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Un precis d'Angleterre



 
 
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  #1  
Old April 18th 10, 12:49 AM posted to rec.collecting.coins
oly
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Posts: 3,111
Default Un precis d'Angleterre

Numismatic Observations on Oxford and London, 29 March to 12 April
2010

Part One

These are simply my recent commonplace impressions and if you know
more than I do on the subject matter (as well many persons may) you
can correct or append to these comments. You can also ignore them as
you wish without offending me.

Note: Generally, I paid USD 1.65 for GB 1 Pound during this trip.
This is slightly dumb on my part; I really should use ATMs instead of
bringing cash (banknotes) with me and get a better exchange rate. The
pound was the cheapest that I can recall and much cheaper that when I
visited in mid-2007.

Coins in everyday use

As I noted in earlier trips, the English use coins much more than
Americans do. Small pocket-sized coin purses are in very common use
(by both men and women), as the English coins are relatively larger,
thicker and heavier than American coins. Of course, the range of
English coin denominations represent relatively higher sums of money
than America’s range of coin denominations.

The new circulation coins: The “Royal Shield” and “Shield Puzzle”
coins that were introduced in 2008 are starting to work their way into
circulation. I obtained specimens of all denomination from the One
Pound to the One Pence, ‘though I only got one example of the newly
designed Fifty Pence. The newly designed Five Pence and Twenty Pence
were commonly tendered, and I got multiples of each denomination with
the exception of the Fifty Pence.

Coins dated 2009 were starting to appear, but most bright and shiny
coins encountered were dated 2008. I found NO examples of 2010 dated
coins.

I obtained two examples of the regular Two Pounds coin dated 2008. I
obtained one example of the 2007-dated Abolition of the Slave Trade
commemorative Two Pounds. I obtained five example of the 2005-dated
Dr. Johnson’s Dictionary commemorative Fifty Pence. I obtained one
example of the 2006-dated Victoria Cross (Two Soldiers type)
commemorative Fifty Pence.

The currently produced bronze-plated steel One and Two Pence coins
have almost totally replaced the earlier bronze coins.

Elongated coins

There are at least two, two-die squished penny machines at Harrods
Department Store and I essentially had to use the bronze-plated coins
although my “purist” elongating friends might object. The two designs
both feature the name Harrods in the well-known script and show (1)
the Harrods’ building on Brompton Road, along with the date 2010, and
(2) the Harrods’ Teddy Bear.

Unlike America’s copper covered zinc cents which tend to split open
when elongated, the United Kingdom’s bronze-plated steel pence almost
always roll out very well and evenly. It seems that when the softer
metal is in the middle of a coin, it doesn’t elongate very well (the
outer core splits open). It seems that when the harder metal is in
the middle of a coin, the soft outer metal flows well and evenly when
elongated. There is probably some arcane scientific principal that
explains this.

There is a magnet in the cup of many penny rolling machines in
England, as the product is usually magnetic and this keeps them from
falling to the ground.

Notes in everyday use

The principal banknotes are denominated Five Pounds, Ten Pounds and
Twenty Pounds. There is a Fifty Pounds banknote as well, but it can
be highly inconvenient in small transactions. All of these notes are
issued by the Bank of England, and I did not receive or see any
Scottish bank-issued banknotes during this trip.

The notes are different colors – the five pounds is blue green; the
ten pounds brown orange yellow; the twenty pounds is purple and white;
and the fifty pounds is red and white. The effigy on the ten pounds
honors the scientist Charles Darwin and that on the Twenty honors the
economist Adam Smith. The Twenty Pounds has a teeny-tiny vignette of
“Britannia” as well (the dropping of “Britannia” from the design of
the Fifty Pence coin back in 2008 caused a minor tempest in a teapot
amongst the British Press). All notes feature H.M. the Queen’s
portrait as well. The notes have different sizes, each successive
denomination being slightly larger that the previous. This is
obviously an aide for the visually handicapped and probably also of
help to busy cashiers.

Instead of laying notes flat in the cash register drawer, many
retailers’ cash registers store the banknotes upright on the edges.

To be continued

Ads
  #2  
Old April 18th 10, 03:31 PM posted to rec.collecting.coins
oly
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,111
Default Un precis d'Angleterre

On Apr 17, 6:49*pm, oly wrote:
Numismatic Observations on Oxford and London, 29 March to 12 April
2010

Part One

These are simply my recent commonplace impressions and if you know
more than I do on the subject matter (as well many persons may) you
can correct or append to these comments. *You can also ignore them as
you wish without offending me.

