Coin News

WITH the announcement that the Mongolian “Crying Wolf” coin has won the Coin Constellation competition (see page 16) and the current voting for Krause Publications’ Coin of the Year (COTY—the winner will be announced in Berlin in February), coin design is very much on our minds at the moment...

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of numismatic legend, Dimitri Loulalakis. Dimitri was one of the "old guard", respected by his fellow dealers, admired by the many collectors he helped over the years and held in high affection by those who knew him. Always with cigar in hand, he...

Premium rate number RECENTLY the Antiques Trade Gazette (ATG) carried a story about Christie’s the auctioneers and their plans for the vendor’s premium at their sales. Apparently the intention is to add a 2 per cent “success fee” on items that reach or exceed the top estimate. Let me just run that...

The personal touch IT IS with great sadness that we learn of the death of Frank Milward, one of the “old guard” of dealers that we have known for as long as Token Publishing has been running COIN NEWS. A true “Gentleman”, Frank will be very much missed in the trade as of course are the others we...

It seems that "commemoratives" are going mainstream...have a look at the latest release from Nuie

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Reading based world coin dealer Frank Milward. We have known Frank for many years and, a true Gentleman, he will be sorely missed in the hobby

Bigger than you think COIN NEWS has just been to the American Numismatic Association’s “World Fair of Money” (ANA) for the second year in succession. The show, in the cavernous Donald E. Stephens convention centre in Rosemont, a suburb of Chicago was, as I mentioned last year, so unlike any...

Bucks Coins of Dereham in Norfolk has had seven rare gold coins stolen from his premises by a man described as tall, well built, with short bleached blond hair and an Eastern European accent, possibly Polish. The coins stolen were: Henry VIII Sov [1544-7] mm. S Southwark Mint Henry VIII Sov, first...

IT was doughnuts all round for the Token team when news reached us that COIN NEWS and its writers had picked up no less than three prestigious awards at the recent Numismatic Literary Guild ceremony in Chicago—including the coveted Best Issue for an international magazine which was awarded for our...

A silver (or gold) lining THE Royal Mint has recently unveiled a rather classy new look for their gold and silver “Britannia” issues this year with a standing, almost wistful looking figure on the reverse—a far cry from the recent warrior queen bestride a chariot or the windswept Britannia...

The Royal Mint have unveiled a new look for their gold and silver bullion "Britannia" series - a series that now includes a 1/40th of an ounce coin! More in COIN NEWS August!

  Her Majesty The Queen has personally received a gold medallion which bears the image of a Strelitzia flower named after Nelson Mandela, called Mandela's Gold.   The South African Gold Coin Exchange (SAGCE) and its retail division, The Scoin Shop, which hold the...

COIN NEWS, like most other publications recently, has devoted a great deal of time and column inches to the controversial Bitcoin, and, frankly it is beyond my limitations to fully understand it! However, in a recent on-line edition of MoneyNews.com, I came across a very interesting article written...

In recent months the news has been full of stories of fake £1 coins and how to detect them but we haven't, until now, heard of a fake £2 - especially not one as good as the example we found. Weighing in at exactly the same weight as a genuine one, the fake is only detectable through it's "soapy"...

Pound for pound? SO in a few months’ time we will know whether Alex Salmond gets a seat at the top table as head of an independent Scotland or whether the Bravehearts of the 21st century are doomed to fade into the background (until, perhaps immortalised by Hollywood—although I’m not sure who...

Really this is just a chance to take another pop at the 1p coin but it's quite a good article on the demise of the 1/2p http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27467675

It seems that the Royal Mint is to have a visitor centre according to a Press Release today (April 24).   For the first time in its 1,000 year history, Britain’s oldest manufacturing organisation based now in Llantrisant, South Wales, will officially open its doors to the general public,...

Do what you want… FOLLOWING last month’s article on Nazi Kennel Club medals by Max Everest-Phillips, we were approached by a number of readers who stated that whilst it was of immense interest they didn’t know many people who collected such things—and they are right, few do, and I imagine fewer...

The recent Heritage Auction, held in conjunction with the CICF in Chicago saw some strong prices being paid across the board - of particular note was the Newfoundland 1865 $2 trial piece that fetched a stunning US$102,000. Take a look at the story here . Apparently the coin is already up for sale...

Research always pays I DO realise that I have “commented” on the Royal Mint and its coins a number of times in recent months and for those of you who do not collect new issues I apologise—I will endeavour to steer clear of 21st Century coins in May. This month, however, I feel the latest news on...

It has just been announced that the UK is to have a new £1 coin! the 12 sided bimetallic coin will be introduced in 2017 to try to combat counterfeiting. We will of course have more details, and more pictures, as we get them. The BBC has its own take on the story on its website. The 12 sided...

Ever wished you could just stumble across a fortune whilst out walking? Well apparently it happens - at least according to the BBC . Whilst we at COIN NEWS are very happy for them we can't help but feel just a little envious...

What would you like? ONE of the most challenging aspects of putting together COIN NEWS each month is actually the writing of this “Comment”. I always try to make it topical but, in order to do that, I too often find myself regurgitating a piece from the news and that isn’t what this column is all...

The man who killed Joe Miceli at his home in Northampton last year has been found guilty of his murder. Mark Ellson repeatedly hit he coin and medal dealer over the head with a mallet. Although he initially claimed he knew nothing of the death, He later admitted killing Joe but claimed it was...

More from Northampton - but nothing to do with Joe Miceli - this time a robbery

The man accused of murdering coin dealer Joe Miceli is appearing in court this week - for updates follow the Northampton Chronicle & Echo or click below for the updates  Please note some of the stories are disturbing - especially for those of us who knew Joe well Here , Here , Here  and ...

Two Brand new Krause Catalogues have just arrived and are available for shipping now! The 6th edition of Krause's 1701-1800 World Coins book contains everything the collector of 18th century coins could want whilst the 12th edition of the "Pick" World Paper Money Volume I (Specialised Issues) is...

Your country needs……less moaning! I HAVE lost count of the number of times the newspapers, and more recently social media, have criticised the new designs as they appear on British coins, whether obverse or reverse. I remember when the £2 coin came in and people moaned that it wasn’t in keeping...

Baldwins have contacted us to point out that the coin featured on the front cover of the February COIN NEWS is not in fact the Royal Mint's first such piece - although it is the first designed for the wider market! They actually produced ten Alderney £1000 gold Year of the Dragon coins in...

Auctioneer's Bellmans of West Sussex have had to change the date of their first sale of the year. Originally planned for Wednesday January 22, the sale - a single private collection of coins "strong in late Roman solidi and Islamic gold", will now take place two days later on Friday January 24.  ...