.

Already it was clear that this second Roman area was much smaller that the main site just over 150 yards away, yet it was

Figure 5. Victorinus antoninianus Cologne AD 268–70.

Figure 6. Allectus antoninianus Colchester AD 293–96.

Figure 7. Dobunni uninscribed unit 30–15 BC.

Figure 8. Atrebates uninscribed quarter stater 55–45 BC.

Figure 9. Maximinus II follis AD 308–13. Figure 10. Constantine I follis Trier AD 316.

Figure 11. Constantine I AE3 Trier 322–23. Figure 12. Constantius II AE3 Trier AD 330–31 Figure 13. Constans centenionalis Aquileia AD 348–50.



producing coins in much better condition. Whether this is due to land use over the centuries or whether this second area was a place of worship, receiving new coinage as votive offerings, we will never really know.

The 20mm AE3 of Constantine I (Fig. 11) minted about AD 322–23, is another nice example from the new site. The reverse depicts a globe set on altar inscribed “VOTIS XX” with three stars above and the legend “BEATA TRANQVILLITAS”, meaning joyful or blesses tranquillity. The coin has “PTR” in exergue, for the Trier mint.

Not far way was an AE3 of Constantius II (Fig. 12) with the common “GLORIA EXERCITVS” reverse depicting two soldiers with standards between them. Again the mint is Trier as denoted by “TRP” in the exergue, and the coin was minted AD 330–31, but measuring 17.5mm it shows yet another reduction in the size and weight of Roman coins. Once again we have an emperor beset with wars. After being delayed by a Persian confl ict, Constantius II was marching toward the Danube to put down another barbarian uprising when he was struck down with fever and died.

Because the second Roman area was so small I was soon back on the main site and promptly found a 21mm centenionalis of Constans (Fig. 13) which was minted at Aquileia AD 348–50. This coin shows a soldier dragging a barbarian from a hut under a palm tree. Constans too suffered from the fi ckleness of the army when his own legions joined a revolt led by Magnentius. Constans fl ed toward Spain but was overtaken and murdered at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains.

The last acceptable bronze coin is a 17mm AE3 of Valens (Fig. 14) with “CON” in the exergue, showing it was minted

at Arles (now called Constantina) between 364 and 378. It is a fairly common design showing Victory advancing left holding a wreath and a palm. Although Valens managed to last for 14 years as emperor, he met a similar fate to so many predecessors when he was killed in battle trying to suppress a barbarian uprising on the Danube.

An indication of the rampant infl ation crippling the Roman Empire toward the latter half of the 4th century comes from a number of small bronze coins and minims ranging from 7 to

13mm (Fig. 15). Most of these retain too little detail to be able to identify them.

It is generally accepted that the average metal detectorist fi nds about 100 Roman

bronze coins for every silver one, and about 100 silver for every gold one. The main site produced a single silver coin in the form of a rather nibbled

antoninianus (Fig. 16), produced some time in the latter half of the 3rd century. These coins saw signifi cant debasement until they contained 10 per cent or less silver, known as billon, before being replaced by the bronze antoninianus mentioned earlier in the article.

Two further silver coins were found on the second site and both were

Siliqua of Julian II minted AD 360–63. The better of the two (Fig. 17) has an

eagle in a medallion at the top of the wreath and “TCONST” in the exergue, for the Arles mint.

The dark colour of the coin indicates that it is made from good quality silver. And surprise, surprise; Julian II was killed in battle against the Persians.

Although many of the coins are not in particularly good condition, I found researching them and the emperors they depict a fascinating exercise and it really opened my eyes to the diversity and complexity of Roman coinage.

Not far way was an AE3 of Constantius II (Fig. 12) GLORIA EXERCITVS” reverse

depicting two soldiers with standards between them. Again the mint is Trier as denoted by

” in the exergue, and the coin was minted AD 330–31, but measuring 17.5mm it shows yet another reduction in the

toward the Danube to put down another

13) which was minted at Aquileia AD 348–50. This coin shows a soldier dragging a barbarian from a hut under a palm tree. Constans too suffered from the fi ckleness of

able to identify them.It is generally accepted that the average metal detectorist fi nds about 100 Roman

bronze coins for every silver one, and about 100 silver for every gold one. The main site produced a single silver coin in the form of a rather nibbled

antoninianus (Fig. 16), produced some time in the latter half of the 3rd century. These coins saw signifi cant debasement until they contained 10 per cent or less silver, known as billon, before being

Siliqua of Julian II minted AD 360–63. The better of the two (Fig. 17) has an

eagle in a medallion at the top of the wreath and “TCONST” in the exergue, for the Arles mint.

The dark colour of the coin indicates that it is

Figure 14. Valens AE3 Arles AD 364–78.

Figure 15. Small bronzes and minims late 4th century.

Figure 16. Radiate antoninianus mid-late 3rd century.

Figure 17. Julian II siliqua Arles AD 360–63.

“ . . . Opened my eyes to the diversity and complexity of Roman coinage . . . ”


GB gold coins

M. J. HughesPO Box 1515Kingston Upon ThamesKT1 9UE

Tel: 07917160308

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.GBgoldcoins.co.uk

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

Always interested in buying any coins - Extremely competitive prices paid!

Please get in touch for a no obligation quote, or if you need a little advice.

www.GBgoldcoins.co.uk


At the time of his death, George VI’s eldest daughter and successor, Elizabeth, was in Kenya with her husband, Prince Philip. The Royal couple fl ew home as quickly as possible but were delayed by inclement weather. On arrival in London, they were greeted by a very sombre Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

The funeral of George VI took place on February 15, 1952. The late King was buried in the Royal Vault at Frogmore, Windsor. In 1969, his remains were transferred to the King George VI Memorial Chapel. His mother, the widow of George V, Queen Mary of Teck, died just over a year after her son, on March 24, 1953.

The deaths of George VI and Queen Mary were indeed, sad events for the British people. Their passing, however, would signal the beginning of one of the longest and most prosperous reigns in British history.

The Coronation of Elizabeth II, the fi rst to be televised, took place on June 2, 1953 in Westminster Abbey. It was a magnifi cent spectacle. The Queen had already engaged in various Royal responsibilities such as the distribution of the Maundy money in 1952 and 1953.

In keeping with tradition, coins bearing the new monarch’s portrait were struck but only released to the public from around the time of the Coronation. However, in late 1952, sixpences, threepences, halfpennies and farthings with the late King’s portrait were minted to cope with economic demand. These coins, dated 1952, continued to be struck and issued into 1953.

Most of Elizabeth II’s 1953 coinage show her portrait, facing right, designed by Mrs Mary Gillick. However, this charming image was not used on the crown of the coronation year, which is the focus of this article.

Some background information might be useful here. Since the reign of James I, medals had been struck in various metals to commemorate the Coronation of the new monarch. It had become customary for these medals to be distributed to the crowds lining the Coronation route. The last time that this had occurred was for the Coronation of George IV in July 1821. After that date, Coronation medals were minted and sold to the general public, a practice that continued up to the time of

George VI. Over the years, general interest in such medals had waned. The 1953 Coronation Crown was therefore issued as a kind of replacement for the Coronation Medal.

The 1953 Coronation Crown’s obverse is distinctive in that it shows Her Majesty mounted on a horse. The Queen’s steed, a police horse named Winston (after Sir Winston Churchill), is on a plinth (below which is a small wreath) and walks to the left. The Queen is dressed in her uniform as Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, as worn by Her Majesty during the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony. The surrounding legend reads “ELIZABETH.II. DEI. GRATIA. BRITT OMN. REGINA. FIDEI. DEFENSOR. FIVE SHILLINGS”. Royal ciphers (the Queen’s crowned initials, “E II R”), are located on either side of the horse. The designer of the obverse was the distinguished British sculptor, Gilbert Ledward. His initials can be found behind Winston’s near hind hoof. This design recalled the splendid equestrian portraits of Edward VI (1547–53), James I (1603–25) and Charles I (1625–49). Indeed, the 1953 crown was the fi rst to carry an equestrian portrait since the time of Charles I.

The reverse is unusual in that it has no legend. Rather, it shows the cruciform shields of England (two), Scotland and Ireland. A crown is in the centre and a rose, thistle, shamrock and leek grace the angles. The date, 1953, is separated by the leek. Two gentlemen, Edgar Fuller and Cecil Thomas, co-designed the reverse. Their initials appear below the Irish and English shields, respectively. The edge is inscribed with part of the Coronation Oath: “FAITH AND TRUTH I WILL BEAR UNTO YOU”.

These coins proved to be extremely popular. Nearly six million pieces were struck as a normal issue plus another 40,000 proof specimens. The proof coins were minted for inclusion in the “long” proof sets of that year. In addition, a limited number of so-called “VIP” proof pieces, with heavily frosted relief designs and highly polished fi elds, were minted as well as an even smaller mintage of matt-proof coins.

Over the years, the 1953 Coronation Crown has retained its popularity. It heralded the beginning of the glorious second Elizabethan Age that has endured to this day.

ON February 6, 1952, King George VI, died in his sleep, aged 56. In September of the previous year, he had had a portion of one of his lungs removed due to “structural changes”. However, the King had been a

heavy smoker and eventually died of a coronary thrombosis.

RAYMOND PALERMO

The Elizabeth IICoronation Crown

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International Association of Professional Numismatists IAPN

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

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Strap


Collector’s notebook

Probably the most famous English coin design is the St George and the Dragon by Benedetto Pistrucci, which fi rst made its appearance on the British sovereigns of 1817. The original sketch for this shows a raised arm instead of an arm in

the lowered position that we fi nd on the coins. The sketch bears a startling resemblance to a sestertius of Titus, minted in AD 72, and a medallion by Benvenuto Cellini showing Francis I striking Fortune. Was Pistrucci infl uenced by one of these pieces?

I HAVE been interested in coins since the late 1950s. For most of that time I have been focused on the English Milled series but, since 2005, I have been interested in ancient coins and the way their designs have infl uenced later coins. This has led to a fascination for fi nding the origins of coin motifs: tracing coin designs to their very beginnings and

I’d like to share my investigations with COIN NEWS readers.

CLASSICAL INFLUENCE

The “horseman brandishing spear” motif goes back to the didrachmas of Gela 490 BC (a)

From Gela it infl uenced the coin designers of Tartentum (281 BC) (b) and from there most of the ancient states and tribes, including the coin designers of Celtic Britain. The motif then infl uenced Roman coin designers such as seen on this sestertius of Titus minted AD 72 (c), and later, Benve-nuto Cellini (1500–71) (d).

and from there most of the ancient states and tribes, including the coin designers of Celtic Britain. The motif then infl uenced Roman coin designers such as seen on this sestertius of Titus minted AD 72 (c), and later, Benve-nuto Cellini (1500–71) (d).

a.

b. b.

c.

d. The warrior’s arms on these pieces are raised, just like the arm in Pistrucci’s initial sketch of St George (see Forrer, Volume I).

Did these pieces have any infl uence on

Pistrucci’s St George design?

ALAN MEADOWCROFT


Collector’s notebook

Is this half-stater minted Kroisos in Lydia 561 to 546 BC the fi rst example of a lion and a bull facing each other on a coin?

A tetradrachm from Akan-thos, circaq 420 to 395 BC, showing how the lion and bull theme has developed.

The horse-backed warrior as a coin design goes back to the didrachmas struck at Gela in Sicily around 490 BC. This same design then infl uenced the coins of Tartentum and was a persistent theme among the ancients.

Another ancient coin theme is the reverted head of an animal. The earliest example of this was struck on a stater fraction at Ephesos in 600 BC. More than 300 years later the Ephesians struck a really beautiful drachm showing an animal in virtually the same position.

Helmeted profi les have featured on coins from ancient to modern times. Probably the fi rst such profi le is to be found on a stater struck at Lycia circa 500 to 460 BC.

The standing fi gure of Athena (or Minerva to the Romans) holding a spear, enjoyed a long popularity on ancient coins.

The earliest example I have been able to fi nd is a silver litra struck at Kamarina 460 to 440 BC.

The juxtaposed heads of a lion and bull was popular on ancient coins and is fi rst found on a half-stater minted by Kroisis in Lydia 561 to 546 BC. This evolved into a design found on a tetradrachma from Akanthos circ 420 to 395 BC. This shows a lion devouring a bull. This is so realistic that it must have been deliberately staged just for the design. If so, it’s diffi cult to think of a more disgusting example of animal abuse.

The most persistent coin motif of them all is, of course, the profi led head. My investigations suggest that the fi rst example of this was struck at Phokaia in Asia Minor, on an electrum coin circa 625 to 522 BC. Another candidate is an electrum coin struck sometime in the 7th century BC of uncertain mint.

Coin struck at Ephesos 600 BC. Is this the fi rst reverted head of an animal on a coin?

This coin of Ephesos struck circa 280 BC shows the persistence of the reverted animal head on Ephesian coins.

A coin from Phokaia made of electrum, a natural alloy comprising gold and silver, circa 625 to 522 BC and an electrum 1/48 stater from an uncertain mint, struck some time in the 7th century BC. Is it possible that one of these pieces could be the fi rst ever profi led head on a coin?

A silver litra from Kamarina, circa 461 BC. Is this the fi rst example of Athena

standing with a shield and spear?

An archaic stater circa 500 to 460 BC. Is this the oldest helmeted head

on a coin?

If any reader has other thoughts on the origins of modern designs I would be pleased to hear from them via the Editor.All

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44 Coin news

Strap


Interview

As the United Kingdom issues only its second wedding commemorative coin in its numismatic history, MICHAEL ALEXANDER of the London Banknote and Monetary Research Centre, speaks exclusively to MARK RICHARDS (pictured below), the artist behind the innovative and eye-catching design which so elegantly captures Prince William and Catherine Middleton on their special day.

IN terms of a Royal occasion, they don’t come any more special than a day like the wedding of a senior member of the Royal family, the eldest son of the Prince of Wales and the late Princess Diana. He is Prince William, second in line to the British throne,

extremely popular with the British people in his own right and she is his 29-year-old fi ancée Miss Catherine Middleton, girlfriend and former Edinburgh University classmate. An almost ten-year courtship comes to a culmination on April 29 when the couple will marry in Westminster Abbey. To commemorate the occasion of their wedding the two are portrayed on the latest £5 crown struck by the Royal Mint. Only the second coin of its kind created, it is hard to believe that there wasn’t a similar coin for Queen Victoria’s wedding in 1840 or for Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII) when he married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1861. Surprisingly the fi rst wedding commemorative coin was struck only in 1981 for Prince Charles and Lady

Diana Spencer and it was an extremely popular coin with more than 26 million of the cupro-nickle examples having been produced. This time, the non-precious metal coins

will number only 250,000 and the style of the design is signifi cantly different from the conjoined profi le portraits of Prince Charles and Lady Diana that appeared on the 1981

crown. Mark Richards, a Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors who normally

specialises in life-size and over life-size sculptures rather than coinage, has presented us with an intimate depiction of William and Catherine facing

each other. To date, he has designed just two coins, the Royal wedding coin which is the subject of this interview, and the commemorative

crown marking the 90th birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh, issued earlier this year.

Having attended the fi rst strike ceremony at the Royal Mint, we toured the production premises and Mark was invited to strike an example of the Royal Wedding crown in silver. It was the fi rst time he had seen the inner workings of the production side of the Royal Mint and he was delighted

to see the fi nal product, especially the proof strike of his design.

After the tour we sat down to discuss the coin and the process of how an artist approaches the task of producing something

which may, theoretically, be around forever (or for as long as there are coin collectors). The legacy of this coin is that it has recorded the marriage of these two people who will, someday, be king and queen.

But, for now, they’re like any other newly-wed couple, beginning a new chapter in their lives together.

commemorated in coinAs the United Kingdom issues only its second wedding

of the London Banknote and

commemorated in coin

N terms of a Royal occasion, they don’t come any more special than a day like the

William & Catherine’sspecial day . . .

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May 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com 45Coin newsMay 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com 45Coin news

Interview

Firstly, congratulations Mark on your design having been chosen for such an auspicious event here in the UK. It really is a beautiful design and it certainly looks impressive when one sees it for the fi rst time. What was your fi rst thought when you read the brief for the outline of this coin?

I try to keep a very open mind by looking at various photos and fi lm footage and generally form an idea or build an impression. Then, I go for a walk. By walking, the idea starts to formulate and from that I begin the initial sketches. It’s my approach to everything I do. Someone once said “the intellect is the enemy of creativity”, but that’s the part which you use to research a subject and gather information. The walking is an important way of letting the images pop into my head naturally.The coin’s design looks as though we’re looking at William and Catherine through a camera lens or porthole. What was your inspiration for this concept?

That’s a really good question. There are two reasons why the coin looks the way it does. It’s really a close-up portrait of them which is a very important part of demonstrating the intimacy of them as a couple. By positioning them in this way, I could capture their expressions and features. If I had chosen to create the design with two full heads, they would be very small and in the middle, with space underneath. So, the impression that you are seeing them through a porthole or lens was an unintended consequence due to my aim of trying to capture a real sense of intimacy which gives the impression of the viewer being quite close to them.The last Royal Wedding in the UK to be commemorated in coin, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, was met with an intense level of interest and fervour and an amazing crown coin was struck. Do you remember this coin and, if so, did you gain any inspiration or direction from this design?

I do remember the coin being issued, but I deliberately didn’t look at it when I was designing this coin. When I’m working on a new design, I try not to look at other coins but, rather, I’ll look at other sources of inspiration for ideas. Since designing the William and Catherine coin I’ve looked at the Charles and Diana coin, and having had the challenge of a double portrait myself, I can see how the composition was arrived at. The only way to get two heads in profi le is to give one of the heads primacy and as a result you could only see a portion of Lady Diana’s head. What I wanted to convey with my design was a sense of equality which I think comes out. I think William and Catherine are a very contemporary couple and this shows when they’re together. You’ve spoken about detail. From your standpoint, what were the challenges to putting together this coin? It has been said that although Catherine Middleton is beautiful, it is diffi cult to capture her image accurately for some reason. Did you encounter this?

It is always a challenge to capture a true likeness on such a small space as a coin, whatever the subject. She is fantastically beautiful and he’s a good looking chap as well. But the thing is, her smile is so radiant and when she’s in repose, she can look as serious as the rest of us. When I was looking at images of her I thought “you’re beautiful, you just glow” and she has a fairy-tale quality which is one of the reasons why I think this story has attracted so much attention. Her quality of beauty is both demure and reserved and also, she radiates a sense of “I’m alive!”, which is why I chose the pose that you see. Is it the same kind of challenge which you face when you’re portraying contemporary people as opposed to historical fi gures?

I do know what you mean, but I don’t experience it that way. I experience every portrait as an image and a feeling

that you unlock from them. For example, if I were to portray King Alfred, I wouldn’t look at any other portraits of him as there aren’t any true renditions to begin with, so it would be more about an idea of him as a historical fi gure. When you are creating a portrait of someone living, there is an added excitement because they can often change the way that people perceive them.Over the last 20 years or so, there have been several Royal Wedding commemorative coins within Europe. The most recent coin being the silver and gold coins from Sweden for Crown Princess Victoria’s wedding last year. I don’t suppose you had the chance to sneak a glimpse at any of these coins?