Note: *Generally, I paid USD 1.65 for GB 1 Pound during this trip.
This is slightly dumb on my part; I really should use ATMs instead of
bringing cash (banknotes) with me and get a better exchange rate. *The
pound was the cheapest that I can recall and much cheaper that when I
visited in mid-2007.

Coins in everyday use

As I noted in earlier trips, the English use coins much more than
Americans do. *Small pocket-sized coin purses are in very common use
(by both men and women), as the English coins are relatively larger,
thicker and heavier than American coins. *Of course, the range of
English coin denominations represent relatively higher sums of money
than America’s range of coin denominations.

The new circulation coins: *The “Royal Shield” and “Shield Puzzle”
coins that were introduced in 2008 are starting to work their way into
circulation. *I obtained specimens of all denomination from the One
Pound to the One Pence, ‘though I only got one example of the newly
designed Fifty Pence. *The newly designed Five Pence and Twenty Pence
were commonly tendered, and I got multiples of each denomination with
the exception of the Fifty Pence.

Coins dated 2009 were starting to appear, but most bright and shiny
coins encountered were dated 2008. *I found NO examples of 2010 dated
coins.

I obtained two examples of the regular Two Pounds coin dated 2008. *I
obtained one example of the 2007-dated Abolition of the Slave Trade
commemorative Two Pounds. *I obtained five example of the 2005-dated
Dr. Johnson’s Dictionary commemorative Fifty Pence. *I obtained one
example of the 2006-dated Victoria Cross (Two Soldiers type)
commemorative Fifty Pence.

The currently produced bronze-plated steel One and Two Pence coins
have almost totally replaced the earlier bronze coins.

Elongated coins

There are at least two, two-die squished penny machines at Harrods
Department Store and I essentially had to use the bronze-plated coins
although my “purist” elongating friends might object. *The two designs
both feature the name Harrods in the well-known script and show (1)
the Harrods’ building on Brompton Road, along with the date 2010, and
(2) the Harrods’ Teddy Bear.

Unlike America’s copper covered zinc cents which tend to split open
when elongated, the United Kingdom’s bronze-plated steel pence almost
always roll out very well and evenly. *It seems that when the softer
metal is in the middle of a coin, it doesn’t elongate very well (the
outer core splits open). *It seems that when the harder metal is in
the middle of a coin, the soft outer metal flows well and evenly when
elongated. *There is probably some arcane scientific principal that
explains this.

There is a magnet in the cup of many penny rolling machines in
England, as the product is usually magnetic and this keeps them from
falling to the ground.

Notes in everyday use

The principal banknotes are denominated Five Pounds, Ten Pounds and
Twenty Pounds. *There is a Fifty Pounds banknote as well, but it can
be highly inconvenient in small transactions. *All of these notes are
issued by the Bank of England, and I did not receive or see any
Scottish bank-issued banknotes during this trip.

The notes are different colors – the five pounds is blue green; the
ten pounds brown orange yellow; the twenty pounds is purple and white;
and the fifty pounds is red and white. *The effigy on the ten pounds
honors the scientist Charles Darwin and that on the Twenty honors the
economist Adam Smith. *The Twenty Pounds has a teeny-tiny vignette of
“Britannia” as well (the dropping of “Britannia” from the design of
the Fifty Pence coin back in 2008 caused a minor tempest in a teapot
amongst the British Press). *All notes feature H.M. the Queen’s
portrait as well. *The notes have different sizes, each successive
denomination being slightly larger that the previous. *This is
obviously an aide for the visually handicapped and probably also of
help to busy cashiers.

Instead of laying notes flat in the cash register drawer, many
retailers’ cash registers store the banknotes upright on the edges.

To be continued


Part Two

Again, these are just my casual observations, I wasn’t seriously
investigating conditions or coin shopping.

Coin Shops

Spink: I finally visited the showroom of Spink, on Southampton Road.
Spink has a very, very nice building, very classy showroom on a busy
commercial road about three and one-half blocks from the British
Museum. They are also just south of Russell Square and near
Bloomsbury Square, both additinal landmarks.

