News & Blog

Track and trace WE WERE rather surprised this month to receive just 12 new entries for our “MEDAL TRACKER” pages. The service, which is entirely free for subscribers has always proved popular in the past and has, over the years, helped reunite groups across the globe. I’ve even used it...

Come to COINEX THE September issue of COIN NEWS has, for the last decade or so, been the COINEX special; admittedly it’s not actually the magazine that will be the latest issue when COINEX is being held, that will be the October one, available on the shelves a few days before the show starts,...

The most recent MEDAL NEWS features the splendid 1891 Thobal VC group which we state is a "British Auction Record" but, of course, it isn't! It's a record for an army VC but not a record overall.  Apologies must go to Morton & Eden who actually hold the record having sold the "Q ship" VC DSO**...

The show must go on? SO it’s now the end of July and ostensibly Coronavirus “restrictions”, in England at least, have been removed so we can all start getting back to normal, can’t we? Well obviously not, not really, masks are still being encouraged, as is social distancing, and the other home...

Forging ahead WE had a very interesting package delivered to our offices last week—a very generous reader sent us a silver 1oz “Liberty Dollar”. Sadly the gift was not quite as it seemed and the reader had pre-warned us the coin was on its way. Why had we been sent it? Quite simply because we...

It's here! The 11th edition of the Banknote Yearbook -is with us now (thanks to our exceptionally efficient printers!). There's still time to order your copy and get it POST FREE, just click here for details

Getting back to normal BY the time you read this we will know whether or not the June 21 date for completely unlocking the country and going “restriction free” has been kept to or whether the Indian variant (or the Thai variant announced recently, or indeed any other variant) of Covid-19 has...

Very sadly we have just heard that because of the extension to the Coronavirus restrictions announced on Monday the Britannia Medal Fair, due to be held on Sunday, July 11 has been cancelled.  Let's hope that by November things are a little different and that show can go ahead. We'll keep you...

We have just received this message from the organisers of the London, Midland and York Coin Fairs. "Further to the Government's decision to delay the removal of Covid 19 restrictions, we have spoken to the venues and can now confirm that both the London Coin Fair on the 3rd July, and the...

Grave concerns ON April 22 the BBC ran a news story stating that the Prime Minister was “deeply troubled” by the report by a special committee of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), chaired by Sir Tim Hitchens, KCVO, CMG. The committee was appointed to probe the early history of the...

Golden Opportunity THE news that the Bank of England and the Treasury are to look into the viability of a cryptocurrency, along similar lines to Bitcoin et al, has sent shivers down the spines of those of us who fear the days of cash are numbered. I have, many times, extolled the virtues of cash...

Fading away IT WAS with great sadness that we learned of the death of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband, for an astonishing 73 years, to Her Majesty the Queen. The Duke was not to everybody’s taste, I accept that, his blunt forthright approach could, and did,...

Pleasing everybody THIS month’s lead story in “News & Views” is the record-breaking auction held by Heritage in Dallas, Texas, where simply eyewatering prices were fetched for just about every lot—including some stunning British coins. There is simply no way we can ignore the auction and the...

Banknote News carried the design of the new £50 some months ago but now the notes themselves have been revealed, as has the date of their release, which will be June 23, exactly 109 years after Alan Turing, who features on the new polymer £50, was born! For more information on the new note take...

Today's the day! Yes on 20/02/2020 (see what they did there) the new £20 featuring JMW Turner, the "Painter of Light" and his famous painting " The Fighting Temeraire ". The new polymer note (made of the same material as the Churchill £5 and the Austen £10) has a number of new security features...

Stolen in a burglary at Haverhill, Suffolk earlier this year Family group stolen in a burglary earlier this year. 1) Basil Oliver Bradley, RA: 1939-1945 star, Africa Star, Burma Star, Defence & War, Territorial Efficiency, Police long service and the Dunkirk medal. 2) 1343 (later...

Stolen during a burglary in Hertfordshire recently:   Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers’ Renter Warden’s Badge Inscribed on reverse ‘ ‘Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers’ and ‘Renter Warden’ on a shield Waterloo medal issued to John Hamilton of the First Regiment...