No, I’m sorry to disappoint you but I haven’t. But again, it was deliberate that I didn’t look at any other coinage with respect to this. I do look at other coins a lot and going back to the 1981 wedding coin, I didn’t remember what it looked like. Had I studied it, there might have been an element (of that design) that would have been a good solution but it wouldn’t have worked for me. Mischievously, I might have even put Kate’s portrait over that of William’s instead of the other way around. Aside from the most recent coin design, which is what brings us here to the Royal Mint today, and the excellent commemorative coin for Prince Philip’s 90th birthday this year, can you tell our readers what projects you are now working on?

Nothing with the Royal Mint at the moment. I’m currently involved with making an over life-size statue for the Aberdeen city centre to commemorate the Gordon Highlanders, which will be a large two fi gure statue. I’m actually a fi gurative and portrait sculptor by trade, the Royal Wedding coin was only my second coin to date.Matthew Dent, who designed the present circulation coinage introduced in 2008, has now designed further coins including the latest 50 pence World Wildlife Fund anniversary coin. Might you be interested in pursuing more numismatic projects now?

I’m really interested. I was only approached last year for the Wedding commemorative coin and it has been a very interesting and enjoyable process. It’s like any genre, you have to get to know it to understand it and the fi rst two coins did take me a long time to get them right. I’m very passionate about excellence in portraiture and I think the Royal Mint is probably the only institution in this country which is really striving for a sense of excellence with the kind of portraiture that I do. Coins provide an arena to explore portraits on another level. The William and Catherine Wedding coin will now enter the chronicles of British numismatic history, especially as it is only the second British Royal Wedding commemorative. How would you like the coin to be described or remembered in the future?

I’d like it to be described as being an intimate, sensitive portrait of the royal couple, that isn’t in the classical tradition of portraiture but is a contemporary image that hasn’t de-valued the currency of relief portraiture in coinage . . . to coin a phrase!I often end my interviews by asking “do you collect coins?”

Now that I’ve become involved with coins, you could certainly recruit me! Glad to hear that. Mark Richards, designer behind the stunning UK Royal Wedding crown, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to COIN NEWS.

Thank you very much, it’s been my pleasure.


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47Coin news 47Coin news

Background

However, fi rstly a word of warning. Anyone who has ever tried to fathom the convolutions of Swedish currency of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries usually soon fi nds the need to take a couple of Panadol and have a good lie down. It is a most bewildering subject to appreciate in any coherent detail.

During this period Sweden operated up to six different and semi-independent currency systems, often simultaneously. The country’s rulers were continually embroiled in very expensive wars that, coupled with poor economic management, forced ordinary citizens to accept debasement, rampant infl ation, and penury as the norm. It was the time that would also give birth not only to plate money but also the fi rst major issue of banknotes in Europe.

Setting the stageIn the early 16th century, an independent

Sweden emerged from the ashes of the 200-year-old Danish-Norwegian-Swedish Kalmar Union. The country began a rise that would see it become a major player on the European stage.

In 1523 the hero of the hour, Gustav Vasa, was crowned King Gustav I of a united Sweden-Finland. He promptly broke with Catholicism and embraced the Protestant Reformation. Over the next decade he reformed taxes and expelled the traders of the Hanseatic League who had long milked Sweden’s resources. In their place he installed good Protestant Swedish businessmen. The result saw Sweden’s trade and industry boom.

To facilitate international trade, the King followed other European countries and, in 1534, introduced a large silver coin, the slagen daler. Like the dollar, its name comes from the German thaler. Gustav valued his new coin at 4 mark or 32 öre or 192 penningar, coins then in common use within Sweden.

This was a day and age when a coin held a real or intrinsic worth in its metal content. Those fi rst dalers each contained 28.06g silver. In 1540 this was reduced to 25.6g, a silver content that would be more or less the norm up to 1873 when the

daler was supplanted by the krona. From 1534 until 1624 Sweden’s currency would be based on a mono-metallic silver standard.

In 1593 the coin’s name was changed to riksdaler or “imperial daler” equivalent to the reichsthaler of Germany and Austria-Hungary, the rijksdaalder of the Netherlands and the rigsdaler used in Denmark-Norway.

When reading Swedish economic history it is easy to be confused by the terms “daler” and “riksdaler”. From an economic point of view riksdalers with a consistent silver content are known as “riksdaler specie” or “silver dalers”. They exist as a constant in the turmoil of Swedish currency and provide a clear beacon for numismatists and historians alike. For economists they enable the infl ation-wracked prices of the next two hundred and fi fty years to be related via actual weights of silver.

For its part, the daler as a coin needs to be separated off from the Swedish unit of account also known as daler. The two may have started off as equal to 4 marks in 1534, and the unit of account would continue to remain so, but as early as 1560 the two would diverge.

The right of kingsIn Sweden the right to mint coins was

restricted to the Crown who, like all contemporary rulers, claimed the seigniorage resulting for the difference between the face value of the minted coins and their intrinsic metal value. There is always a temptation to increase the seigniorage by debasing the coinage and hence increase the Crown’s profi t. Debasement can succeed economically only where the quantity of debased coins minted is restricted.

Gustav’s successors did not resist the temptation and two major periods of debasement occurred in Sweden prior to 1624: one in 1561–76, and a second in 1590–93. Both coincided with a need to fi nance wars. Both involved lowering the silver contents of the mark but not the riksdaler. Both caused the silver daler to diverge in value

The Life & Times ofSWEDEN’SPLATEMONEYDR KERRY RODGERS struggles to fathom some intricacies of Sweden’s numismatics . . .

Part IThe Life & Times of

ONE of the fi rst “coins” I ever purchased was a piece of fake 17th century Swedish plate money. The dealer wanted to get shot of it for a couple of bucks. I had never seen a piece before, real or fake. Ever since I have had a fascination with Sweden’s plates, not

the least wondering why they often turn up in wrecks.

also known as daler. The two may have started off as equal to 4 marks in 1534, and the unit of account would continue to remain so, but as

resulting for the difference between the face value of the minted coins and their intrinsic metal value. There is always a temptation

until 1624 Sweden’s currency would be based on

In 1593 the coin’s name was changed to riksdaler or “imperial daler” equivalent to the reichsthaler of Germany and

When reading Swedish economic history it is easy to be confused by the terms “daler” and “riksdaler”. From an economic point of view riksdalers with a consistent silver content

Vignettes of Gustav Vasa, King of Sweden and Father of the Daler, have decorated many of the country’s notes. Image © K.A. Rodgers 2010

Mark of Gustav Vasa from 1560.

Johan III riksdaler of 1575 with a reverse showing Christ standing that would persist for a hundred years.

48 Coin news

Strap


Background


from its original equivalence to 4 marks and, hence, from the daler unit of account, as did all subsequent debasements.

Each debasement episode followed the pattern seen in other countries. In due course the debased coins lost value until their effective purchasing power matched their actual intrinsic metal value. At this point the coins were exchanged for their silver content and not their face values. Each debasement episode was eventually followed by a recoinage to restore the fi neness of the nation’s silver coins.

A continual depreciation of the marks occurred during and after the Northern Seven Years War of 1563–70. This resulted in severe infl ation. In 1561–62 one silver daler stood at 4 marks. After the commencement of the war in 1563 the exchange rate rose to 4.5 marks, in 1566–67 to 6–7 marks, and in 1568 to 7–8 marks. Following cessation of hostilities, and the payment by Sweden in 1574 of a 150,000 daler ransom for the return of Älvsborg fortress, the price of one silver daler rose to a high of 32 marks.

A recoinage in 1576 saw 1.25–1.625 marks struck in preceding years by King Erik XIV exchanged for one new mark. A similar exchange rate prevailed for a recoinage in 1593 associated with a war with Russia.

A minor debasement took place in 1604, but in the main Sweden’s monarchs resisted the appeal of undertaking further debasements for the next 20 years.

Copper to burnThe beginning of the 17th century saw Sweden’s

rulers becoming increasingly militaristic and, consequently, require more and more revenue to fi ght their wars.

The country and its people had already suffered severely as a result of the wars in the second half of the 16th century. Poor economic management coupled with costs of the wars had

left the country’s economy in a parlous state. The Treaty of Stettin in 1570, that included the vast Älvsborg ransom, had seen the Swedish Empire lose control of its silver reserves. The one thing the country still had going for it were the largest and most productive copper mines in Europe, particularly those of Stora Kopparberg near Falun.

These circumstances led to a copper currency being introduced on a par with silver. From this point on, Sweden-Finland went on a dual copper-silver standard. The two currencies were marked K.M. or K.M.T for kopparmynt or copper money and S.M. or S.M.T. for silvermynt or silver money. This dual currency would continue until 1777 when a mono-metallic silver standard would be established.

The fi rst copper coins of Sweden-Finland were minted in 1624 by Gustav II. These were not tokens but each had an intrinsic value refl ecting the market value of copper. For the fi rst two

decades only öre were struck in copper at the Sater, Nynkoping and Arborga mints. Most show a crossed arrow design on their reverse.

When Gustav’s extremely able daughter Christina took over at age 18 she experimented briefl y with a copper-backed paper currency. Initially this was accepted but lost credibility in 1644 causing Christina to issue a copper daler currency alongside the existing silver daler. Each of the new coins contained its full value in copper. Given the relatively low value of copper, the coins were struck as large square plates known as plåtmynt in Swedish and plate money in English. Each was correspondingly heavy. The largest, measuring 30 x 70cm and valued at 10 daler weighed-in at 19.7kg. Despite their inconvenience they were accepted. People had little choice.

Christina’s initial issues consisted of plates of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 10 dalers. The denomination, date and monarch’s monogram were stamped in the centre and at the corners of each plate. This same pattern would be used on Swedish plate money over the next 135 years, most of it struck at the Avesta Mint near Falun. The large 10 daler plates would soon be discontinued. In their place ½ daler plates appeared.

No accounting for copperAn ulterior motive lay behind the introduction

of copper coins. The size of Sweden’s mines made the country Europe’s dominant copper producer. The Government believed that a copper coinage would allow it to manipulate the international price of the metal. Whenever copper prices fell, Sweden would mint large numbers of copper coins that could be absorbed in domestic circulation. This would reduce the amount of copper available for export and so drive up market prices.

In practice this seldom worked. All too often Sweden found it was unable to command any premium for copper despite its vast reserves. And, whenever copper prices fell on the international market those at the bottom of Sweden’s economic food chain became even poorer.

For example, when copper coins were fi rst introduced in 1624 the copper price was high. When it fell in late 1620s the country minted copper coins in vast numbers. The volume was such that the coins’ effective purchasing power declined such that on August 26, 1633 the offi cial value of copper öre coins was reduced by 50 per cent.

This move brought two different monetary systems into existence: daler silvermynt [or daler silver coins] aka D.S.M., and daler kopparmynt [or daler copper coins] aka D.K.M. with 1 D.S.M. = 2 D.K.M.

Ten years down the track copper öre were devalued by a further 20 per cent, with 1 D.S.M. = 2.5 D.K.M. In 1665 a further devaluation saw 1 D.S.M. = 3 D.K.M. This reduction remained in place until 1776.

Swedish book-keepers of the period must have gone prematurely grey. They needed to operate two accounting systems that distinguished daler/mark/öre silvermynt from daler/mark/öre kopparmynt. But it got worse!

Some copper coins were minted denominated with silvermynt values. As a consequence, it was necessary to show whether payments were made in actual silver coins or silvermynt-denominated copper. Terms were introduced such as “daler/

commencement of the war in 1563 the exchange rate rose to 4.5 marks, in 1566–67 to 6–7 marks, and in 1568 to 7–8 marks. Following cessation of hostilities, and the payment by Sweden in 1574 of a 150,000 daler ransom for the return of Älvsborg hostilities, and the payment by Sweden in 1574 of a 150,000 daler ransom for the return of Älvsborg hostilities, and the payment by Sweden in 1574 of

fortress, the price of one silver daler rose to a high of 32 marks.

struck in preceding years by King Erik XIV exchanged for one new mark. A similar exchange rate prevailed for a recoinage in 1593 associated The currency debasements of

the 16th century coincided with the issue of coins struck on clipped square fl ans known as klippe such as this 16 öre of Erik XIV. Image courtesy Ponterio & Associates.

Charles IX silver mark of 1608, KM22.

“ . . . Each debasement episode followed the pattern seen in other countries. In due course the debased coins lost value until their eff ective purchasing power . . . ”

Strap


Backgroundmark silvermynt specie” or “daler/mark vitt mynt” [daler/mark white coins]. Debts incurred in one type of currency had to be paid back in the same currency. Life in the Swedish marketplace was not just tough, it was downright confusing.

From the 1660s the term “carolin” was introduced for actual silver mark coins and “courant” for actual silver öre coins. One carolin was equal to two marks in actual silver minor coins, and one daler carolin to 4 marks in actual silver minor coins or two carolins. One öre courant was the same as one öre in actual silver coins, and one daler courant was equal to 32 öre courant.

Time yet for those two Panadol and a good lie down? But wait, there’s more! In next month’s issue one banker goes to jail and a second loses his head.

Gustav II riksdaler of 1616.

Classic Swedish riksdaler of Queen Christina of 1642 that circulated well into the 18th century.

Copper ore: top, Gustav II, 1630; bottom, Charles XI, 1684. The crossed arrow reverse is distinctive of this denomination.

The monarch who gave Sweden copper plate money, Christina Alexandra, Queen regnant 1632–54: scholar par excellence, linguist, horseman, swordsman, patron of the arts, astronomer. Image Wikimedia.

Charles XII daler silvermynt copper plate money, 146 x 142 mm, 1715.

Choice copper plate money of Ulrika Eleonora for 1/2 daler silvermynt from 1720, 110 x 85 mm.

Scarce Frederick I 4 daler silvermynt copper plate money of 1734.

Frederick I 2 daler silvermynt copper plate money, 1742, with four dates and fi ve clear stamps. Image courtesy

Ponterio & Associates.

All coin images courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries unless noted otherwise.


Strap


By way of history, I became interested and started collecting coins in my late forties. After a short time I noticed that 1933, which was my birth year, appeared to be very unique from a numismatic standpoint. I did a substantial amount of research and discovered many interesting facts about the 1933 coinage. Many of these facts were published in the March 19, 1983, issue of Numismatic News.

As I have learned, the 1933-S half dollar is probably scarcer than most collectors realize. Over 8 per cent of my coins appear to have a weak strike on the date and only the “33” is visible. Despite this, most of these coins have full rims and other attributes that would likely enable them to grade Fine or better. If these coins had remained in circulation a little longer, the date would have been completely worn and they, as well as countless others, would probably have been sold and melted for their silver value. Also, I suspect that many other 1933 half dollars were lost when silver reached 50 dollars an ounce about 30 years ago. I believe that many of the nice 1930s silver coins were sold for bullion since that exceeded their numismatic value. Also of note is that the 1933 half dollar mintage represents the lowest quantity produced in the past 115 years, and it was the smallest mintage of precious-metal coins issued in 185 years. Fewer silver coins were minted in

1933 (1,786,000) than in any other year since, which includes the Civil War.

This uniqueness and my birth year coincidence sparked my interest and prompted me to concentrate on that date. My goal was to own more 1933 coins than anyone else, thereby making it, by percentage, the largest year collection of United States coins. It also occurred to me that the depression years of 1931 and 1932 also had in common that low coin mintage. Thinking that someone else might also try to collect coins from these years and compete with me, I began to buy these dates as well. A Coin World article from December 26, 1984, appears to support that concern in that Dr Jerry Buss, owner of Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, may have had the same idea. An article about the auction of the Buss Collection read in part, “In the Lincoln cent series will be more than 15,000 1932-D cents in circulated grade”. The article additionally states that Buss, when he started collecting cents

in the early 1960s, accumulated many circulated rolls of the semi-key and less common dates. He reportedly looked at the mintage, estimated the rate of attrition, and then determined how much money it would take to corner the market. Fortunately for me, his collection habits changed and he did not pursue it further than he did. Dr Buss was the owner of two of America’s most expensive coins, one of which

LARGEST COIN YEAR COLLECTION?AS MOST coin collectors know, only two types of coins were minted for circulation in 1933. The total number of coins

produced was 23,103,500, which represents the lowest mint production in 138 years. To put that in perspective, this quantity is not suffi cient to supply each Texas citizen with even a single coin. My collection with a composite total

of over 33,000 (about 8 of 5,005 bags produced) represents more than 0.014 per cent (or 1/700th) of the total coins minted that year. Currently I have approximately 30,000 cents and over 3,000 half dollars. Due to attrition from various sources, the number of currently surviving coins must be considerably less. From that standpoint, my collection should represent a much higher percentage of existing coins and I can only guess as to what that might be.

JIM JACOBS

coins in my late forties. After a

the “33” is visible. Despite this, most of these coins have full rims and other attributes that would likely enable them to grade Fine or better. If these coins had remained in circulation a little longer, the date would have been completely worn and they, as well as countless others, would probably have been sold and melted for their silver value. Also, I suspect that many other 1933 half dollars were lost when silver reached 50 dollars an ounce about 30 years

since, which includes the Civil War.This uniqueness and my birth

year coincidence sparked my interest and prompted me to concentrate on that date. My goal was to own more 1933 coins than anyone else, thereby making it, by percentage, the largest year collection of United States coins. It also occurred to me that the depression years of 1931 and 1932 also had in common that low coin mintage. Thinking that low coin mintage. Thinking that someone else might also try to collect coins from these years and compete with me, I began to buy these dates as well. A article from December 26, 1984, appears to support that concern in

in the early 1960s, accumulated many

Viewpoint


Viewpoint

was the 1933 Double Eagle. By purchasing the 1931 and 1932 coins as well as the 1933s, it would make it harder for anyone to accomplish what I was trying to do. On the other hand, if they were to try, it would drive up the price of my coins, and I could profi t from my earlier purchases.

I started my collection by purchasing primarily circulated rolls of 1933-P cents which were selling for around $15 per roll. Also, I bought some 1933-Ds and half dollars at the right price. I was fortunate enough to have had several dealers around the country buying for me over the next couple of years, which seriously helped my totals. My initial goal was to procure about 23,000 coins or about 0.01 per cent of the total 1933 coin mintage. When I fi nally reached that goal my interest in collecting waned, but in the process, the 1933-P cents had escalated to about $45 per roll.