There are many coin books and catalogs in the large front foyer, some
coins, medals, banknotes and military medals (decorations) on display
in the store. Spink’s written “Royal Warrant” to H.M. the Queen as
“Numismatist and Medalist” is prominently on display in the front
foyer. The Royal Warrant is to the principal of the firm himself, and
not to the company.

There were some well above average coins (and medals) of Charles I on
display, and if I recall, some eighteenth century medals by Pingo.
There was some kind of 20th century German medal in porcelain, I
forget the subject matter. There were several British Colonial
banknotes on individual display, maybe specimens or proofs, no doubt
rarities.

However, the very best items on display, however, were in the area of
military medals. There were several large “named” sets of medals on
display (seven to nine medals all to one recipient) covering late
Victorian and World War I and World War II eras. The very best item
was a Victorian Crimea Medal, in silver, with five “bars” for various
battles participated in. There was a second Crimea medal, also in
silver, with only one or two bars. I thought that both of these
Crimea medals were choice choice choice stuff.

There was one person at the main show case apparently selling some
modern British sets and stuff to the firm. It was a light morning for
the shop, it seemed. Having no funds to spend for rare coins, I did
not bother to ask to see anything additional. All the people at Spink
were very polite and friendly enough.

Others: Coincraft is still in place on Great Russell Street, straight
across the street from the British Museum. This is probably the best
sited coin shop of any in the entire world. There are wonderful
things in Coincrafts’ windows to see, a small exquisite display of
some desirable stuff of all eras. The show windows at Coincraft
remind me of the windows at Harlan J. Berk’s shop on Clark Street in
Chicago, but Mr. Berk has more windows than Mr. Lobel.

A few years back, there seemed to be two coin shops here, but
apparently the other shop (which primarily sold ancients) has been
absorbed somehow. Mr. Lobel has also added his last name to the front
of the shop, which I don’t recall being there in the past. Again,
having no special funds for coins and having many other places to see
(not the least of which was the British Museum just across the
street), I did not dare venture into Coincraft (‘though I have done so
in the past).

Two other places to note: Katy-korner from the British Museum, there
is a small shop one door off the intersection of Great Russell Street
and Bury place which primarily sells nice small Greek and Roman
antiquities, and they have some Roman coins. There is a small shop
near Admiralty Arch and Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery of
Art (at Pall Mall at Suffolk or Whitcomb Streets?) which titles itself
as a Military Medals shop, but they have lots of coins. Both of these
shops have been around a while, so if you go looking I think that they
will still be there.

To be continued

oly
  #3  
Old April 18th 10, 05:36 PM posted to rec.collecting.coins
Peter[_6_]
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Posts: 401
Default Un precis d'Angleterre

On Apr 18, 10:31*am, oly wrote:

I agree with all of that. I thought that the salesmen at Spinks were
among the best salesmen I've encountered. The prices seemed a little
high when I went and my grandson had his portion of BS rather soon
after we arrived so I didn't buy anything.

There are some other interesting coin shops near the National Portrait
Gallery but further up from Trafalgar.

  #4  
Old April 18th 10, 11:18 PM posted to rec.collecting.coins
oly
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,111
Default Un precis d'Angleterre

On Apr 18, 11:36*am, Peter wrote:
On Apr 18, 10:31*am, oly wrote:

I agree with all of that. *I thought that the salesmen at Spinks were
among the best salesmen I've encountered. *The prices seemed a little
high when I went and my grandson had his portion of BS rather soon
after we arrived so I didn't buy anything.

There are some other interesting coin shops near the National Portrait
Gallery but further up from Trafalgar.


I am simply in heaven when I am in the National Portrait Gallery. I
like it even better than the National Gallery of Art, which is also
wonderful. However, I did wonder about the portraits of Jenny Lind
(the Swedish Nightengale), Mrs. Simpson (Wallis, the Duchess of
Windsor) and one other late nineteenth century fellow whose name
escapes me. Were they eventually British citizens? Also, the
portrait of John Maynard Keynes seemed to be AWOL.

I wish I could remember the name of the other fellow I questioned, as
his status seemed to me to be the thorniest of the three. It was not
poet T.S. Eliott, an American (Missourian) by birth whose naturalized
British status I was aware of.

I still intend to write about where to see coins in Museums. It will
just take a little time.

oly
 




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