News & Blog

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...

New from Token in the New Year - Honour those mentioned in the Great War! Yes every single gazetted "Mention in Despatches" for Officers and men of British and Dominion forces in World War I is listed for the very first time all together! Covering three volumes this incredible work has taken...

Better safe… A number of readers have contacted us recently regarding the issue of storage of their collections, and more importantly, the security matters relating to that storage. In an ideal world we collectors may well wish to have our medals on display, neatly framed on the walls of our home...

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...

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Lt Colonel Ashley Tinson. Ashley was a good friend of ours and authored two of our most popular books - "Medals Will be Worn" and Wearing your medals in Civilian clothes" as well as a number of other works. The announcement of his death came...

This month? All about the man "They went with songs to the battle, they were young. Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, They fell with their faces to the foe. "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall...

Missing in the post between the UK and Canada ,      C asualty (WW1) Queens South Africa Medal (no clasp) named to J Clarke, LG.STO.2.CL. HMS Partridge.   John Clarke was born at Field Dalling, Norfolk. Clarke was discharged Dead 22nd September 1914 when HMS Cressey was sunk by a...

Good News at last! The following appeared on-line in May 2009   "Sadly the number of medals going missing seems to be increasing - keep your eyes and ears open for these if you would - any info to the MEDAL NEWS Office please Stolen May 16: D.S.M. awarded to p/jx385418 P.R.W. Houghton...

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

Officers investigating a burglary in Plymouth are appealing for information after a number of unique items including military service medals were stolen. Four medals were taken from a property in Taunton Avenue, Whitleigh, sometime between 11pm on Tuesday 23 September and 6am on Wednesday 24...

Mark Carter's new show at Woking takes place this Sunday at the Woking Leisure Centre (GU22 9BA for those with Sat Navs, follow the brown Leisure Centre Signs if you haven't got such new fangled technology...)  and despite some jetlag after the summer holidays we'll be there this time (we missed...

The Medal behind the Man ONE topic seems to be dominating the medal world at the moment, both on line and at the recent OMSA convention in Santa Ana, California (more on that next month) and that is the subject of biographical research versus numismatic research. I know this is something I have...

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...

Golden Summer’s Day ON June 17 MEDAL NEWS was privileged enough to be invited along to what must go down as one of the most impressive medal exhibitions/displays of modern times. Now, of course, any large display of medals is impressive to a collector: we love looking at collections, love learning...

Between Monday 7 th July 2014 and Wednesday 9 th July 2014, an unknown offender has stolen items of military memorabilia which belong  to the widow of Air Vice Marshall PEIRSE RAF.  The items stolen include flying log books dating back to about 1947 until about 1985, an Air...

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 only Victoria Cross awarded for the Tibet Campaign has sold for a record £408,000 (including 20% premium) at Morton & Eden in London. It will shortly go on display at the Ashcroft Trust Gallery at the Imperial War Museum. The VC was awarded to Lieutenant (later Colonel) John Duncan Grant...

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!

It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of one of the hobby's stalwarts. Ivor was a regular face at many a show over the years (he loved Britannia) but failing health has meant that he hasn't been around much recently and today we learned that he passed away on June 11. Our...

  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...

Stolen June 17 from Louis Bannon's shop in the Royal Arcade, Cardiff, an Edward Medal (Mines) to Evan Owens. This bronze medal had been gilded therefore has a gold appearance. Any information to Louis Bannon 07968 855288 or 02920221528.

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...

Stolen in a burglary at Rolvenden Layne, Kent, in mid-June - two frames of family medals, comprising:   A full-size group of three awarded to Colonel Robert Atkins, Indian Army , in a glazed frame:   Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-59, no clasp Afghanistan Medal 1878-80,...

Anyone know where the medal is http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-27702691   Could it have been exchanged for the GC? Let us know if you know! phil@tokenpublishing.com  01404 46972

Stolen: Medals to N029166G Lt Col Alexander Nicholas Jenzen.  40 Cdo RM   The Medals taken are as follows –   GSM Northern Ireland (Lt AN Jenzen RM OSM Sierra Leone (Capt AN Jenzen RM) Iraq (Capt AN Jenzen  RM) Afghanistan (Maj AN Jenzen RM) Queens ...