Before and during my active collecting phase, I was also in the business of making coin card displays (as pictured here)as a related sideline for sale to collectors. However, the idea never really took off. These included some with 1933 coins inserted titled “THE 1933 COLLECTION.--- A RARE YEAR IN NUMISMATICS”. A few years later I got into the vintage newspaper business (1876–1976 printings) and soon forgot about coins. When eBay came along, I sold vintage newspapers online and currently still sell them there under the name “jimspages”. However, about three years ago my interest was again reignited in my 1933 coin collection. I attribute this to the soon-to-be 75th anniversary of the 1933 coins, as well as my 75th birthday. Since I was familiar with eBay, it made it easy for me to start purchasing these coins again. As a result of that endeavour, I have added over 10,000 more 1933 coins to my original collection and continue to buy more as I fi nd them today.

I would be very interested to learn if anyone knows of a larger year collection, by percentage or otherwise. I can be contacted via email at [email protected].

was the 1933 Double Eagle. By purchasing the 1931 and 1932 was the 1933 Double Eagle. By purchasing the 1931 and 1932 coins as well as the 1933s, it would make it harder for anyone to accomplish what I was trying to do. On the other hand, if

was the 1933 Double Eagle. By purchasing the 1931 and 1932



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AS we celebrate the Royal Wedding DAVID MATTHEWS looks at another, earlier, Royal occasion and examines some of the numismatic memorabilia created to commemorate the event . . .

HAD it been possible to read the signs in 1911, maybe some of the ensuing disasters could have been avoided. Germany was fl exing its naval muscles and in Morocco its territorial

muscles were being exercised; all precursors to World War I. RMS Titanic was fl oated at Harland & Wolff in Belfast before being fi tted out for its disastrous fi rst voyage in 1912. The suffragettes were upping the ante in their crusade for equal rights which saw Emily Davison trampled to death beneath the hooves of the King’s horse, Anmer, ridden by Herbert Jones at the 1913 Epsom Derby. However, in the almost uninterrupted sunshine in the summer of 1911, all fractiousness was put aside and all eyes focused on Westminster Abbey where George V was crowned on June 22, following the death of Edward VII on May 6, 1910 after a series of heart attacks. And the whole country joined in the celebrations to welcome the new King and his Queen, Mary.

Medallic miscellany

The Aston Manor medal came in bronzed white metal and aluminium.

The Handsworth medal bears a design of the Staffordshire Council House.

Birmingham celebrates

1911 Coronation Commemoratives

In Birmingham there were numerous events organised but in one respect, it was not so easy to co-ordinate because it was in the midst of an expansion programme. True the city was much smaller than it is now, although it had already absorbed Harbourne, Balsall Heath, Saltley, Ward End and Quinton. However, the Bill to incorporate Aston, Erdington, Handsworth, Kings Norton & Northfi eld and Yardley did not come into effect until November 9, 1911. The latter districts were still grasping after their autonomy and would not easily fall in line with those who would take over their decision-making, fi nancial and otherwise.

Such feelings over-spilt in the various sub-committees that arranged the Coronation celebrations. Aston was rebuffed when it asked Birmingham if it would provide the fi reworks for the Aston Park display. Instead, Birmingham increased the burden on Aston by sending an additional 8,000 children to the event. As it was, the Aston children did not suffer and 15,000 were treated to teas and amusements and each child received a commemorative medal. These were manufactured by George D. Gilbert who worked successively in Branston Street, Hylton Street and Key Hill Drive in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter between 1910 and 1917. The medals were in bronzed white metal and others were in aluminium. The usual reason for producing in different metals is that the cheapest would go to the children, while the more limited editions went to civic dignitaries. Both medals were of the same design and they strongly emphasised they were not of Birmingham but of Aston Manor, carrying the Aston coat of arms and the name of its mayor, Alfred Taylor.

In the Sparkhill and Greet areas of Yardley, it was considered a mockery to pin medals onto the rags and tatters worn by the children and it was suggested that the £42 collected to produce 6,000 medals would have been better spent on shoes and clothing. However, the majority of the spend went on providing food and entertainment for the children and elderly. Yardley and Acocks

Green medals were produced in bronze by William James Dingley & Company in its Birmingham premises at 77 Warstone Lane and other than the differing names of the districts, they were identical in design. The fi rm operated from 1885 to 1961 making medals, badges and jewellery. The Dingley medals were for Royal events as well as for local and national issues and any other event worthy of commemoration, such as the opening of the University of Birmingham in 1909.

Additionally, W. J. Dingley were responsible for the Handsworth medal which was also made of bronze but with a diameter 6mm larger than those for Acocks Green and Yardley. More effort and thought (and possibly money) were put into the Handsworth reverse design which carried a view of Staffordshire Council House, the building that currently houses Handsworth public library. 10,000 of these medals were produced and they were handed out to the children as keepsakes of the Coronation. Sadly, what would have better stayed in the minds of the children as a reminder of June 22, 1911 had to be abandoned because of high winds. That was the scheduled balloon ascent in the charge of Lieutenant Lempriere as part of the Handsworth celebrations.

For the nearby County Borough of Smethwick, W. J. Dingley also produced the larger medal but there was no scene on the reverse, only words. However, the medal was issued only to the boys while the girls received a pendant and chain instead. In total there were some 30,000 children to cater for so it would seem about 15,000 medals were produced.

In Erdington no commemorative medals were issued to the children but 5,500 specially designed enamelled mugs were handed out instead.

The fi nal W. J. Dingley production was for Birmingham itself, a total of 98,000 medals were made in bronze bearing the coat of arms of the city. Another unknown maker produced medals for Birmingham in pewter with a differing motto that stated “The City of Birmingham Council Schools Commemorate the Coronation” around

56 Coin news www.tokenpublishing.com May 201156 Coin news www.tokenpublishing.com May 2011

“Lord Mayor Alderman W. H. Bowater” in the centre. The 98,000 medals were for the children at public elementary schools, the industrial and Poor Law schools, inmates of Mason’s Orphanage, the Blind Institution and the Children’s Hospital, so hopefully no-one was left out.

And it seemed no-one missed out in the Kings Norton celebrations which kicked off earlier than anywhere else in the locality with the pealing of the bells of St Nicholas church, the spire of which appears on the reverse of the medal for the Kings Norton and Northfi eld Urban District Council. The view of the tower is as per the motif used by the Council but it is not an accurate representation, not least because of the number of windows shown. Be that as it may, the medal is 37mm in diameter and was made of bronze by Brookes and Adams of 250 Barr Street, Birmingham.

This company started as a partnership between Thomas Brookes and Thomas Adams in 1853, with their business being diesinkers, medallists, stampers, piercers and makers of fancy metal articles. Adams had no sons and when Brookes retired in 1901, the business was left to his sons, Frederick and Herbert. It became Brookes and Adams Ltd in 1920 and since 1935 it has manufactured yacht and boat fi ttings. But back to the medals and these were issued to the school children while the same medal was made for the fi remen but it is presumed they were in silver as they cost six times more than those in bronze.

Staying with the Kings Norton children, behind the brass band, herald and 24 sailors, Nellie Atkins was dressed as Britannia and Reg Hawthorn as John Bull, leading a bulldog. There followed Judy and four Punches as well as “diminutive representations of Scotch, Irish, Dutch, German, Hungarian, African, Indian, Red Indian, Japanese, Chinese, etc.”. Again, the children were later given tea after the older villagers had received dinner, paid for out of the £400 allocated to the Coronation Committee.

Different councils were able to arrange different events in honour of the new King and Queen. Because of its prominent peak, Great Barr lit a bonfi re at 10pm on the Beacon, simultaneously with a long chain of hilltops stretching the length and breadth of Britain and there was an accompanying discharge of fi reworks.

H. B. Sale Ltd of Constitution Hill, Birmingham was responsible for the manufacture of various medals between 1881 and 1911. It produced a Coronation commemorative for Great Barr as well as nearby Walsall, both carrying the same design registration secured under the Patents

“Lord Mayor Alderman W. H. Bowater” in the centre. The 98,000 medals were for the children at public elementary schools, the industrial and Poor Law schools, inmates of Mason’s Orphanage, the Blind Institution and the Children’s Hospital, so hopefully no-one was

And it seemed no-one missed out in the Kings Norton celebrations which kicked off earlier than anywhere else in the locality with the pealing of the bells of St Nicholas church, the spire of which appears on the reverse of the medal for the Kings Norton and Northfi eld Urban District Council. The view of the tower is as per the motif used by the Council but it is not an accurate representation, not least because of the number of windows shown. Be that as it may, the medal is 37mm in diameter and was made of bronze by Brookes and Adams of 250 Barr Street,

This company started as a partnership between Thomas Brookes and Thomas Adams in 1853, with their business being diesinkers, medallists, stampers, piercers and makers of fancy metal articles. Adams had no sons and when Brookes retired in 1901, the business was left to his sons, Frederick and Herbert. It became Brookes and Adams Ltd in 1920 and since 1935 it has manufactured yacht and boat fi ttings. But back to the medals and these were issued to the school children while the same medal was made for the fi remen but it is presumed they were in silver as they cost six times more than those in

Staying with the Kings Norton children, behind the brass band, herald and 24 sailors, Nellie Atkins was dressed as Britannia and Reg Hawthorn as John Bull, leading a bulldog. There followed Judy and four Punches as well

diminutive representations of Scotch, Irish, Dutch, German, Hungarian, African, Indian, Red

”. Again, the children were later given tea after the older villagers had received dinner, paid for out of the £400 allocated

Different councils were able to arrange different events in honour of the new King and Queen. Because of its prominent peak, Great Barr lit a bonfi re at 10pm on the Beacon, simultaneously with a long chain of hilltops stretching the length and breadth of Britain and there was an accompanying discharge of

H. B. Sale Ltd of Constitution Hill, Birmingham was responsible for the manufacture of various medals between 1881 and 1911. It produced a Coronation commemorative for Great Barr as well as nearby Walsall, both carrying the same design registration secured under the Patents

& Designs Act 1907. The Great Barr medal has the Beacon on it, crowned with 12 trees and this medal was the subject of a police investigation. This was because H. B. Sale Ltd noticed the loss of copper and medals from its premises. Frank Sale had reason to suspect an employee, James Hancox, and when the police visited the employee’s home, they discovered six pounds of copper and 70 medals, plus they caught him carrying sheet metal when he left work on May 31. A prosecution followed.

Another bonfi re was lit locally and that was in Sutton on the hill between the Crystal Palace and Hollyhurst. To balance the books for this and other extravaganzas, the Council decided to charge admission to Sutton Park on June 22 and 23, with adults paying sixpence, under 16s threepence and under 12s one penny, but there was a payback. This was in the form of souvenir boxes containing Rowntrees Elect chocolate being given to 100,000 children at the fete in the Crystal Palace which would suggest many children attended from elsewhere as only 3,200 school children were presented with commemorative cups and medals. As for the Council members, they received silver gilt or aluminium medals (reports vary as to the metal used) with the Boroughs Tudor Arms and the name of the Mayor, T. H. Cartwright, on one side and the King and Queen on the other side of the 38mm fl an. They bear the mark “Vaughton, Birm” in tiny letters, weakly impressed.

Advertisements at the time of the Coronation offered a free Medal and Cup in exchange for 2d postage if you agreed to try Elect cocoa. These medals were made by the Birmingham fi rm of Vaughtons in gilt bronze and had a diameter of 32mm. The only “fault” with them was that they carried the inscription “Struck by the makers of Elect cocoa” when more properly it should have read “Struck for the makers of Elect cocoa”. The medals are not marked with a manufacturers name but they do carry the design registration number 571877 which was granted to Vaughtons on October 18, 1910, in the same way that the H. B. Sale medals carried its number.

Rowntrees were not the only confectionery company to have a medal issued in 1911. There was also one for Barratts that advertised “Sweets are Pure” while on the other side were facing busts of the new King and Queen. These medals were made in Germany.

Not all the medal makers were Birmingham fi rms and some of the places considered did not join Birmingham until after 1911 (or never have). However, the medals and the Councils helped to create a memorable coronation in and around the City one hundred years ago, in a summer in which the sun rarely stopped shining.

SourcesBROWN, L., British Historical Medals 1760–1960, volume 3, 1995. Hawkins, R. N. P., A Dictionary of Makers of British metallic tickets, checks, medalets, tallies and counters 1788–1910,

1989 reprint. LEATHER, P.,LEATHER, P.,LEATHER A Brief History of Birmingham, 2000.ROGERS, C. A. P., Some Account of Kings Norton in the Twentieth Century, 1972. VINCE, C. A., The History of the Corporation of Birmingham, 1900–15, volume 4, 1923.Minutes of Kings Norton & Northfi eld Urban District Council meeting, June 7, 1911.Minutes of the Quarterly Council Meeting, Borough of Sutton Coldfi eld, May 3, 1911.Kellys Directories of Birmingham, 1911, 1915 and 1918.Souvenir Programme of Coronation Festivities and Short History of The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfi eld.Birmingham Gazette & Express.Birmingham Weekly Mercury. Sutton Coldfi eld News.

Medallic miscellany

The Kings Norton medal depicts the spire of St Nicholas church.

The Great Barr medal became the subject of a police investigation.

Elect cocoa offered a handsome medal in gilt bronze.

Barratts Sweets medal was made in Germany.


59Coin news


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www.weightoncoin.co.uk18 High Street, Market Weighton, York, YO43 3AH

We also buy single coins or whole collections.

ABC Coins and TokensWe stock a large selection of Scottish coins, tokens

and communion tokens and also offer a wide range of hammered and milled British and World coins, tokens

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COIN CLINICDo you have a numismatic item that is causing you problems, ba� ing your friends or perplexing your relatives? If so, simply send us a photograph, rubbing, drawing or other image with a clear description of the item and we will put it to our panel of experts. If our panel is able to answer your query, the response will be published in a forthcoming edition of the magazine. Please do not send coins or medals through the post as things can easily go astray. Please note, we are not able to off er valuations, only identifi cations! (Items may not be shown actual size however size will be given if known).

QD. Mabbott is puzzled by this brass token in his collection

which he has been unable to identify. The token is identical on both sides.

Q A. Wallace has recently acquired the bronze token featured

below which he hopes we may be able to help identify.

AHoward Simmons has taken a look at this token for us and

advises that this is, in fact, an example of a modern slot-machine token probably dating from 1950–1970 period.

Please email your query to [email protected] or write to the address on page 1.

AHoward informs us that this is a promotional token given out

by the Reader’s Digest. For most of the post-war period Reader’s Digest were at the forefront of marketing innovation and used tokens quite extensively. These interesting promotional tokens are, however, fairly common.

Not shown at actual sizeNot shown at actual size

QR. Edwards has supplied a drawing of a coin he purchased more

than 50 years ago but despite his best eff orts, has been unable to pinpoint the origin of the coin.

AMike Vosper has helped us out with this one—from the drawing,

he believes it is a bronze as, possibly struck in Corinth c. 39–36 BC. The obverse has the head of Marc Antony. The reverse is inscribed “P AEBVTIO C PINNIO IIVIR”, with the prow of a ship to the left.



Coin price guide

GEORGE III (1760–1820)

797 “Cartwheel”, 10 laurel leaves . 8,601,600 £20 £50 £300 £9001797 — 11 laurel leaves incl. above — £20 £50 £300 £9001806 Third type ............................. — £6 £15 £70 £240180................................................. — £6 £15 £70 £2401808.............................................. Unique

GEORGE IV (1820–30)

1825............................................... 1,075,200 £12 £40 £240 £5501826 (varieties) .............................. 5,913,600 £12 £40 £240 £5501826 Proof ..................................... — — — — £4501827............................................... 1,451,520 £170 £600 £2200 —

WILLIAM IV (1830–37)

1831 (varieties) .............................. 806,400 £20 £60 £350 £8501831 Proof ..................................... — — — — £6001834............................................... 322,560 £25 £70 £400 £11001837............................................... 174,720 £55 £170 £650 £2000

VICTORIA (1837–1901)YOUNG HEAD ISSUES

Copper1839 Proof ..................................... unrecorded — — — £12501841............................................... 913,920 £7 £20 £140 £600

Date Mintage F VF EF UNC

GEORGE III (1760–1820)


1841 No colon after REG ............. i ncl. above £8 £20 £140 £5501843............................................... 483,840 £75 £250 £1200 £30001844............................................... 215,040 £10 £25 £110 £3401845............................................... 322,560 £15 £35 £180 £5501846............................................... 483,840 £15 £25 £130 £4501846 FID: DEF colon spaced........ incl. above £15 £25 £140 £4501846 FID:DEF colon close ............. incl. above £16 £25 £140 £5001847............................................... 430,080 £8 £20 £120 £3501848............................................... 161,280 £8 £20 £100 £3501848/7 fi nal 8 over 7 ...................... incl. above £7 £20 £100 £3001848/6 fi nal 8 over 6 ...................... incl. above £20 £100 £450 —1849............................................... 268,800 £175 £500 £1850 —1851............................................... 268,800 £10 £30 £130 £5001853............................................... 1,021,440 £7 £14 £75 £1301853 Proof ..................................... — — — — £10001854............................................... 6,720,000 £8 £18 £80 £1351854/3 4 over 3 ............................. incl. above £12 £40 £150 —1855............................................... 5,273,856 £8 £18 £80 £2001856............................................... 1,212,288 £80 £200 £600 £20001857 Plain trident .......................... 752,640 £7 £18 £80 £2301857 Ornamental trident ............... incl. above £6 £18 £70 £220 1858/7 fi nal 8 over 7 ...................... incl. above £7 £18 £75 £240 1858/3 fi nal 8 over 3 ..................... incl. above £25 £90 £400 —1858.............................................. 1,599,040 £7 £16 £80 £2201859.............................................. 1,075,200 £8 £25 £100 £300 1860/59 ........................................ 32,256 £350 £1000 £2750 £5000

Prices of bronze pennies of Victoria bun head are for the common type, there are many varieties.

