News & Blog

In the flesh THE news that the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) annual Convention due to be held in Orlando in August has been cancelled (see News and Views) should come as no surprise considering what’s happening in the world at the moment. Whilst we all fervently hope the pandemic...

Lots somewhere between the UK and Australia: A unique name Memorial plaque to Henry Astill LANG who served as a Major, 4 Battalion Worcester Regt and was KIA in Gallipoli on 9 June 1915.  Any information please contact Steve at info@greatwarmedals.com or telephone +44 (0)20 8482...

An 1877-79 South African War (Zulu) medal awarded to Private John Waters, 1st Battalion, 24th Foot, who was severely wounded in the right shoulder at Rorke’s Drift where he was one of the men defending the hospital has sold for £54,650 in Dix Noonan Webb’s recent live online auction of Orders,...

This too shall pass IT WAS, perhaps, inevitable, but we now learn that the York Coin Fair, scheduled for July 17 and 18, has been cancelled. We all fervently hope that this current crisis is well behind us by then but, realistically, we must expect there to be still be some restrictions and...

Following the recent government guidelines on the easing of the Coronavirus lockdown, the Stratford-upon-Avon Leisure Centre has announced that it won't reopen until July 4 at the earliest, which rather puts the kybosh on the June 21st Medal fair that was due to be held there! We all hope that the...

As was expected the York Coin Fair has fallen foul of the Coronavirus restrictions and the July show has, very sadly, been cancelled. the next fair will take place on January 22-23 2021. More information in COIN NEWS JUNE

It seems that the Midland Coin Show, already cancelled for May, will also not take place in June - we await to hear news about the later shows. Eddie Smith is still hoping to go ahead with his Wakefield shows in July and August (and beyond) but everything will very much depend on government...

Then and now. Remembering Victory in Europe AS we go to press we learn that the UK wide lockdown is due to carry on for at least another three weeks. This will take us to the first week in May, a week when the country, indeed much of Europe should have been celebrating the 75th anniversary of...

Standing strong together FIRST thing’s first—I hope you are all well and that this current crisis hasn’t impacted on you too much. I am aware that many of our readers are over 70 and I hope that you will be taking whatever precautions you feel necessary to stay safe. We are, in a way,...

Standing strong together FIRST things first—I hope you are all well and that this current crisis hasn’t impacted on you too much. I am aware that many of our readers are over 70 and I hope that you will be taking whatever precautions you feel necessary to stay safe. We are, in a way, amongst...

Those were the days THIS month we learn that the Bexley Coin Club, the last numismatic society in Kent, is to close its doors after over half a century. Falling membership has, inevitably, led to its demise; it wasn’t the first victim of those circumstances and unfortunately we doubt it will be...

Then and now ONE of the most fascinating things about medal collecting is, of course, the history behind them. We most likely wouldn’t be medal collectors if we didn’t have an interest in the past, but the news this month that the British Red Cross is going to stop issuing the Voluntary Medical...

Worth a look THE end of January saw one thing dominate the news in the UK—that was, of course, Brexit and, from our point of view, the Brexit 50p. The COIN NEWS team (well Phil anyway) was called on to do numerous radio interviews and asked by various websites and newspapers to give a viewpoint...

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...

Before they fade THIS month’s “News and Views” features notices that two more veterans of World War II have passed away—the last known member of the Glider Pilot Regiment, Ralph Norbury, and one of the last of the “Few”, the pilots of the Battle of Britain—Maurice Moundson. That these gentlemen...

Defining boundaries AS IS our habit we are once again dedicating the February front cover of COIN NEWS to the Chinese Lunar New Year coins that already abound. This year, as Dr Kerry Rodgers so eloquently points out in his article (pages 39–41) is the Year of the Rat (or more precisely the year...

Treasured possessions THE recent court case surrounding the metal detectorists who discovered a Viking hoard of coins and jewellery in Herefordshire in 2015, has attracted a great deal of attention and debate in recent weeks. We discussed details of the hoard back in July and John Andrew’s...

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...