Back in 2009 we issued a STOP THIEF alert regarding a medal that was stolen in a burglary in Bridport - an MGS to Asst Surgeon T B Davis. It later transpired that this medal, and we believe the accompanying Crimea Medal, had in fact been pawned by the owner and was not part of the robbery. We...

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"...

D-Day 70 years on In lieu of a “Comment” this month the MEDAL NEWS team would like to pay tribute to all those who took part in operations on D-Day, June 6, 1944 and all those who were awarded the France and Germany Star. We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude — our world would be a very...

Clydesdale Bank has announced that from next year they will issue notes made from "plastic" (in fact polymer) ahead of the introduction of similar notes by the Bank of England in 2016. The new £5 note, which features the Forth Rail Bridge, will go into circulation as limited edition in 2015...

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

A.H Baldwin and Son Ltd had a cracking sale on May 8 with an Elizabeth II 1953 Gold Proof Sovereign fetching no less than £384,000. However even that wasn't the highlight of the day as the 1937 Edward VIII Gold Proof Sovereign, the only one that a private collector can own, fetched a staggering...

The PDSA's Dickin Medal - the award popularly known as the "Animal VC" is to be awarded posthumously to Sasha a four year old Labrador, trained to detect explosives, who was killed, along with her handler l/Cpl Kenneth Rowe in a Taliban attack in 2008. Sasha was attached to the 2nd Battalion the...

As per page 8 of this month's MEDAL NEWS here is the list of Staffordshire Regimental Medals that were stolen some 40 years ago....   John Raynor, 38 th , 1 MGS with Corunna, Salamanca;                Wm Clarke, 38 th , 1 MGS with Busaco, Badajoz, St Sebastian; J Clarke, 38 th...

The "Houblon" £50 note is to be demonetised this week (Wednesday April 30) but despite what this BBC article says you don't need to take them to the Bank of England to get them changed up - most high street banks will do it for you. Demonetised just means you can't spend them in the shops but...

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,...

Memories and medals I WATCHED The Great Escape again recently—it really is a fantastic film; along with A Bridge Too Far, The Battle of Britain, The Longest Day, The Wooden Horse, Bridge Over the River Kwai, Escape from Colditz and myriad others, it was a film I would watch with my sons on long...

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...

An age-old problem THIS month’s “Letters to the Editor” page contains a number of opinions regarding Robert Chalke’s experience with the Surrey Regimental Museum (see MEDAL NEWS March 2014)—in general the consensus of opinion amongst those writing, and of those to whom we have spoken, seems to be...

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...

Sunday March 16 sees the first Britannia Medal Fair  of 2014 at the Carisbrooke Hall, Victory Services Club, Seymour Street, London from 9.30 until 2.00pm The Dealers attending are as follows: Baldwins Bonhams Bostock Medals Gary Brown Philip Burman John Cannon Mark Carter Mark...

An interesting article from our friend Jeff Starck over at Coin World on Britannia errors We'll look into this and let you know more when we find out! *update* apparently these do exist - Jeff was in contact with Llantrisant and they confirmed the existence of the mules. The official...

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...

Helping to stop global warming AS we get closer to the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I so the chattering classes seem to be in full flow, dissecting the conflict, and its causes in, it seems, an attempt to prove just how futile the whole things was. Well no kidding! I think we’re...

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...

Don't forget the next Britannia show - it's to be held on Sunday March 16 at the usual venue - the Carisbrooke Hall, Victory Services Club, Marble Arch, London from 9.30am-2.00pm. See MEDAL NEWS March for further details!  

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...

It has been announced today (Thursday February 13) that the 100th Victoria Cross to an Australian has been posthumously awarded to Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird, who died in Afghanistan in June 2013. 32-year-old Baird won his VC for displaying conspicuous valour, "leading to the ultimate...

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 ...

Don’t let the facts get in the way OH, for goodness sake, it’s started already . . . barely a month and a half since I mentioned in this “Comment” that I hoped that the coming year wouldn’t see certain factions putting modern day values on the commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the...

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.  ...