Bronze1860 Beaded border .................... 5,053,440 £ £25 £45 £150 £6001860 Toothed border .................... incl. above £6 £16 £55 £2501860 — Piedfort fl an..................... — Extremely rare1861.............................................. 36,449,280 £5 £12 £50 £2001862.............................................. 50,534,400 £5 £12 £50 £2001862 8 over 6 ................................ incl. above Extremely rare1863.............................................. 28,062,720 £5 £12 £45 £2001863 Die no below date ............... incl. above Extremely rare1864 Plain 4 .................................. 3,440,640 £25 £120 £500 £18001864 Crosslet 4 ............................ incl. above £25 £110 £500 £20001865.............................................. 8,601,600 £7 £16 £55 £3001865/3 5 over 3 ............................ incl. above £40 £125 £450 —1866.............................................. 9,999,360 £6 £18 £70 £3501867.............................................. 5,483,520 £7 £18 £85 £6501868.............................................. 1,182,720 £15 £70 £200 £7001869.............................................. 2,580,480 £120 £400 £1250 £35001870.............................................. 5,695,022 £9 £35 £125 £5001871.............................................. 1,290,318 £35 £120 £450 £17501872.............................................. 8,494,572 £6 £20 £60 £2251873.............................................. 8,494,200 £6 £20 £60 £2251874.............................................. 5,621,865 £7 £20 £60 £2251874 H .......................................... 6,666,240 £7 £22 £60 £2251874 Later (older) bust ................. incl. above £12 £30 £85 £3501875.............................................. 10,691,040 £7 £22 £75 £2751875 H .......................................... 752,640 £35 £110 £800 £25001876 H .......................................... 11,074,560 £5 £12 £60 £2201877.............................................. 9,624,747 £5 £14 £55 £2201878.............................................. 2,764,470 £5 £14 £55 £2201879.............................................. 7,666,476 £4 £12 £55 £2201880.............................................. 3,000,831 £4 £12 £55 £2201881.............................................. 2,302,362 £5 £12 £55 £2201881 H .......................................... 3,763,200 £5 £12 £55 £2001882 H .......................................... 7,526,400 £5 £12 £55 £2001882 no H ..................................... — Extremely Rare1883.............................................. 6,237,438 £5 £14 £55 £1901884.............................................. 11,702,802 £5 £14 £55 £1901885.............................................. 7,145,862 £5 £14 £55 £1901886.............................................. 6,087,759 £5 £14 £55 £1901887.............................................. 5,315,085 £5 £14 £55 £1901888.............................................. 5,125,020 £5 £14 £55 £1901889.............................................. 12,559,737 £4 £14 £50 £2001890.............................................. 15,330,840 £4 £14 £50 £1801891.............................................. 17,885,961 £4 £12 £50 £1801892.............................................. 10,501,671 £4 £12 £60 £1801893.............................................. 8,161,737 £4 £12 £50 £1751894.............................................. 3,883,452 £8 £30 £100 £300

George III cartwheel penny

George IV penny

William IV penny

Victoria YH penny


2011 EDITION

NOW AVAILABLE

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.

Price guide to: Pennies


1919 H .......................................... 5,209,600 £1 £15 £200 £7001919 KN ........................................ incl. above £10 £85 £650 £25001920.............................................. 124,693,485 — £2 £12 £301921.............................................. 129,717,693 — £2 £12 £301922.............................................. 16,346,711 — £2 £20 £801922 with reverse of 1927 ............. £1000 £2500 — —1926.............................................. 4,498,519 — £6 £25 £1101926 Modifi ed effi gy ..................... incl above £25 £140 £800 £25001927.............................................. 60,989,561 — £2 £10 £351928.............................................. 50,178,00 — £2 £10 £351929.............................................. 49,132,800 — £2 £10 £351930.............................................. 29,097,600 — £2 £18 £601931.............................................. 19,843,200 — £2 £10 £451932.............................................. 8,277,600 — £2 £12 £801933............................................... Only 7 examples known1934.............................................. 13,965,600 — £2 £25 £651935.............................................. 56,070,000 — — £2 £101936.............................................. 154,296,000 — — £2 £10

GEORGE VI (1936–52)

1937............................................... 88,896,000 — — — £41937 Proof ..................................... 26,402 — — — £101938.............................................. 121,5 60,000 — — — £61939.............................................. 55,560,000 — — — £121940.............................................. 42,284,400 — — — £181944 Mint Dark ............................. 42,600,000 — — — £81945 Mint Dark ............................. 79,531,200 — — — £81946 Mint Dark ............................. 66,855,600 — — — £71947.............................................. 52,220,400 — — — £51948.............................................. 63,961,200 — — — £51949.............................................. 14,324,400 — — — £81950.............................................. 240,000 £7 £15 £30 £501950 Proof ................................... 17,513 — — — £251951.............................................. 120,000 £18 £30 £50 £701951 Proof .................................... 20,000 — — — £40

ELIZABETH II (1952– )

1953.............................................. 1,308,400 — — £1 £41953 Proof .................................... 40,000 — — — £71954............................................... Only one known1961.............................................. 48,313,400 — — — £21962.............................................. 143,308,600 — — — 50p1963.............................................. 125,235,600 — — — 50p1964.............................................. 153,294,000 — — — 50p1965.............................................. 121,310,400 — — — 50p1966.............................................. 165,739,200 — — — 50p1967.............................................. 654,564,000 — — — —

Later issues are included in the Decimal section.

Coin price guideDate Mintage F VF EF UNC Date Mintage F VF EF UNC

OLD HEAD ISSUES

1895 Trident 2mm from P(ENNY) . 5,395,830 £10 £55 £160 £4501895 Trident 1mm from P ............. incl. above — £2 £18 £751896.............................................. 24,147,156 — £2 £18 £651897.............................................. 20,756,620 — £2 £15 £601897 Raised dot after One (O.NE) . £125 £225 £650 —1898.............................................. 14,296,836 — £3 £18 £601899.............................................. 26,441,069 — £3 £16 £501900.............................................. 31,778,109 — £3 £16 £401901.............................................. 22,205,568 — £3 £10 £30

EDWARD VII (1901–10)

1902.............................................. 26,976,768 — £1 £8 £251902 “Low tide” to sea line .......... incl. above £4 £15 £60 £1751903.............................................. 21,415,296 — £3 £15 £751904.............................................. 12,913,152 — £4 £25 £140 1905.............................................. 17,783,808 — £3 £15 £801906.............................................. 37,989,504 — £3 £15 £701907.............................................. 47,322,240 — £3 £15 £701908.............................................. 31,506,048 — £3 £18 £801909.............................................. 19,617,024 — £3 £20 £1201910.............................................. 29,549,184 — £3 £15 £60

GEORGE V (1910–36)

1911.............................................. 23,079,168 — £3 £12 £501912.............................................. 48,306,048 — £3 £12 £451912 H .......................................... 16,800,000 — £4 £40 £2001913.............................................. 65,497,812 — £3 £15 £701914.............................................. 50,820,997 — £3 £18 £70 1915.............................................. 47,310,807 — £3 £20 £801916.............................................. 86,411,165 — £3 £15 £601917.............................................. 107,905,436 — £3 £15 £501918.............................................. 84,227,372 — £3 £12 £501918 H .......................................... 3,660,800 £1 £15 £100 £4501918 KN ........................................ incl. above £7 £70 £500 £20001919.............................................. 113,761,0 90 — £2 £15 £45

George V penny

George VI penny

Elizabeth II penny

Victoria OH penny

Coming next month: Illustrated Price Guide to: threepences,

twopences and three-halfpences

Edward VII penny


Richard Plant

COIN OFTHE MONTH

Jesus’ earthly father

YOU can get some really big surprises when reading numismatic auction catalogues. I certainly did recently. I have seen loads of coins showing Mary,

the mother of Jesus; with or without our Lord; but never any of Joseph holding Him. I realise that Jesus’ father was actually God Himself; but Joseph was acting as His father for at least the fi rst few years of His life. Then in the November/December 2010 Numismatica Genevensis listings I saw a Papal States silver teston (listed as No. 724), with the reverse described as “St Joseph holding the Child Jesus”. As there is no legend on the coin to clarify this—only the details of the reigning Pope, I felt this description of the reverse might be in error, and so did some research on the subject.

The Bible does not tell us much about Joseph, apart, that is, from his dilemma at fi nding that Mary is pregnant before their marriage, and his part in the “Flight into Egypt” as told by St Matthew’s Gospel, and a mention of his name by St Luke in his genealogy of Our Lord in chapter 3 of his gospel. We have to wait until post-Biblical days to learn more of his “story”. The legends begin with the Protevangelium of St James, written around AD 150, which did not get into our Bible. It goes like this: Mary had been dedicated to God by her parents, and was brought up by the priests in the Temple at Jerusalem from the age of three until she was 14. At this point the priests decided, with God’s help, to plan her marriage. They thereupon invited a number of widowers to apply for the position of Mary’s husband, believing that God would show them which man to choose. Joseph was the oldest of the applicants, being 90 years of age at the time according to some versions of the story. Each widower was to bring a staff with him to the Temple leaving it in a certain place, and, as the priests believed, God would use the staffs to indicate the right man. The staffs of the others did nothing in particular; but a dove rose up from Joseph’s. The trouble with myths and legends is that they tend to pick up alternative versions; and the Golden Legend, written between c.1250 and 1275, states that Joseph’s staff showed God’s approval by growing a bouquet of fl owers from its top—on the Papal teston we can see those fl owers at the top of the staff, proving that this is indeed Joseph standing holding Jesus.

The coin was minted by Pope Clement XI, 1700–1721, who was a member of the Albani

family. The arms of this family are those in the shield on the obverse below the Papal triple tiara and the keys of St Peter. ANN.VII means the 7th year of the Pope’s reign, so this coin was minted in 1706.

If Joseph was indeed an elderly widower when he married Mary, this

would explain why there is no mention of him in the later story of Jesus—he was no longer alive. It could also point to Jesus’ “brothers and sisters” being actually the children of Joseph’s fi rst marriage. Sometimes we can learn a lot from

a coin!

The coin was minted by Pope Clement XI, 1700–1721, who was a member of the Albani

family. The arms of this family are those in the shield on the obverse below the Papal triple tiara and the keys of St Peter. VIIso this coin was minted in 1706.

widower when he married Mary, this widower when he married Mary, this would explain why there is no

mention of him in the later story of Jesus—he was no longer alive. It could also point to Jesus’ “brothers and sisters” being actually the children of Joseph’s fi rst marriage. Sometimes we can learn a lot from

a coin!

widower when he married Mary, this


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FIVE POUNDS1887 UNC £1,795.001887 PROOFLIKE UNC £1,875.001902 UNC £1,825.001902 EDWARD VII AUNC £1,745.001989 CASED UNC £1,350.001990 CASED UNC £1,245.001991 CASED UNC £1,245.001993 CASED UNC £1,245.001995 CASED UNC £1,225.001996 CASED UNC £1,225.001997 CASED UNC £1,225.001998 CASED UNC £1,225.002001 CASED UNC £1,225.002002 CASED UNC £1,275.002003 CASED UNC £1,225.002004 CASED UNC £1,225.002005 CASED UNC £1,275.002006 CASED UNC £1,225.00

TWO POUNDS1887 JUBILEE HEAD UNC £795.001887 JUBILEE HEAD AUNC £725.001902 EDWARD V11 BU £975.001995 DOVE PROOF FDC £645.002003 DNA PROOF FDC £545.002004 TREVITHIC PROOF FDC £545.002005 PLOT PROOF FDC £545.002006 BRUNEL SET FDC TWO COINS £975.00

SOUTH AFRICA1893 POND NICE VF £275.001967 TWO RANDS PROOF £255.001975 PROOF SET CASED 10 COINS SOV DOWN £395.001977 GOLD & SILVER JORDAN THREE COIN PRF SET CASED FDC £1,175.00 QUARTER SOV 2009 BU £65.00

USA1853 FIVE DOLLARS V-RARE C MINT MARK GEF £2,450.001851 GOLD DOLLAR EF £245.001853 GOLD DOLLAR EF £245.001851 G DOL EX MT AEF £55.00

GOLD PROOF CROWN CASED CERT2001 VICTORIA FDC £1,350.002002 JUBILEE FDC £1,350.00

NETHERLANDS1897 10 GULDEN AUNC £235.00

SWISS1922 10 FRANCS AUNC £95.00

AUSTRALIAN SOVEREIGN1870 SYDNEY VF £255.001870 SYDNEY AVF £235.002005 SYDNEY UNC £245.00

MEXICO1906 5 PESOS UNC £85.001959 10 PESOS UNC £195.00

BRITANNIA2001 10 POUNDS UNC £115.001987 50 POUNDS PR FDC £525.00

QUARTER SOV2009 UNC £65.002010 UNC £65.002010 PROOF CASED FDC £85.00

MEXICO1826 HALF ESCUDO AUNC £225.00

ITALY1865 20 LIRA AUNC £225.001882 20 LIRA AUNC £225.00

FRENCH1811 A 20 FRANCS GVF £245.00

IRAN1916 1 TOMAN EF £114.001916 5000 DINAR GVF £85.00

AUSTRIA1868 1 DUCAT GEF £125.001892 4 FLORIN RES UNC £90.001892 8 FLORIN RES UNC £195.00

PERU1962 1/5 LIBRA UNC £72.00

SARDINIA1851 10 LIRA GVF £235.00

GUATAMALA1860 4 REALES AUNC £165.00

INDIA1740 S GOLD FANAM GVF £24.00

BAHAMAS1973 50 DOL PROOF FDC £245.00

RUSSIA1899 10 ROUBLES GVF/AEF £265.00

GOLD PROOF SETS1980 £5 DOWN 4 COINS £1,975.001983 £2 DOWN 3 COINS £895.001989 £5 DOWN 4 COINS £3,250.002001 £2 DOWN 3 COINS £925.002002 £5 DOWN 4 COINS £2,375.002005 £2 DOWN 3 COINS £975.002005 £5 DOWN 4 COINS £2,350.002008 £2 DOWN 3 COINS £975.00

THIRD GUINEAS1802 VF £225.001804 GF/AVF £165.001810 UNC £525.00

QUARTER GUINEA1718 GEORGE 1 AUNC £775.001762 GEORGE 111 AUNC £725.00

HALF SOVEREIGNS1825 SUPERB UNC £975.001851 GVF £165.001853 GEF £265.001858 SUPERB UNC £875.001859 AVF £165.001859 AUNC £325.001860 VF £175.001861 GVF £175.001867 GVF £175.001869 AVF £165.001869 AUNC £325.001870 AUNC £285.001872 NOSE TO T AVF £175.001877 GVF £165.001877 VF £155.001883 EF £205.001883 AUNC £245.001884 AEF/EF £185.001885 AEF/EF £185.001887 JUB HD AUNC £145.001887 JUB HD UNC £165.001892 JUB HD AUNC £165.001893 MEL JUB HD GEF £875.001896 SUPERB UNC £170.001898 SUPERB UNC £170.001907 EF £130.001908 EF £130.001911 PROOF FDC £350.001911 AUNC £125.001911 UNC £130.001912 AUNC £125.001913 UNC £130.001914 UNC £130.001926 SOUTH AFRICA UNC £155.001937 PROOF FDC £450.001980 PROOF CASED FDC £125.001982 NO CERT PROOF £120.001982 PROOF CASED FDC £125.001982 UNC £120.001983 PROOF CASED FDC £130.001984 NO CERT PROOF £120.001984 PROOF CASED FDC £130.001985 PROOF CASED FDC £165.001986 PROOF CASED FDC £165.001987 PROOF CASED FDC £165.001988 PROOF CASED FDC £165.001989 PROOF CASED FDC £425.001990 PROOF CASED FDC £195.001991 PROOF CASED FDC £195.001993 PROOF CASED FDC £185.001994 PROOF CASED FDC £175.001995 PROOF CASED FDC £175.001996 PROOF CASED FDC £175.001997 PROOF CASED FDC £175.001998 PROOF CASED FDC £175.002002 UNC £135.002005 UNC £135.00

GUINEAS1671 VF £1,875.001716 EX MOUNT NEAR FINE £245.001777 GVF £595.001789 GEF £975.001787 EX MOUNT GF/NVF £235.001794 GF/VF £365.001798 GEF £875.001798 LIGHT TONE AUNC £925.00

• Above prices subject to gold prices change •

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Spring In this month’s Competition Corner we are celebrating the Spring season by offering readers the chance to win a Lindner banknote binder, slipcase and interleaves to display and protect your banknotes—a perfect gift for the banknote collector—valued at £50!

To be entered into the draw to win this super prize, simply fi nd all the words listed hidden in the word square below, fi ll in the form and return it to the address below before July 31, 2011—GOOD LUCK!

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S H Q W E R O Y B R E V E R S E G H CK P Z X C V B N M A K J H G I T S M PM I E Y T R V W Q H N B V L N M Q A PR O Y C M O E V C X A A C U D R U G CO I N Y I R R W Q Z K N N G I D S A PP H R E C M S S S O R K D S R Y E Z WR I U Y Y R E W Q Z J N V S T S Q I PO S K Q B O O N N S I O V E I I E N OV I U Y T R E W Q Z K T H G I G S E PI W A C C E S S O R I E S N A N N M ZN D S F E S S R R A K S H G I A S E PC E P L E Y R E M G T S N U M T E D DI M M R I N T E R L E A V E S U R T IA I B T A P S U P S W J T N F R I N FL Z O I S I C F C R N S A A Y E A I IL A U V N L N A T N I J L G A D L A PT G O E D D L Q S O N N B R T L L I GC A C S A E E O D E O J T G I D B T PE M R E H A N R O O T I M G E U P U MC D E H R E P L A C E M E N T F P U M

In this month’s Competition Corner we are celebrating the Spring season by offering readers the chance to win a Lindner banknote binder, slipcase and interleaves to display and protect your banknotes—a perfect gift for the

To be entered into the draw to win this super prize, simply fi nd all the words

COMPETITION!

WIN! a banknote binder and interleaves

COMPETITION WINNERSWinner of the Christmas competition to win a festive

“Numismatic stocking” was Ms Norma Aubertin-Potterfrom Kidlington—well done to her!


Essentially a replacement banknote is one printed to replace a faulty note. In the bad old days, if a note was misprinted or damaged during production, a new note having the identical serial number was printed and substituted for the fl awed note in the numerical sequence. This was both time-consuming and labour-intensive, i.e. expensive.

A time- and cost-saving solution was found in the printing of a series of special notes that could be used to replace defective notes. Regardless of the number of errors occurring in a particular sequence, the insertion of the replacement notes ensures that the number of notes in that sequence remains constant and that control is maintained over the number of banknotes printed and issued.

Different countries and different security printers use different devices to identify replacement notes. Most label the serial number in some manner. It may be a symbol such as an asterisk or a star. Often a letter prefi x, or occasionally a suffi x, is used, commonly a Z, or a Z/1 or ZA or ZZ. As a consequence replacement notes are often referred to as a “star” or “Z” notes.

Countries that have used a star or asterisk include Australia, New Zealand, Italy, India, Estonia and USA. A Z prefi x has been used by Peru, Paraguay, Madagascar, Jersey, IOM and Northern Ireland, with Z/1 favoured by Mauritius, Singapore and Scotland.

Replacement contagionDR KERRY RODGERS searches for meaning in numbers . . .

Replacement, n. 2. A person who, or thing which, replaces another, esp. as a substitute. OED

One of only three US 1901 $10 Bison star replacement notes known having the Vernon-McClung signature combination.

(Image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries.)

ONE of the fi rst mildly obsessive banknote collectors I ever met was hooked on replacements. I can only assume I caught something from him. I don’t collect replacement notes exclusively as he did, but they did become, and still are, an integral part of my Fijian paper money collection.

Typical Bank of England £5 Series D replacement.

Usage is not consistent within anyone country. Fiji has used Z/1, Z and, currently, ZA. And many different schemes exist. Bolivia prefers to use Z as a suffi x. Canada once identifi ed replacements with an X as the third letter of the serial letter prefi x. Chile put an R alongside the plate number. Puppet Banks in China used a 9 as the fi rst digit of a six-digit serial. The Cook Islands went with ZZZ and Denmark preferred an OJ or OK suffi x.

Then of course we have that great glory and joy for replacement collectors everywhere that is the Bank of England. Here are all manner of enchanting serial prefi xes to enthuse the collector: S10S, T01D, N14M, M01, LL--. Your guide to this garden of delights is Token’s Banknote Yearbook. For other notes The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money now includes reference to replacement notes as a result of increasing collector demand. However, its coverage is by no means comprehensive across all countries. A good compendium of different replacement serials can be found at http://www.banknoteexpress.com/replacements.html

For replacement collectors the challenge is numerical. The numbers of a given replacement note type are proportionally much lower than the number of regular notes in that issue. In Australia it is estimated there are no more than 200,000 replacement notes per signature combination per denomination.


Back to basics

As such replacement notes, particularly in high grade, tend to command much higher prices than regular issues.

From time to time security printers have abandoned the replacement note system. No doubt managing two piles of notes on the shop fl oor, one regular and the other replacements, brings its own problems and costs. Electronic counting of note bundles allows for easy management of the numbers of notes in a stack but does mean that in the absence of replacement notes the serial numbers at the top and bottom of a note stack are quite random. Fortunately, for those of us bitten by the

replacement bug, there has been some reversion to Z- and/or star-notes in recent years.

By the way, one common use of replacements occurs in the printing process after the serials and signatures have been overprinted but prior to cutting the sheets into stacks. When a defective note is spotted at this stage the entire sheet on which it occurs is scrapped and replaced in toto.

A word of caution. Not all notes having a Z (or X) serial prefi x are replacement notes. Although I have never seen one with a star or asterisk that is not, I am happy to stand corrected.

Current Fiji $10 replacement with ZA serial prefi x in Fine condition. Replacement notes are extremely rare in high grade among any of Fiji’s higher denominations. (Image © K.A. Rodgers 2009.)

Rare Australian 1 pound Coombs-Wilson star in UNC that fetched A$26,831 last year compared with A$8,000 value of a

non star note. Image courtesy Downies.

Gold Sovereignsfor sale

£225Tel Paul: 07779 461929

www.buybullioncoins.com

Paul DavisBirmingham Ltd

DEALERS IN OLDGOLD AND SILVER

COINAGE0121 427 7179

P. O. BOX 418 BIRMINGHAM B17 0RZ


I have been buying and selling all types of paper money for over 20 years and I pride myself on offering a fi rst class reliable service. If you have notes to sell, or if you would like to receive some of the

best sales lists around, please contact me.

• Every month I produce a large list of some 30 pages offering thousands of different, world wide banknotes.• I also issue a quarterly, specialised listing of English,

Scottish, Irish, Isle of Man and Channel Island notes.• My price lists, as well as many special offers can now be

accessed on the internet.

www.collectpapermoney.co.ukVisit my website at:

A Great Deal for Banknote Collectors

BARRY BOSWELL24 Townsend Lane, Upper Boddington,

Daventry, Northants. NN11 6DR Telephone: 01327 261877 Fax: 01327 261391e-mail: [email protected]

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Rarities down underTHE coin rarities of International Auction

Galleries of Australia’s next sale on June 2 are covered in the “coin” News & Views pages of this issue, however, there are rare banknotes on offer too. A lot sure to attract a great deal of attention is the presentation 1913 10 shillings last seen at auction in 1980. In GEF condition this impressive note is estimated at £90,000. Catalogues for Sale 74 will be available from May onwards and can be downloaded free of charge at www.iagauctions.com or write to IAG, PO Box 1380, Broadbeach, QLD, 4218, Australia for further details.

Polymer notes for Canada SINCE their introduction Polymer notes have been adopted for use by

eight countries around the world and now the Bank of Canada have just announced that they too will start issuing their own polymer banknotes in November of this year. The fi rst polymer note off the production line will be the $100 note with the $50, $20, $10 and $5 all following before 2013. In a press release the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney, said “Canada’s new bank notes will have innovative security features that are easy to verify. The leading-edge technology in these notes will expand the frontiers of bank note security. With these new notes, the Bank of Canada will provide Canadians with a durable, high-quality, secure form of payment that they can use with confi dence”. In addition to enhancing security the Bank says the new bank note series will be more economical and have a reduced environmental impact.

The polymer note with its associated security features will be provided to Canada by Note Printing Australia (NPA), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia. The substrate itself will be supplied to NPA by the Australian company, Securency International, and the notes will be printed in Canada by two private sector security printers, Canadian Bank Note Company Limited and BA International Inc., both based in Ottawa. The designs for the $100 and $50 notes will be unveiled shortly. The new polymer bills are expected to outlast its paper-cotton blend predecessor by at least two and a half years.

St Thomas treatsAT the Archives International Auctions sale of the American

Banknote Archives (Part VII) on March 24 and 25, some 1,803 lots were offered. Top of the lots was a Bank of St Thomas, 1837 Issue Reprint Proof Banknote Sheet of three. The notes, $500, $100, $100 (P-12; P11; P-11), are an uncut reprint proof sheet from the book by J. Wilcke from an original printing plate. The back of the sheet is blank. The $500 note has an allegorical woman on the left and right and a seated woman on a globe in the centre, while the $100s have Columbus on the left with a steamboat, allegorical justice on the right with a man pouring water from a jug and “Landing of Columbus” vignette in the middle. The rare notes, which were usually cut up after being removed from the book, achieved $5,605 at the sale. The next auction, Part VIII, will take place on May 13 and 14. To fi nd out more visit www.archivesinternational.com.

Collect cheques or large size banknotes? We have a limited quantity of large size ring binders (350mmx370mm), complete with 20 pages each with three slots for cheques/notes or w.h.y. For this month only we are offering them to our readers at the special price of just £20 each inclusive of p&p (inland only). It’s a case of “fi rst come, fi rst served” so don’t delay, apply today.Visit our website at www.tokenpublishing.com or call Alyson on 01404 44166, or write to Token Publishing Ltd, Orchard House, Duchy Road, Honiton, Devon EX14 1YD

security. With these new notes, the Bank of Canada will provide Canadians with a durable, high-quality, secure

T the Archives International Auctions sale of the American

at the sale. The next auction, Part VIII, will take place on May 13 and

Czech withdraw

KC50IN a cost-cutting move, the Czech

National Bank has withdrawn the KC50 note. The note ceased to be valid on April 1 although the notes can be exchanged at

banks throughout the year ahead. A Czech Bank representative said that the Bank’s

main motivation for the move was the longer life-span of coins which

would reduce the Bank’s direct expenditure on issuing

money.

SPRING SPECIAL OFFER

NOW AVAILABLE

the 7th edition

BANKNOTE YEARBOOK

see leafl et enclosed with this issue

or visit www.tokenpublishing.com


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Banknote feature


During the 18th century the fi rst signs of the industrial revolution were seen in the form of textile spinning and weaving and other small scale manufacturing. New roads were built connecting Carlisle to the west coast ports along the Cumberland coast, north into Scotland and south towards Lancashire. A canal was also constructed to the Solway Firth but the turning point came in 1838 with the arrival of the railway. Quickly thereafter rail connections were built in all directions and Carlisle started to develop into an important transport and industrial town, all the while maintaining a close connection with its extensive agricultural hinterland.

With the border in such close proximity it was inevitable that the separate traditions of English and Scottish banking came into frequent contact and while the banking history of Carlisle is entirely an English one, the Scottish infl uence was never far away. The fi rst recorded banker set up in 1784 but the fi rst sizeable partnership came a few years later in 1790 when Thomas Forster & Sons was founded. This fi rm traded fi rst as the Carlisle Bank and later as the Carlisle Old Bank and operated successfully until its failure in dramatic circumstances in 1836. It was also the fi rst local bank known to issue its own notes. This alone distinguishes it from several other small local banking partnerships which decided to issue Scottish notes rather than their own. The leading private bank in Carlisle, at least until the joint stock banks established themselves, was J Monkhouse Head & Co who also appeared to have traded as Carlisle Old Bank. They issued Scottish notes.

In the early years of the 19th century the Scottish banking system was far better developed than England’s. Multi-branch joint stock banks had established themselves and Scottish notes, even those of smaller local banks, were universally trusted and formed by far the bulk of circulating currency. Gold and silver were used and valued, but notes always preferred for the safety and convenience. This habit spread to the northern counties of England and was actively encouraged by a network of agents employed by the Scottish banks to extend their note circulation as widely as possible. They were helped by the judicious use of commissions offered to businessmen, landowners, industrialists, traders and indeed anyone who used cash in their daily business. The National Bank of Scotland was a regular user of this technique. Some smaller Scottish banks including the Leith, the East Lothian, the Paisley and the Paisley Union banks went so far as to set up their own offi ces in Carlisle.

This put a dampener on the development of local banks at a time when the principal deposit raising method was the issue of circulating banknotes. Later, current and interest-bearing deposit accounts would reduce the reliance on note issue, just as the use of cheques displaced bills of exchange and post bills in the making of payments. Local banks such as the short-lived Carlisle Union Bank probably failed to make a mark due to the inroads of the Scottish banks. Others such as the Carlisle Banking Co, which left behind only a few proof guinea notes, were probably stillborn and never traded.

JONATHAN CALLAWAY

CARLISLE BANKS—English banking in the

shadow of ScotlandTHE history of Carlisle predates even the Romans though they left their mark alongside other vanished folk such as

the Picts, the Danes and the Scots. With the Scottish border only about 10 miles away there was always going to be trouble with the neighbours and so it proved over the centuries. Caerleyl or Caer-leol, as the Ancient Britons (Celts)

called it, was occupied by the Romans before construction of Hadrian’s Wall started in AD 122. Although long an English city Carlisle has suffered, or enjoyed, periods of occupation by the Scots and changed hands a number of times over the centuries. Carlisle inevitably became a military garrison town which grew around the castle constructed after the Norman Conquest. The last Scottish invasion came in 1745 when Bonnie Prince Charlie occupied the town for a brief period. After a brief siege the town was retaken by the Duke of Cumberland who went on to win the battle of Culloden in 1746 and end the last armed rebellion in the United Kingdom.

The Carlisle Union Bank survived only for a few years despite managing to issue its own notes.

A £5 note of the Forsters’ Carlisle Old Bank.

This proof note was prepared for the Connells’ Carlisle Commercial Bank when

they started up in 1824.

74 Coin news

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www.tokenpublishing.com May 2011www.tokenpublishing.com May 2011

Banknote feature

In the end, it was a change in the law which made the difference. A nationwide banking crisis in 1825 caused parliament to legislate against the issue in England of notes below £5 in value. Scotland successfully argued for the retention north of the border of their £1 notes but the issue of Scottish notes in England was restricted after 1828 and the English banking establishment made sure there were never more than token branch openings in England by Scottish banks. Interestingly, there was a strong lobbying effort by the “gentry, land occupiers, merchants, manufacturers and tradesmen” of Cumberland and Westmorland in favour of retaining the circulation of Scottish notes, but to no avail.

The change in law also paved the way for the creation of joint stock banks in England. The fi rst to be established in Carlisle was the Carlisle & Cumberland Bank in 1836, followed a year later by the Carlisle City & District Bank. This was a time of economic crisis in the Carlisle area after the failure of Thomas Forster & Co threatened to drag down other local banks. The two new joint stocks eventually went on to dominate the local fi nancial scene, later being joined by the Cumberland Union Bank who moved their head offi ce from Workington in 1865 on absorption of J Monkhouse Head & Co. All three banks had overwhelmingly local businessmen and landowners as their shareholders.

The genesis of the Carlisle City & District Bank is especially interesting. It was not just another joint stock bank starting from scratch, it was able to build on the business and contacts of the Carlisle offi ce of the Kendal-based Wakefi eld & Co, as well as the Carlisle agency of the Leith Banking Company and the entire business of Joseph Sanderson & Co of Cockermouth. They also merged their newly raised capital with that of the stillborn Borough Bank of Carlisle which had done the hard work in attracting subscribers but had not actually opened for business. The resulting agglomeration of existing businesses therefore got off to a fl ying start. Shortly after opening they also acquired the business of the failed local private bank of John & James Connell & Co (the Carlisle Commercial Bank), brought down by the collapse of Thomas Forster & Co, in part to ensure it was able to discharge its liabilities and thus prevent further loss of confi dence in the banks.

In acquiring the Carlisle branch of the Leith Bank the Carlisle City & District Bank also took on that bank’s local manager, one John Brown, who later caused them some embarrassment and was indirectly responsible for their Authorised Circulation under the 1844 Banking Act ending up somewhat lower than it should have been. His problem was to run up an undisclosed overdraft of some £2,554 9s 3d and then, in 1843, absconding rather than repaying it. This caused a minor run on the bank which

depressed its note circulation precisely at the time the new Act was measuring banks’ average note issuance for the purpose of calculating the Authorised Circulation.

The 1844 Act also prevented new banks from obtaining a note-issuing licence, and prohibited merged or acquired banks from bequeathing their licence to new owners. Carlisle’s two remaining note-issuers were granted an Authorised Circulation of £25,610 and a depressed £19,972 respectively. Their Workington rival weighed in with another £35,395 but when the amalgamation of English banking got underway in the 1890s all three disappeared and on May 6, 1911 the era of banknote issuance in Carlisle came to an end. In the end they were much too small for their industrial customers’ needs.

Scottish banking put in one last appearance in 1874 when the Clydesdale Bank suddenly opened branches in Carlisle, Workington and Whitehaven, in support, so they said, of their Scottish ironmaster customers who did much business with the local iron trade. This caused a furore but the branches remained. They did not, of course, issue the bank’s own notes, but they certainly ruffl ed a few local feathers.

Today’s collectors have a wide range of Carlisle and Cumbrian notes to choose from, including several issued by the banks mentioned in this article. Many of the mid-Victorian productions were beautifully engraved and colourful.

Acknowledgement:Without the help of Keith Austin this article would have been

much more diffi cult to put together. The offer of illustrations from his collection of Cumbrian notes is much appreciated.

References:CHANDLER, G., Four Centuries of Banking (London 1968).CRICK, W. F. and WADSWORTH, J. E., A Hundred Years of

Joint Stock Banking (London 1936).OUTING, R., Standard Catalogue of the Provincial Banknotes

of England & Wales (Token Publishing 2010).

The Carlisle & Cumberland Bank’s notes were attractive designs from the outset, originally designed by W. H. Lizars of Edinburgh, although this note was probably prepared by W. & A. K. Johnston who bought his business after his death in 1859.

The reverse design of this Carlisle & Cumberland

Banking Co £5 is another fi ne effort originally by

W. H. Lizars.

The Carlisle City & District Bank’s designs competed strongly with their rivals in aesthetics. This proof was also prepared by W. H. Lizars.

A close up of the vignette reveals a delightfully bucolic vista of Carlisle, although plenty of signs of industry can be seen.

This poster tells the story of John Brown’s unauthorised overdraft.This poster tells the story of John This poster tells the story of John Brown’s unauthorised overdraft.


WORLD BANKNOTESDealers write for wholesale list

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www.tokenpublishing.com May 2011Coin news76

Paper facts

Over the years collectors have wondered which branch a hand signed note was issued from and if it had been issued in their home town. As some signatures can have the appearance of a roll of barbed wire collectors have sometimes also been left in the dark as to the name of the signer. A recent purchase of a book of Specimen Signatures of the Royal Bank of Scotland dated January 1937, with 334 entries, supplies some answers. It is interesting to note that the border of the front cover consists of many small swastikas just twenty months before the outbreak of World War II (fi g. 1).

There are 25 pages bearing printed specimen signatures, this was to allow receivers of bank documents to check if the signature upon it was genuine or not, fi g. 2 shows a typical page. It could be considered to be the “Rosetta Stone” for Royal Bank hand signatures. The book lists the signatures alphabetically by branch, but once entered into a database they can be sorted alphabetically by signature which makes it easier to check the names against the notes in a collection. The book is also a useful alphabetical list of all of the bank’s branches, some of which I have not heard of before. The exact location of the towns, cities and villages mentioned can be found by entering them into a satnav—who would have thought that the device that will eventually kill off the printed motorist’s map would also be useful for banknote collectors?

Figure 3 illustrates very well the extra interest that hand signatures give to banknote collecting: three Royal Bank of Scotland £1 notes dated February 2, 1927 but each bears a different hand signature. A rubber stamp on the back of each note (fi g. 4) shows that they were exchanged for face value on June 6, 1988 at the King Street,

ONE of the many features which makes Scottish banknotes so popular with collectors is that some were hand signed as late as the 1940s, this

gives them an extra appeal as a hand signature makes the note personal to one member of staff, or two if the note bears two hand signatures.

On theOn theNOTE

WILLIAM McCREATH

Hand signatures on notes of the Royal Bank of Scotland

Figure 1.

Figu

re 2

.

May 2011 www.tokenpublishing.com

Paper facts

If any reader has a question that might be answered by referring to this book, I can be contacted via email at [email protected]. If necessary a scan of a signature can be attached for attempted deciphering.

I also have a similar specimen signature book for the North of Scotland Bank Limited dated October 1939 but as it is 59 pages long compared to the Royal Bank of Scotland book at 25 pages, the database entries will take a bit longer.

Bridlington branch of the Midland Bank, along with another three Scottish £1 notes of more recent vintage that came with them. The person who handed them in was probably delighted to get £6 from the Midland for six “obsolete” notes.

There are not 334 names listed nor 334 branches listed, as some agents (managers) were agent for more than one branch and some branches had a sub-agent as well as an agent. There are 262 different names listed. It is safe to assume that Wm. Smith (fi g. 5) agent at Partick (Glasgow) is a different person from Wm. Smith (fi g. 6) agent at Buckie which is 200 miles from Glasgow and the signatures are very different. V. H. Beattie was the agent for four branches in the Edinburgh area and Nath. W. Willins was agent for fi ve branches in the Scottish Borders area. Surprisingly for Scotland there are just 18 names that are “Mc” or “Mac” and there are also just two that are Browns and six that are Smiths. Keeping it in the family is a feature of some branches: James Adam and W. Wilson Adam were joint agents at the Renfrew branch and J. Cameron Conn and James Conn were joint agents at Hawick and Denholm. T. G. Fraser was a busy man as he was agent at Tranent and Ormiston as well as being joint agent at Cockenzie and Prestonpans east of Edinburgh. There are 36 different signatures listed for the Glasgow branches, 32 for Edinburgh and 26 for London.

A £1 note dated July 16, 1914 bears the hand signature of A. J. Stewart (fi g. 7). The book lists him as being the Agent at Stranraer (fi g. 8), and although the signatures are not identical it seems safe to assume that they are the same person—the 1914 note might not have been issued in Stranraer as he may have been in a different branch in 1914. J. Kirkaldy is a name often encountered on Royal Bank notes and this book makes it clear why. Here he is on a £1 note dated February 2, 1927 (fi g. 9). He was based in the Edinburgh Head Offi ce and signed “pro General Manager” (fi g. 10). Another common signature is that of T. W. Wilson who also signed “pro General Manager” at Head Offi ce—his signature is on a £20 dated October 31, 1934 (fi g. 11), and on a £5 note dated January 3, 1939 (fi g. 12). The signature in the book (fi g. 13) matches closely with the signature on the notes. The second hand signature on the £20 note is that of T. Brown (fi g. 14). In 1937 he was the Assistant Accountant also based in the Head Offi ce (fi g. 15). In later years his printed signature appears on notes when he was promoted to Chief Accountant (fi g. 16). W. Goodwillie was also a prolifi c signer of notes over a long period from about 1914 to about 1940, but unfortunately he is not mentioned in the book. Here his signature is on a £1 note dated March 24, 1921 (fi g. 17). Just about every collector of Scottish notes will have a note signed by Mr Goodwillie and thanks to research carried out by Dave Murphy at the Royal Bank’s Archive we now know from the Royal Bank Minutes, “30 Apr. 1947: William Hay Goodwillie, Note Exchange Teller to retire 10th May”. Mystery solved. This gentleman signed so many notes that it would not be a surprise if he had had to retired due to Repetitive Strain Injury.

Some signatures that were indecipherable can now be translated: Mr Eric W. H. Brander was at the Aberdeen, Torry branch in 1937, but without this book it would be all but impossible to know his name (fi g. 18). The same applies to J. Watson M’Isaac at Elgin (fi g. 19), and J. A. Smart at Melrose (fi g. 20).

Figure 3 (left) and fi gure 4.

Figure 20.

Figure 19.

Figure 18.

Figure 17.

Figure 16.

Figure 15.

Figure 14.

Figure 13.

Figure 12.

Figure 11.

Figure 10.

Figure 9.

Figure 8.

Figure 7.

Figure 6.

Figure 5.

Coin news 77


Banknote prices

ALLIED IRISH BANKS LTDONE POUNDNI.101 Signatory: P. O’Keiffe (Group Chief Executive) ....... Prefi x PN dated 1.1.1982 ..................................... £20 £30 Prefi x ZY —replacement note. ............................ £60 £100

FIVE POUNDSNI.102 Signatory: P. O’Keiffe (Group Chief Executive) ....... Prefi x QN dated 1.1.1982; 1.7.1983 and 1.12.1984 £40 £60 Prefi x ZY—replacement note. ............................ £75 £125TEN POUNDSNI.103 Signatory: P. O’Keiffe (Group Chief Executive) ....... Prefi x RN dated 1.1.1982; 1.7.1983 and 1.12.1984 £60 £95 Prefi x ZY—replacement note. .......................... £100 £160

TWENTY POUNDSNI.104 Signatory: P. O’Keiffe (Group Chief Executive) ....... Prefi x SN dated 1.1.1982; 1.7.1983 and 1.12.1984 £100 £180 Prefi x ZY—replacement note. probably exists

ONE HUNDRED POUNDSNI.105 Signatory: P. O’Keiffe (Group Chief Executive) ....... Prefi x TN dated 1.1.1982 ................................... £450 £650 Prefi x ZY—replacement note .................. probably exists

ALLIED IRISH BANKS PLCFIVE POUNDSNI.106 Signatory: G. B. Scanlon (Group Chief Executive) .. Prefi x QN and UN dated 1.1.1987 and 1.1.1990 £32 £50 Prefi x ZY—replacement note. ............................ £75 £125

TEN POUNDSNI.107 Signatory: G. B. Scanlon (Group Chief Executive) .. Prefi x RN dated 1.1.1986 to prefi x WN dated 18.5.1993 . £45 £75 Prefi x ZY—replacement note. .......................... £100 £150

TWENTY POUNDSNI.108 Signatory: G. B. Scanlon (Group Chief Executive) Prefi x SN dated 1.1.1987, 1.4.1987 and 1.1.1990 £65 £90 Prefi x ZY—replacement note .................. probably exists

ONE HUNDRED POUNDSNI.109 Signatory: G. B. Scanlon (Group Chief Executive) .. Prefi x TN dated 1.12.1988 ................................. £350 £480 Prefi x ZY—replacement note ................... probably exists

BANK OF IRELANDONE POUNDNI.201a Signatory: J. H. Craig ................................................... Prefi x B/10 dated 6.5.1929 and prefi x B/11 dated 8.5.1929 ........................... £80 £150NI.201b Signatory: G. W. Frazer ................................................ Prefi x B/12 dated 3.4.1933 and prefi x B/13 dated 9.3.1936 ....................................................... £55 £95

VF EFNI.202a Signatory: G. W. Frazer ................................................ Prefi x B/13 dated 9.3.1936 to prefi x B17 dated 1.11.1940 ...................................................... £70 £130

NI.202b Signatory: H. J. Adams Prefi x B/18 dated 23.2.1942 to prefi x B/21 dated 15.11.1943 .................................................... £40 £75

EF UNCNI.203 Signatory: W. E. Guthrie (Agent) ............................... Prefi x A to prefi x C .............................................. £35 £55NI.204a Signatory: H. H. M. Chestnutt (Manager) ................. Prefi x D and E ....................................................... £25 £40 Prefi x Z —replacement note ...................................... RareNI.204b Signatory: A. S. J. O’Neill (Manager) Prefi x E and F ........................................................ £12 £20 Prefi x Z—replacement note ................................ £65 —

NI.205 Signatory: A. S. J. O’Neill (Manager) ........................ Prefi x G and H ........................................................ £8 £13 Prefi x Z—replacement note ................................ £10 £16

F VFFIVE POUNDSNI.211a Signatory: J. H. Craig ................................................... Prefi x S/10 dated 5.5.1929 and 15.5.1929 .......... £95 £180 Prefi x S/11 dated 7.5.1929 ................................... £95 £180NI.211b Signatory: G. W. Frazer Prefi x S/12 dated 15.8.1935 to prefi x S/15 dated 2.12.1940 ..................................................... £60 £110

VF EFNI.211c Signatory: H. J. Adams ................................................. Prefi x S/16 dated 16.2.1942 to prefi x S/23 dated 20.12.1943 ................................................... £70 £125NI.211d Signatory: S. G. Skuce Prefi x S/24 dated 1.9.1958 and prefi x S/25 dated 1.10.1958 ..................................................... £70 £150NI.212a Signatory: W. E. Guthrie (Agent) ............................... Prefi x M .............................................................. £140 £240NI.212b Signatory: H. H. M. Chestnutt (Agent) Prefi x M. .............................................................. £140 £240

Price guide to: Northern Ireland—Allied Irish Banks Ltd, Allied Irish Banks PLC & Bank of Ireland

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.

EF UNC F VF

Allied Irish Banks Ltd, Allied Irish Banks Ltd, Allied Irish Banks PLC &

The Price Guide is intended as a supplement to the highly acclaimed BANKNOTE YEARBOOK and we hope the prices

New7th Edition

now available


NI.213a Signatory: H. H. M. Chestnutt (Manager) ................. Prefi x N and prefi x P ........................................... £70 £110 Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £300 —NI.213b Signatory: A. S. J. O’Neill (Manager) Prefi x Q and prefi x R ........................................... £60 £95 Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £250 —“Sterling” added at centre and value sign at top right and bottom left is now shown as “£5”. (From 1984)

NI.214a Signatory: A. S. J. O’Neill (Manager) ........................ Prefi x R and S ........................................................ £55 £100 Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £200 —NI.214b Signatory: D. J. Harrison (Manager) Prefi x S to prefi x V ............................................... £35 £60 Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £140 —NI.215 Signatory: D. J. Harrison (Manager) .......................... Prefi x A dated 28.8.1990 to prefi x U dated 1.7.1994 £16 £28 Prefi x Z—replacement note ................................ £50 £75

NI.216a Signatory: G. McGinn (Chief Executive N.I.) ........... Prefi x U dated 1.7.1997 to prefi x Y dated 4.8.1998, and Prefi x AA dated 4.8.1998 to prefi x AY dated 5.9.2000. ...................................................... £12 £22 Prefi x Z—replacement note ................................ £30 £50NI.216b Signatory: M. S. Soden (Group Chief Executive) Prefi x AY to prefi x BP 300000 dated 1.3.2003 ... £10 £18 Prefi x Z—replacement note ................................ £25 £40NI.217 Signatory: D. McGowan (Chief Executive UK) ........ Prefi x BD to BK dated 20.4.2008 and ongoing ... — £10 Prefi x ZZ—replacement note ............................. £18 £30

F VFTEN POUNDSNI.221a Signatory: J. H. Craig ................................................... Prefi x U/10 dated 4.5.1929 and 14.5.1929. ...... £160 £320

VF EFNI.221b Signatory: H. J. Adams ................................................. Prefi x U/11 dated 26.1.1942 and prefi x U/12 dated 19.1.1943 ................................................... £125 £250NI.222 Signatory: W. E. Guthrie (Agent) ............................... Prefi x T ................................................................. £275 £500

EF UNCNI.223a Signatory: H. H. M. Chestnutt (Manager) ................. Prefi x U ................................................................ £240 £350 Prefi x Z—replacement note ...................................... rareNI.223b Signatory: A. S. J. O’Neill (Manager) Prefi x U and prefi x V ......................................... £160 £250 Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £250 —NI.224a Signatory: A. S. J. O’Neill (Manager) ........................ Prefi x V and prefi x W (possibly to W900000) .. £75 £120 Prefi x Z—replacement ....................................... £200 —NI.224b Signatory: D. J. Harrison (Manager) Prefi x W (possibly from W900001) X and Y, and £60 £90 Prefi x AA to AF Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £160 —NI.225 Signatory: D. J. Harrison (Manager) .......................... Prefi x A dated 14.5.1991 to prefi x P dated 28.5.1992 ..................................................... £35 £55 Prefi x Z—replacement note ................................ £75 £125NI.226a Signatory: G. McGinn (Chief Executive N. I.) .......... Prefi x R dated 1.7.1995 to prefi x BD dated 5.9.2000 ...................................................... £20 £30 Prefi x Z—replacement note. ............................... £50 £80NI.226b Signatory: D. McGowan (Chief Executive N. I.) Prefi x BE to prefi x BU dated 1.5.2005 ................ £18 £25 Prefi x Z—replacement note. ............................... £45 £65NI.227 Signatory: S. Kirkpatrick (Chief Executive N. I.) Prefi x BD dated 20.4.2008 and ongoing ............. — £18 Prefi x ZZ—replacement note. .................................. £45

TWENTY POUNDSNI.231 Signatory: J. H. Craig ................................................... Prefi x X/10 dated 9.5.1929 (print run of just 2,500 notes)............................ £700 £1500

VF EFNI.232 Signatory: A. S. J. O’Neill (Manager) ........................ Prefi x A ................................................................ £250 £450 Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £400 —

EF UNCNI.233a Signatory: A. S. J. O’Neill (Manager) ........................ Prefi x A and prefi x B .......................................... £140 £240 Prefi x Z—replacement note ...................................... RareNI.233b Signatory: D. J. Harrison (Manager) Prefi x B to prefi x F ................................................ £85 £140 Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £160 £220NI.234 Signatory: D. J. Harrison (Manager) .......................... Prefi x A dated 9.5.1991 to prefi x K dated 28.5.1993 ..................................................... £50 £80 Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £120 £200NI.235 Signatory: G. McGinn (Chief Executive N. I.) .......... Prefi x L dated 1.7.1995 to prefi x V dated 1.7.1997 ...................................................... £40 £60 Prefi x Z—replacement note. ............................... £85 £125NI.236a Signatory: G. McGinn (Chief Executive N. I.) .......... Prefi x W dated 1.1.1999 to prefi x BC dated 5.9.2000 ....................................................... £35 £55 Prefi x Z—replacement note ................................ £70 £110

EF UNCNI.236b Signatory: D. McGowan (Chief Executive N. I.) Prefi x BD dated 1.1.2003 to prefi x CS dated 22.2.2007 ....................................................... — £40 Prefi x Z—replacement note ................................ £70 £100NI.237 Signatory: S. Kirkpatrick (Chief Executive N. I.) ...... Prefi x BD to BX dated 20.4.2008 and ongoing .... — £35 Prefi x ZZ—replacement note ............................... — £65

FIFTY POUNDSNI.241a Signatory: G. McGinn (Chief Executive N. I.) Prefi x A dated 1.7.1995 ...................................... £100 £130 Prefi x Z—replacement note. ............................. £200 £300NI.241b Signatory: R. Keenan (Chief Executive U.K.) Prefi x A dated 5.4.2004 (starting from A 200001) ........................................ — £95 Prefi x Z—replacement note. ............................. £100 £230

VF EFONE HUNDRED POUNDSNI.251a Signatory: H. H. M. Chestnutt (Manager) ................. Prefi x A ................................................................ £450 £750NI.251b Signatory: A. S. J. O’Neill (Manager) Prefi x A ................................................................ £350 £550

EF UNCNI.252a Signatory: A. S. J. O’Neill (Manager) Prefi x A ................................................................ £380 £500NI.252b Signatory: D. J. Harrison (Manager) Prefi x A ................................................................ £280 £400NI.253 Signatory: D. J. Harrison (Manager) .......................... Prefi x A dated 28.8.1992 .................................... £280 £400NI.254a Signatory: G. McGinn (Chief Executive N. I.) .......... Prefi x A dated 1.7.1995 ...................................... £200 £300 Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £300 £450 NI.254b Signatory: G. McGowan (Chief Executive N. I.)....... Prefi x A dated 1.3.2005 .......................................... — £190 Prefi x Z—replacement note .............................. £250 £360

Banknote prices

Next month: Price guide to National Bank Ltd and Northern Bank Ltd

EF UNC F VF

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SRI LANKAAfter over 20 years, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) introduced a new series of notes on February 4, 2011. With a theme of

development, prosperity and culture, this new series is of colourful 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 Rupees notes in the traditional horizontal (front) and vertical format (back). Various structures, some old, some new are prominent on the front along with indigenous birds and butterfl ies. This new series represents a reorganisation of CBSL’s portfolio: the long standing 10 Rs has

disappeared; likewise the 2000 Rs introduced only in 2005 and the 5000 Rs debuts as the highest denomination.

CBSL’s maroon 20 Rs shows a view of the modern container port in the capital Colombo and a view from an earlier time of a merchant ship alongside an old style Colombo wharf unloading by on board cranes. Complementing these views is a Serendib Scops Owl to the right and the Baronet butterfl y at bottom left.

Three bridges are depicted on the blue 50 Rs. In the foreground is the recently completed two lane concrete Japanese Friendship Peace Bridge as it crosses the Mahaweli River in the Flood Plains National Park in the northern central part of the country. Alongside is a decades old iron box girder bridge. An unusual bridge, it is single lane for vehicular traffi c, so vehicles had to wait for any oncoming traffi c to complete their crossing before commencing theirs; the road lane also doubles as a rail bridge. With the completion of the Friendship Bridge in 2006 this old bridge now serves only rail.

In the background is a spectacular nine arch stone Demodara railway bridge opened in 1921 on a railway line winding through the hillside tea plantations in central Sri Lanka. A Dull Blue Flycatcher is roosting at right and the Blue Oak Leaf butterfl y is at bottom left.

Laxapana Waterfall which appears on earlier CBSL and colonial issues is on the orange 100 Rs along with the Norochcholai Coal Power Plan on the north west coast. Sri Lanka’s fi rst coal fi red power station is still under construction although Stage One (of three stages) was due to come on stream in January 2011. Hydro electric generators (including those at the Laxapana Falls) provide much of Sri Lanka’s power requirements. An Orange Billed Babbler and an Autumn Leaf butterfl y assume their normal positions.

For the purple 500 Rs Colombo’s most prestigious offi ce and retail complex and Sri Lanka’s tallest buildings, the twin towers of the 39 storey World Trade Centre and the CBSL head offi ce also in Colombo are depicted. Alongside is the Lankathilaka Viharaya Buddhist temple in Kandy which dates back to the 12th Century. Built by one of the regional kings, Parakrambahu the Great, it is one of the most impressive Buddhist shrines in Sri Lanka. An Emerald Collared Parakeet and an Indigo Royal butterfl y feature.

Sri Lanka’s longest tunnel, the vehicular Ramboda Tunnel opened by President Rajapaksa three years ago is on the green 1000 Rs. Built in a picturesque area in central Sri Lanka and another infrastructure project built with foreign assistance it improves transport, eases congestion and preserves the environment. One entrance is shown and to the left is the unspoilt pre tunnel rock face. A Hanging Parrot and a White Four Ring butterfl y occupy their standard positions.

Dams are depicted on the new denomination, the gold brown 5000 Rs. To the left is the Weheragala Dam also opened by President Rajapaksa in 2009, it will provide a much needed reliable water supply to rice farmers in the region. To the right is the older and well established Canyon Dam which unlike Weheragala is an important source of hydro electric power generation. A Yellow Eared Bulbul and a Lemon Migrant butterfl y are illustrated.

From time to time dancers and musicians appeared on CBSL issues. For this series dancers in traditional costumes, either male or female, mostly accompanied by drummers, perform differing dances from Sinhalese culture, feature on the back of each note. Other elements drawn from Sinhalese culture such as guard stones, ceremonial pots and fl oral designs are shown. These images

are well suited to the vertical confi guration. Security escalates mildly as the value rises. Each denomination has a

watermark which mirrors the bird featured in the design. An embossed denomination numeral appears in each watermark panel. To the right of the butterfl y, the denomination numeral forms a perfect registration and reinforced cornerstones are to be found on each value. Lower technology security threads are in the 20, 50, and 100 Rs whereas the three higher values have an interrupted, metallic thread of a colour complementing the note. Regardless of complexity each thread contains multiple inscriptions of “CBSL” and the appropriate denomination.

Sri Lanka’s President and Finance Minister (by the tradition these offi ces are held jointly) Mahinda Rajapaksa is one signatory and CBSL Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal the other. Notes are dated January 1, 2010. De La Rue continues as the printer.

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 75

www.tokenpublishing.com May 201180 Coin news


82 Coin news

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Eye of the beholder Dear Editor

I have enjoyed COIN NEWS for many years, but the increasing use of colour and graphics is making it less enjoyable and in parts diffi cult or impossible to read. There are some prime examples in the April 2011 edition, for example: The heading on page 27 and the “Smelly bit” on page 12. The articles starting on pages 30 and 45—black text on a green background is a poor contrast. The “Ingram” advert on pages 8 and 9 and the advertisement on page 69.

Colour and graphics should be used to enhance the presentation, not overpower it. Please curb the excesses of your graphics designers!

Alan ThomsIn an effort to ensure articles are

attractive and enticing to read, there is some call for enhancing the overall image of the feature although I do appreciate what you are saying. As regards advertisements, colour choice is often related to “corporate” identity and company colours form part of the composition requested by the advertiser.—ED.

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Whilst we endeavour to reply as quickly as possible this can take some time.Please send your letters to: Token Publishing Ltd., Orchard House, Duchy Road,

Heathpark, Honiton, Devon, EX14 1YD, or to [email protected] a reply is required, please enclose an SAE. Here we publish a selection from the postbag.

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

HK leads the way Dear Editor

I see in February’s edition of COIN NEWS, in an article by Dr Kerry Rodgers about Year of the Rabbit coins, that he mentions “30 years ago Singapore Mint struck their fi rst lunar coin. This opened the fl ood gates . . .”.

Although factually correct, an earlier Lunar Year series was commenced by Hong Kong (struck by the British Royal Mint) in 1976 (35 years ago) using the HK$1000 denomination. A special case was commissioned to hold this 12 year gold coin series, and it is still one of the most diffi cult sets to put together due to the popularity of each issue. The Lunar Year series was preceded in 1975 by a HK$1000 Royal Visit coin and succeeded in 1989 (I think) by a second Royal Visit coin.

Alan Wallace

Coining it in Dear Editor

As a collector not a Royalist, I listened with interest into a recent debate on a national radio station on the costs involved in the wedding of Prince William and Catherine

Middleton. The costs of the nuptials has also, I understand, generated great debate in many leading newspapers. Purely from a collector’s point of view such events provide a huge range of commemorative items to put together to mark the occasion. Our own Royal Mint has produced a very graceful crown, the profi ts of which will of course end up in the pubic purse. The vast majority of callers to the radio programme, and I appreciate this could have been “stage managed”, were against the wedding as a huge waste of public money. I don’t suppose many of them have stopped to consider the sheer volume of commemorative pieces that will be issued from mugs to T-shirts and the fi nancial boost this will bring to many an ailing business in these diffi cult times as well as bringing in much needed tax revenue. Not to mention, of course, the sheer number of visitors arriving in London to witness all the grandeur and ceremony that only a British Royal Wedding can truly put on.

Craig Simpson

We understand that the families of both parties are footing much of the bill so no-one can really complain!—ED.




DEALERS LISTS

AIREDALE COINS, PO Box 7, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16 1XU. Modern coins.ANCIENT & GOTHIC, PO Box 5390, Bournemouth, BH7 6XR. December List No. 264—Coins and antiquities.A. H. BALDWIN & SONS LTD., 11, Adelphi Terrace, London WC2N 6BJ. Fixed pice coin list.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. Yellow list 11—26pp 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 3LU. “The Phoenix”. Large newspaper-style list of coins, banknotes, books, etc. COINS HISTORIC, PO Box 5043, Lower Quinton, Stratford upon Avon CV37 8WH. Email: [email protected]. Catalogue No. 1 of ancient coins available.COLIN COOKE, PO Box 602, Altrincham, WA14 5UN. Hammered/milled coinage.M. COESHAW, PO Box 115, Leicester LE3 8JJ. 14pp list of coins and collectables.CNG, 14 Old Bond Street, London W1S 4PP. 11pp list of numismatic books.DAVID CRADDOCK, PO Box 3785 Camp Hill, Birmingham B11 2NF. British coins for sale.

IAN DAVISON, PO Box 256, Durham DH1 2GW. 18pp list available— Hammered and milled coins dating 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 255—ancient, medieval, modern and oriental coins. GK COINS LTD, 17 Hanover Square, London, W1S 1HU. List No. 5. 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. Spring List—12 pp of English, foreign coins and tokens.MUNTHANDEL.G.HENZEN, Postbus 42, NL-3958 ZT Amerongen. Tel: +31 (0) 343-430564. Email: [email protected]. List 221, 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 89: Hammered, milled, modern. DMITRI KHARITONOV, Gen. Janouska 900, 19800 Praha 9, Czech Republic. Email: [email protected]. Russian banknotes.

FRITZ RUDOLF KüNKER, Münzenhandlung Gutenbergstrasse 23, 49076 Osnabrück. List No. 195. World coins, ancient to modern.K & M COINS PO Box 3662, Wolverhampton WV10 6ZW, or 07971 950246. British and World coins and tokens. Please email: for details: [email protected] COINS, 42b Shop Lane, Nether Heage, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 2AR. List available, email: [email protected]. LIGHTHOUSE (Duncannon Partnership), 4 Beaufort Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 9DJ. 24pp colour catalogue of coin accessories.LINDNER, 3a Hayle Industrial Park, Hayle, TR27 5JR. 60pp. catalogue of accessories.MANNIN COLLECTIONS LIMITED, 5 Castle Street, Peel, Isle of Man IM5 1AN. September colour list of Isle 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. 12 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, Email: [email protected]. World notes.GLENN S. OGDEN, 53 Chestnut Cresc, Culver Green, Chudleigh TQ13 0PT. List No. 49. 18pp 19th/20th c. English coins. ROGER OUTING, PO Box 123, Clayton West, Huddersfi eld HD8 9WY. List 18—Cheques, banknotes , banking memorabilia.PETERCOINS, PO Box 46743, London SW17 0YF. Regular lists of low cost British Coins.

MARK RASMUSSEN, PO Box 42, Betchworth RH3 7YR. List 20—English/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 Winter list of ancient & early English coins.CHRIS RUDD, PO Box 222, Aylsham NR11 6TY. March 2011 list 116 16pp of Celtic coins. Liz’s List No. 51—Celtic coins—all under £200.SALTFORD COINS, Harcourt, Bath Road, Saltford BS31 3DQ. Six 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. 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. (March/April) Ancient/ hammered.JOHN WELSH, PO Box 150, Burton on Trent, Staff s 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, PO Box Teynham Lodge, Chase Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcs WR13 6DJ.TIM WILKES, PO Box 150, Battle TN33 0FA. List No. 11, medieval/Islamic coins.WORLD TREASURE BOOKS, PO Box 5, Newport, IOW PO30 2JG. List 24. D. YAPP, PO Box 4718, Shrewsbury Mail Centre SY1 9EA. 11pp list of banknotes of the world.


DATE EVENT VENUE CONTACT

May 1 Wolverhampton Coin Fair Social Club, Church Road, Bradmoor, Wolverhampton

07971 950246

South Coast Coin & Medal Show

The Pavilion, Southampton University, Wide Lane Sports Grounds, Eastleigh, Hants

07890 764452 (Rick Coleman)

May 4 Coin Fair Stowmarket Football Club, Bury Road, Stowmarket CLICKCOLLECT 01485 578118 (David James)

May 6–8 1st National Level Numismatic Exhibition and Auction

114, 1st Floor, Pamadi Chambers, Dr D.V.G. Road, Basavangudi, (Gandhi Bazar), Bangalore, India

+080 6532 9800Email: [email protected]

May 7 Coin Fair Bloomsbury Hotel, 16–22 Greatr Russell Street, London

LINDA MONK FAIRS 020 8656 4583

May 8 Midland Coin Fair National Motorcycle Museum, Bickenhill, Birmingham

01694 731781 (Mike Veissid)

May 11 Cheltenham Coin Fair St Andrews United Reform Church, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham

01452 501098

May 18 Coin Fair Th Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely, Cambs CLICKCOLLECT 01485 578118 (David James)

May 21 Little Clacton Coin & Stamp Fair

Youth & Community Centre, Parish Fields, Plough Corner, Harwich Road, Clacton

01255 862087

May 26 Plymouth Coin Fair The Guildhall, Plymouth 01749 813324

May 29 Wake£ eld Coin , Medal & Banknote Fair

Cedar Court Hotel, Denby Dale Road, Calder Grove, Wake£ eld

01522 644681 (Eddie Smith)

DATE LOCATION AUCTION CONTACT

May 1 London Auction 1: World coins and banknotes WESTMINSTER AUCTIONS 01362 638045 www.westminsterauctions.com

May 3–4 London British coins, ancient and world coins, military and commemorative medals

BALDWINS 020 7930 9808 www.baldwin.co.uk

May 5 Carlisle British and foreign coins, banknotes, medallions and numismatic collectables

THOMSON, RODDICK & MEDCALF 01228 528939 www.thomsonroddick.com

London Auction No. 1: Coins and banknotes WESTMINSTER AUCTIONS 01362 638045 www.westminsterauctions.com

May 10 Zurich Auction 3: Greek, Roman, early medieval and modern coins and booksAuction 4: Coins of Thessaly, the BCD Collection

NOMOS AG +41 44 250 5180 www.momosag.com

May 15 Ipswich Auction 84: British, world and ancient coins LOCKDALES 01473 218588 www.lockdales.com

May 18 Dublin Mail bid sale of world coins, medals, etc. INTERNATIONAL COIN EXCHANGE +353 (0) 86 840 3355 www.auction-ice.com

May 24 London Auction of British and world coins ST JAMES’ S 020 7930 7997 www.the-saleroom.com

May 25 Stockport Auction of coins, banknotes, medals and militaria A. F. BROCK 0161 456 5050 www.afbrock.co.uk

FAIR

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Diary dates

Fair Organisers—please send your dates for the diary page to [email protected], giving at least two months’ notice, thank you!

Further information—As details can change after we have gone to press, please check details before setting off!

When you read this, our April 12th auction will probably be completed.

Our next sale will be September 13th, when we hope you will participate.

Apply for a catalogue now PHONE / FAX 020 8656 4583 or visit our website

www.croydoncoinauctions.co.ukE-mail: [email protected]

A


BLOOMSBURY HOTEL(New Name, Same Location)

16-22 Great Russell StreetLondon WC1 3NN

Admission £2.00Dealers in English, Foreign, Ancient,

Antiquities, Tokens, Medallions and Banknotes

May 7th 2011(9.30 am - 2.00 pm)

NEXT FAIR:JULY 2ND 2011

Enquiries: Tel: 020 8656 4583

COINFAIR


Diary datesDATE VENUE SUBJECT/EVENT CONTACT

May 2 Nursery Inn, 258 Green Lane, Heaton Norris, Stockport Informal meeting SOUTH MANCHESTER NS 0161 432 2044May 3 Fairtykes Arts Centre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch “Ornamental money” by Harry Mernick HAVERING NS 07910 124549

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

“Some pioneer gold coins from the United States” by P. Preston-Morley WESSEX NS 020 7731 1702

May 4 St. Martin’s Church Hall, Erith Road, Barnehurst, Bexleyheath, Kent

Club Auction BEXLEY COIN CLUB 020 8303 0510

May 5 The Eagle & Child, Maltkiln Lane, Bispham Green, Ormskirk “The Wars of the Roses: privy marks and symbols on silver coins” by A. Dawson ORMSKIRK & WEST LANCS NS 01704 531266Wallace Humphrey Room, Shelthorpe Community Centre, Loughborough

“Mawming and mooning—the mind and skills of medieval masons in Leics and Rutland” by Bob Trubshaw

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

May 7 Swarthmore College, Woodhouse Square, Leeds “Ottoman coins” by P. Watson YORKSHIRE NS 01977 682263

May 9 The Albert Hotel, Victoria Lane, Hudders£ eld “English silver crowns” by D. Heaton HUDDERSFIELD NS 01484 866814

Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, Reading “The Beachy Head hoards of 3rd century Roman coins” by Derek Aldred READING COIN CLUB 01753 516390 www.readingcoinclub.co.uk

Please call for Venue Details Inter-society quiz against Bath & Bristol NS SOUTH WALES & MONMOUTHSHIRE NS 02920 561564

Please Call for Venue Details “Ship wreck artefacts” by Jim McEvoy HARROW COIN CLUB 020 8952 8765

May 10 Crewe Memorial Hall, Church Lane, Wistaston, Crewe Spring Coin Fair CREWE & DISTRICT COIN & MEDAL SOCIETY 01270 569836

May 11 RAF Assoc., Eric Nelson House, 16 Bewick Road, Gateshead Society Meeting TYNESIDE NS 01661 825824May 12 St Paul’s Centre, Chapel Road, Worthing Annual General Meeting (date brought forward) WORTHING & DISTRICT NS 01634 260114

Fry Social Club, Keynsham. “A numismatic extravaganza” by David Young BATH AND BRISTOL NS 07793 905035

Please call for Venue Details Monthly meeting BEDFORDSHIRE NS 01234 870645

May 16 Nursery Inn, 258 Green Lane, Heaton Norris, Stockport Coin Auction SOUTH MANCHESTER NS 0161 432 2044

The White Horse, The Street , Trowse, Norwich “Breaking the mould—the art and innovation of Tudor coinage” by a member NORWICH COIN & MEDAL SOCIETY 01603 408393

The Raven Inn, Poulshot, nr Devizes, Wiltshire “Starting out in family history” by Michael Marshman WILTSHIRE NS 01380 828453

The Friends Meeting House, St Helen’s Street, Derby Club Auction DERBYSHIRE NS 01283 223893

May 18 The St James Centre, Stadium Way, Pinhoe, Exeter Annual General Meeting DEVON & EXETER NS 01395 5688830

C. A. B., 19 Tower Street, Ipswich Society Auction IPSWICH NS 01473 728653May 19 Small Hall, Surbiton Library, Ewell Road, Surbiton 85th Members Auction KINGSTON NS 020 8397 6944May 23 Please Call for Venue Details “LIttle boxes” by Ian Murray HARROW COIN CLUB 020 8952 8765May 24 Belsize Community Centre, Celta Road, Peterborough Bring, buy and sell session—followed by a £ lm show PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT NS 01733 567763

The Warburg Institute, Woburn Square, London “Arctic and Polar Medals: rewards to the brave, the foolhardy and the shivering” by Admiral John Myres

BRITISH NS 020 7563 4045

May 26 Rm 301, Sylvia Young Theatre School, 1 Nutford Place, London “Berwick-upon-Tweed” by Jonathan Callaway IBNS (LONDON BRANCH) 020 8641 3224May 27 Chelmsford Museum, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford “Coinage in southern England circa 750–865 AD” by Rory Naismith ESSEX NS 01277 656627May 28 High£ elds Community Fire Station, Hassocks Lane, Beeston Bi-monthly meeting IBNS (EAST MIDLANDS CHAPTER) 0115 9280347

SOCI

ETIE

S


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

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

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

COINOTEwww.coinote.co.uk

Shop @ 74 Elwick Road, Hartlepool TS26 9APOpen: Sun, Mon, Tues & Thurs

Also at Stockton Market—WednesdayChester Le Street Market—Saturday

Tel: 01429 890894 • Mob: 07889 119363

Coins, Banknotes, Stamps & Accessories

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 –

SEMI-DISPLAY ADVERTISINGRaise the profi le of your business with an entry in this section—

generous discounts available (see page 95 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

ON SALE NOWSuperb selection of Roman, British, Hammered &

Milled coins. Gold, Silver, Copper & Bronze. For your FREE copy of our monthly list, please apply to:-

W. A. NichollsPO Box 44, Bilston, West Midlands WV14 6YX.

Tel: 01543 452476

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 nearly £10 per year!Telephone: 01404 44166


TIMOTHY MILLETT LTDcatalogue of historical medals now available

To receive your copy please send £15 (Refundable on purchase) to:

PO Box 20851, London SE22 OYNTel: 020 8693 1111Fax: 020 8299 3733

Email: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.historicmedals.com

send for latest list

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

Roger OutingPO Box 123 Huddersfi eld HD8 9WY

Tel: 01484 [email protected]

www.banknotes4u.co.uk

Specialising in British banking history: cheques, books, banknotes and all

banking memorabilia

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

Medallions

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

ArghansWorld 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


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

Accessories

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]

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 NOTES

Banknotes 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]

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

A list of forthcoming auctions can be found

on page 86

www.ibnslondon.org.ukChairperson Pam West


Room 301 Sylvia Young Theatre School 1 Nutford Place off Edgware Road London W1 5YZ

London Meetings now held at:

Bloomsbury Hotel16–22 Great Russell StreetLondonWC1B 3NN

www.wpmf.infoemail: [email protected] by Spink

World Paper Money Fair 2011 NEW VENUE

Fri Sep 30th 10-6pmSat October 1st 10-4pm

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

Sale No. 83 will be on 7 August in Wakefi eld.Coins, Medals, Numismatic Books, Banknotes, Tokens

Lots can be viewed at the York Fair (15–16 July) and at Eddie Smith’s Fair (31 July)

FREE CATALOGUE. B. FRANK & SON 3 South Ave.,Ryton, NE40 3LD

Tel: 0191 413 8749 Fax: 0191 413 2957Email: [email protected]

Website: www.b-frank-and-son.co.uk

B. FRANK & SONNumismatic Auctioneers

(Est 1983)


Specialising in British milled coinage from 1662 to date

All coins pictured on the websiteSecure on-line payment

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.Huge on-line range of coins and banknotes. View our current catalogue on-line at www.oldbanknoteshop.co.uk

www.oldbanknoteshop.co.uk

www.coincraft.comBritish coins, World coins, British banknotes, World banknotes, Roman coins, Greek coins, antiquities,

medallions, supplies, Edward VIII bought and sold.

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.

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 traffi 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 95 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

THE WEB PAGE

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

www.pennycrowncoins.co.uk

An extensive catalogue mostly comprised of English and United Kingdom milled issues

Each coin illustrated using high-quality photographs


To advertise on this page please complete the entry form on page 95

www.tonyharmer.orgCoins and banknotes,

postcards,stamps and Collectables

British, gold, silver and copper coins, many high grade and

rare milled coins for sale, hammered also available.

01398 323211

www.wrightcoins.com

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.

www.spink.com

Quality Ancient Coins and Antiquities

www.antiquities.co.uk

Bi-monthly sales of English, Foreign and Ancient Coins, Medallions, Tokens and Banknotes.

See our website for free on-line catalogue.

www.croydoncoinauctions.co.uk

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

www.galata.co.uk

Auctions

Antiquities

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

w w w.war wickandwar wick.comw 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

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.David-yapp.com

www.David-yapp.com

British and World Banknotes

www.cambridgeshirecoins.comCoins Wanted

Buying and selling for over 20 yearsOver 3,000 coins online

01223 503073 [email protected]

www.scccollectables.com

Coins, postcards, antiques and collectables, all items photographed, updating weekly

Visit us and have a look aroundwww.clickcollect-coins.co.uk

We buy and sell British and Foreign coins of all ages and reigns in our easy to use website

Buying and selling English hammered coins,

British milled coins and British tokens.

www.johnnewmancoins.com

Peter Nichols, Cabinet MakersFull range of coin cabinets available.

Tel: 01424 436682. Email: [email protected]

www.coincabinets.com

Buying & Selling Ancient Coins & Antiquities

www.denofantiquity.co.uk

Tel: 01223 863002Email: [email protected]

Gold sovereigns—£225Tel: Paul on 07779 461929

www.buybullioncoins.com

COINI N C O R P O R A T I N G B A N K N O T E N E W S

Vol. 48 No. 04

CO

IN N

EW

S April 2011

INTERV

IEW W

ITH TH

E CEO O

F RAM

• ENG

LISH CIV

IL WA

R HO

ARD

S • BRITAIN

’S FIFTY PEN

CE PIECE

NE

WS

IN THIS ISSUE

APRIL 2011 £3.65

What’s it worth? This month we focus on halfpennies and Belfast Banking Co. & First Trust Bank

Where mon e y ta lk s

MUST BE A HOARDA lucky � nd while walking the dog!

BANK OF SCOTLANDThe Sir Walter Scottseries 1970–94

Gold worthy of a King’s speech

Extraspecial

Subscribe to COIN NEWS and receive the digital version free of charge.

Go to tokenpublishing.com for more details


Coins for saleIRISH MILLENNIUM £1 coins. Mint, uncirculated in bank sealed bag of 20 coins. Please telephone: 00 35386 2475909 anytime. (06/11/03T)WWW.OINSONABUDGET.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. (07/11/03T)BRITISH DATE sets 1962 to 1968. Offers. Please tel: 01359 250012. (07/11)COLLECTOR DISPOSINGof remaining collection of Proof sets. Coins of Australia, New Zealand, IOM. Bargains galore. Please contact Dr Haslam on 0151 677 5967. (06/11)HALFCROWN 1930 VG £7; fl orin 1932 VG £7; Shilling 1959s F £1, VF £2, EF £6. P&P £2. Please contact B. Mitchell, Piedemonte, Tong Lane, Britannia Bacup, Lancs. OL13 9XB. (06/11)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). Telephone: 01280 848000. Email: [email protected]. Go to website at: www.dgcoins.www.dgcoins.freeserve.co.uk. (08/11/06T)MOUNT RUSHMORE 1991 two coin Proof set, boxed silver dollar and half dollar— £70. Please telephone: 01359 250012. (05/11) 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. Tel: 01202 431721. Established 1977. (01/12/12T)FREE ENGLISH—FOREIGN LISTS. Crowns to farthing fractions. Proof—BU sets. Maundy odds. Banknotes. Tel: 01709 526697. (10/12/24T)

NEW COIN DEALER IN CHEDDAR. 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 744679. (10/11P)ELIZABETH II Royal Mint proof sets 1971–2005. Offers. Tel: 01234 306580 (Bedford). (12/12)MAUNDY SETS 1904, 1905, 1914, 1915 UNC toned in red dated boxes. Excellent condition. 01473 414646. (04/12)PRESTIGE NUMISMATICS the place for all types of premium World co ins . C u s t o m e r s a t i s f a c t i o n i s our pr ior i ty. www.prestigenumismatics.comprestigenumismatics.com.(05/11/02T)WORLD COINS: Medieval a n d m o d e r n . To k e n s , Countermarks , Je t tons , medallions etc. Please send an SAE for latest list to: Stephen Betts, 4 Victoria Street, Narborough, Leicester LE19 2DP. (12/11/06T)M E R L I N S O F GODALMING, Bridge Street, Godalming, Surrey. Celtic, Roman, hammered, milled. 01483 426155. Sorry no lists. (05/11/12T)US COINS National Park quarters, State quarters, Presidential dollars, NAD dollars, Kennedy halves, Lincoln cents, Proof sets, etc. Mark—01924 255738. Email: [email protected]. (05/11)PETERCOINS—your local coin shop on the net! Selling a wide range of British coins. www.petercoins.comwww.petercoins.com. Send an SAE for list to: PO Box 46743, London, SW17 0YF. (11/11/12T)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)A N C I E N T A N D HAMMERED COINS PLUS CLASSICAL ANTIQUITIES for sale. Large display at The Ginnel Antiques Centre, Harrogate. Odyssey PO Box 61, Southport, PR9 0PZ. Telephone: 01704 232494. (08/11/06T)

ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN COINS. F ree catalogue. Great for beginners and budget minded collectors. For more information please contact T. Barna, PO Box 335, Lyndhurst, SO40 0DA. Email: [email protected] (09/11/06T) ENGLISH AND UK COINS. Please ask for list— G. Ogden, 53 Chestnut Crescent, Culver Green, Chudleigh TQ13 0PT Tel: 01626 859350. (12/11/12ABRITISH COINS FREE LIST of inexpensive coins plus details of free gift. Des Welton, 13 Monmouth Road, plus details of free gift. Des Welton, 13 Monmouth Road, plus details of free gift. Des

Har l ington , Dunstable , Beds, LU5 6NE, or email: [email protected]. (06/11/06T)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]. (06/11/06T)EARLY ENGLISH MILLED: The most extensive date range available anywhere. 1658–1967 Farthings—Gold range available anywhere. 1658–1967 Farthings—Gold range available anywhere.

virtually every date. For a free list tel: 023 80324258, write to 206 Honeysuckle Rd, Southampton SO16 write to 206 Honeysuckle Rd, Southampton SO16 write to 206 Honeysuckle

3BU, email: [email protected], website: www.ringramcoins .comwww.ringramcoins .com.(10/11/12/A)19TH AND 20TH CENTURY world coins including some silver. Superb variety. 1kg £15, 5kg £60 (post paid). Please contact: I. Raja, 65-67 Stamford Street, Bradford, BD4 8SD. (05/11)9 Coins WantedILLUSTRATIONS (ONLY) of Turks & Caicos Islands half-crown 1961, George I, two thirds Thalers. rovenances will be acknowledged. Email: [email protected]. (07/11)GIBRALTAR URGENTLY WANTED. Two crowns BI-METAL COINS from 2003, showing the goddess “EU-ROPA AND THE BULL”. Any offer welcome by mail, fax or email! Please contact: Christian Hannig, Katenbaek-er Berg 56, 27793 Wildeshau-sen, Germany. Fax: 0049 4431 3524, email: [email protected]. (07/11/03P)

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 (05/11/12C)BUYING PRE-47 SILVER AT 18x 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. (06/11/06T)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. Telephone: 01983-740712, or fax: 01983 740800. (04/11/12T)£3,000 for the rare Royal Mint error of 2008. The One penny (Royal Shield) with the Queen’s head upside down! Please telephone with details: 07587 103617. (04/12/12T)BUYING PRE-47 SILVER 18x FACE, PRE-20 30x FACE. USA Pre-1965 10 cents to 1$ £5 per $. CANADA Pre-1965 £4 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. Please telephone 01895 638885. (05/11/06T)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)B R I TA N N I A A S O F HADRIAN (BMC 1174) wanted in high grade (GVF or above). Any reasonable price considered. Care of Lawrence Chard 521 Lytham Road Blackpool. 01253 342081. (RTC)

Classifi edsUse the classifi ed section to locate a rare coin, sell unwanted items, or simply exchange correspondence with other collectors—

Advertising is FREE for non-trade COIN NEWS subscribers, so why not take out your subscription today!

Subscribe to COIN NEWS today and receive the digital version free of charge. Simply call 01404 44166


Coins WantedAUSTRALIAN PRE-1966 SILVER AND COPPER COINS WANTED. tel : 0794191 9686, email: mc@g u a n o m o n d o . c o m . (09/11/06T)BUYING PRE-47 silver at 16x face and pre-1920 at 26x face. Also buying any gold coins. Please telephone: 0121 604 1680. (08/11)WE BUY SOVEREIGNS— best prices paid. Please telephone Paul on: 07779 461929 (10/11/06A)PRE-47 & PRE-20 silver wanted. Also modern 925 silver crowns or ingots. Top prices paid. Contact: 01935 824878. (12/11/12A)WORLD AND BRITISH gold coins wanted. Fair prices paid. 07917 160308. (07/11/06A)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. (04/11/12T)BRITISH COINS wanted by collector. Almost anything considered. Phone Chris on 01793 750307/07739 426194. (05/11/12T)

REGISTERED CHILDRENS CHARITY 295732. Require donations of coins, tokens, banknotes, anything saleable. Please send to W. E. Cornish, 70 Downham Gardens, Tamerton Folit, Plymouth PL5 4QF. (02/12/12C)IRISH EIRE FARTHINGS 1928 to 1940 £3 each paid for circulated undamaged. Please contact Bill Seawright, 42 Rosscoole Park, Belfast, BT14 8JX, postage refunded. Telphone: 02890710115 or email: [email protected]. (06/11)DANZIG WANTED. High grade coins 1923 onwards. Top prices paid. Email: [email protected]. (12/12)

2009 MAUNDY SETS OR COINS WANTED. Fair prices paid. 0118 9860906. (06/11)SHILLINGS WANTED—Uncirculated 1839 WW ESC1280, 1841, 1848/6 (EF or better) or 1895 small rose. Send details/price required to [email protected]. (06/11)PRE-1947 SILVER coins wanted. 20x face paid, pre-1920 20x face. Tel with details: 07879 865 118. (08/11/12T)A D V E R T I S E C O I N S WANTED/FOR SALE— it’s free for non-trade subscibers!

BanknotesW O R L D W I D E BANKNOTES AND COINS at great prices. Please visit: www.collectorscurrency.com or email: [email protected]. (04/12/12T)QUALITY BANKNOTES from the British Isles & Commonwealth. www.notability-banknotes.com, or email: [email protected]. (09/11/06A)WORLD BANKNOTES—cheapest prices, most under one pound each. SAE to R. C. Holmes, PO Box 326, Bangor, Co.Down, BT20 5PD or email: [email protected]. (07/11) Cheques & EphemeraARE YOU INTERESTED IN COLLECTING 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)

MiscellaneousCOUNTERFEIT COIN CLUB, new members welcomed. Details: CCC, 8 Kings Road, Biggin Hill, Kent, TN16 3XU. Tel: 01959 573686, or email: [email protected]. (04/11)

SINCERE COLLECTOR EXCHANGES coins, banknotes, stamps. References available. Free numismatic literature, coin auction catalogues. Details to: Antonios Filippou, 24 Tsalouhidi Str. 54248, Thessaloniki, Greece. (04/11)O L Y M P I C G A M E S MEMORABILIA WANTED. Medals, diplomas, badges, pins, programmes, tickets, posters, souvenirs etc. Please send details to: Strom, Drottninggatan 90 A, 111 36 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel/Fax: +46 8 600 3452 (5/11)TYNESIDE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY: Meeting second 2nd Wednesday every month. New members welcome. If you collect coins, banknotes, cheques, etc., telephone: 0191 258 2042 or 01661 825 824. (05/11)NZ AND AUSTRALIAN postcards wanted to buy. Phone: 0794 1919686. (09/11/06T)EXCHANGE ALL kinds of collectables. References available. Free numismatic literature to numismatic students. Details to Antonis Filippou, 24 Tsalduhidi Str., 54248 Thessaloniki, Greece. (07/11)

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CLASSIFIED ADVERTS MUST BE PREPAID—THE NEXT DEADLINES ARE: June issue—April 26, 2011, July issue—May 23, 2011.FREE TO NON-TRADE SUBSCRIBERS. TRADE RATES: 30p per word (minimum £3), Bold type 40p per word.


Directory SectionAdvertisers Index

A F BROCK & CO LTDwww.afbrock.co.ukA H BALDWIN & SONS LTDwww.baldwin.shABC COINS AND TOKENSwww.abccoinsandtokens.comALLGOLDwww.allgoldcoins.co.ukAMR COINSwww.amrcoins.comANTIQUE ENGLISH COINSwww.ringramcoins.comANTIQUITIES & COINS - NIGEL MILLSwww.nigelmills.netDEN OF ANTIQUITYwww.denofantiquity.co.ukB. FRANK & SONwww.b-frank-and-son.co.uk

BRITISH COINSwww.predecimal.comCELTIC COINSwww.celticcoins.comCHARDwww.chards.co.ukCHARLES RILEY COIN AND MEDALSwww.charlesriley.co.ukCOINCRAFTwww.coincraft.comCOINOTE SERVICESwww.coinote.co.ukLANCE CHAPLINwww.shaftesbury.comCOINS OF BRITAIN, LLOYD BENNETTwww.coinsofbritain.biz

COLLECTORSCURRENCY.COMwww.collectorscurrency.comCOLONIAL COINS AND MEDALSwww.coinmedalshop.com.auCONSTABLE COINS LTDwww.constablecoins.comDAVID SEAMANwww.davidseamancoins.co.ukDIX NOONAN WEBBwww.dnw.co.ukDOUGLAS SAVILLEwww.douglassaville.comF J JEFFERY & SON LTDwww.collectable-coins.netGLENN OGDENwww.glennogdencoins.comHADRIAN ROMAN COINSwww.hadriancoins.com

J B J COINSwww.jbjcoins.dkLIBERALITASwww.liberalitas.co.ukMA SHOPSwww.ma-shops.comMARK RASMUSSENwww.rascoins.comMONETARIUMwww.monetarium.com.auOLD BANKNOTE SHOPwww.oldbanknoteshop.co.ukPRECIOUS METALS AND COINS EXCHANGEwww.pmcex.comRODERICK RICHARDSONwww.roderickrichardson.comSIMMONS GALLERYwww.simmonsgallery.co.uk

STUDIO COINSwww.studiocoins.netTHE LONDON COIN COMPANY LTDwww.thelondoncoincompany.comTHE RARE COIN COMPANYwww.rarecoin.com.auTHE SCOIN SHOPwww.scoinshop.comTIM MILLETT www.historicmedals.comTIME LINE ANTIQUITIESwww.time-lines.co.ukTIME LINE ORIGINALSwww.time-lines.co.ukWARWICK AND WARWICKwww.warwickandwarwick.comWEIGHTON COIN WONDERSwww.weightoncoin.co.uk

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The above advertisers are detailed on our online Dealer Directory—to find out more about them go to www.tokenpublishing.com

ABC Coins and Tokens.................................... 60A F Brock & Co Ltd ............................................ 43Airedale ............................................................... 53Argentum............................................................ 66ATS Bullion Ltd .................................................. 82Allgold Coins .................................................... 38Baldwins Auctions .....................................12, 21R. P. & P. J. Beckett ............................................ 60Birchin Lane Gold Coin Company ............. 54Yves Blot .............................................................. 82BNTA ..................................................................... 84Bonhams ............................................................IBCBarry Boswell ..................................................... 70Buy Bullion Coins ............................................. 69Cambridge Coins & Jewellery ..................... 61Cambridgeshire Coins ................................... 37Cameo .................................................................. 43Chards .................................................................. 23CNG ....................................................................... 85Coincraft ........................................ IFC, 19, 53, 75Colin Cooke ...........................................................5Croydon Coin Auctions ................................. 86Paul Davies Ltd.................................................. 46

Paul Davis Birmingham Ltd .......................... 69Clive Dennett .................................................... 75Dix Noonan Webb ............................................13Dorset Coins ...................................................... 66Roger Dudley..................................................... 61The Duncannon Partnership ....................... 50Educational Coin Company ......................... 75Christopher Eimer ............................................11Format .................................................................. 38GB Gold Coins ................................................... 38GK Coins .............................................................. 40Goulborn ............................................................. 83Ian Gradon .......................................................... 70A. D. Hamilton ................................................... 82History in coins ................................................. 91IAPN ....................................................................... 40R. Ingram Coins .......................................... 58, 59International Coin Exchange .......................15International Auction Galleries .................. 14Richard Jeffery .................................................. 66K. B. Coins ............................................................ 54Kate’s Paper Money ........................................ 70Kleeford Coins ................................................... 42

Knightsbridge Coins ....................................... 65Lindner ................................................................. 54Lockdales ............................................................ 30The London Coin Company .................. 18, 91The London Coin Fair ..................................... 87Midland Coin Fair ............................................. 88Monk Fairs .......................................................... 87Morton & Eden .................................................. 26Peter Morris ........................................................ 50Colin Narbeth & Son Ltd................................ 70NGC ........................................................................17Peter Nichols Cabinet Makers ..................... 46Notability ............................................................ 75Numismatica Ars Classica ............................. 57Orpington Coins & Medals ........................... 46Penny Crown Coins ......................................... 37David Pratchett ................................................. 66Mark Rasmussen .............................................. 43Roderick Richardson....................................... 40Royal Mint ................................................ 25, OBCChris Rudd .............................................................2Safe Albums ....................................................... 57Saltford Coins .................................................... 61

Douglas Saville ................................................ 85South Coast Coin & Medal Show ............... 88Stack’s, Bowers & Ponterio ........................... 69St James’s Auctions ....................................... 8, 9Thomson, Roddick & Medcalf ..................... 30Timeline ..................................................................3Treasure Hunting ............................................. 64Michael Trenerry Ltd ...................................... 57Wakefield Fair .................................................... 87Warwick & Warwick .....................................4, 34Weighton Coin Wonders............................... 60Westminster Auctions ......................................7John Welsh ............................................................6West Essex Coin Investments...................... 81Tim Wilkes ........................................................... 50Trevor Wilkin ...................................................... 75World Paper Money Fair ................................ 72York Coins ........................................................... 42


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Bonhams' incorporating Glendinings has been selling coins and medals at auction since the turn of the last century. Recent results have reflected the current buoyancy of the market, with high prices being achieved for quality items.

EnquiriesJohn Millensted+44 (0) 20 7393 [email protected]

Edouard Wyngaard+44 (0) 20 7393 [email protected]

Catalogue+44 (0) 1666 502 [email protected]

Illustrated:Items sold in our April 2011 sale.

Bonhams Montpelier StreetLondon SW7 1HHwww.bonhams.com/coins

Medals, Coins & BanknotesWednesday 27 July 2011Knightsbridge, LondonInvitation to consign

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Please quote reference code: CNMAYAEnquiries to: The Royal Mint, Freepost NAT23496, PO Box 500, Pontyclun CF72 8BR. Conditions of Sale and Payment Options are available on request. Coins shown are not actual size.Coin Specifications available on request. For our full set of Terms and Conditions please contact Customer Services on 0845 60 88 300 or online at www.royalmint.com/terms..

*Limited Edition Presentation is the maximum number of the coins, presented in this specific style and combination, that will be issued. Maximum Coin Mintage is the maximumnumber of the coins that will be issued. Prices may change due to fluctuations in raw material prices; packaging may change without notice. P&P is £2.95.

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CNMAYA

THERoyalWedding

Celebrate

The Official UK Royal Wedding Coin – celebrate with usThis official commemorative crown celebrating the wedding of PrinceWilliam and Catherine Middleton is one of only two UK crown pieces tobear a double portrait commemorating a Royal Wedding day. The first wasthat of Prince William's parents - The Prince of Wales and Lady DianaSpencer in 1981.

Available in 22 carat warm gold, or as a fully gold-plated silver piece whichis a first for a UK coin, both are struck to superb Proof quality. They arepresented in luxurious cases and come complete with Certificates ofAuthenticity testifying to their Maximum Coin Mintages.

Join us in our celebration of the Royal Wedding and order your officiallimited edition UK £5 coin today.

MAXIMUM COINMINTAGE

3,000*

MAXIMUM COINMINTAGE

7,500*

� The UK Royal Wedding 2011 £5 Gold Proof Product Code: UK11RWGP Price: £1,550.00

� The UK Royal Wedding 2011 £5 Fine Gold-PlatedSilver Proof Product Code:UK11RWPL Price: £85.00

To order your Royal Wedding coin and view our huge choice of collectable coins visit

A UK FIRST

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