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Germany, Austria and Italy are stood together in the middle of the pub, when Serbia bumps into Austria, and spills Austria’s pint. Austria demands Serbia buy it a complete new suit, because there are splashes on its trouser leg. Germany expresses its support for Austria’s point of view. Britain recommends that everyone calm down a bit. Serbia points out that it can’t afford a whole suit, but offers to pay for cleaning Austria’s trousers. Russia and Serbia look at Austria. Austria asks Serbia who it’s looking at. Russia suggests that Austria should leave its little brother alone. Austria inquires as to whose army will assist Russia in compelling it to do so. Germany appeals to Britain that France has been looking at it, and that this is sufficiently out of order that Britain should not intervene. Britain replies that France can look at who it wants to, that Britain is looking at Germany too, and what is Germany going to do about it? Germany tells Russia to stop looking at Austria, or Germany will render Russia incapable of such action. Britain and France ask Germany whether it’s looking at Belgium. Turkey and Germany go off into a corner and whisper. When they come back, Turkey makes a show of not looking at anyone. Germany rolls up its sleeves, looks at France, and punches Belgium. France and Britain punch Germany. Austria punches Russia. Germany punches Britain and France with one hand and Russia with the other. Russia throws a punch at Germany, but misses and nearly falls over. Japan calls over from the other side of the room that it’s on Britain’s side, but stays there. Italy surprises everyone by punching Austria. Australia punches Turkey, and gets punched back. There are no hard feelings, because Britain made Australia do it. France gets thrown through a plate glass window, but gets back up and carries on fighting. Russia gets thrown through another one, gets knocked out, suffers brain damage, and wakes up with a complete personality change. Italy throws a punch at Austria and misses, but Austria falls over anyway. Italy raises both fists in the air and runs round the room chanting. America waits till Germany is about to fall over from sustained punching from Britain and France, then walks over and smashes it with a barstool, then pretends it won the fight all by itself. By now all the chairs are broken, and the big mirror over the bar is shattered. Britain, France and America agree that Germany threw the first punch, so the whole thing is Germany’s fault . While Germany is still unconscious, they go through its pockets, steal its wallet, and buy drinks for all their friends. And when Germany wakes up, it goes out to its car, gets the gun out of the glovebox and heads back inside...

I've developed an interest in British coinage if for no other reason than here in the U.S. (or at the very least in my region of the country) U.K.issues are very much something of a collecting backwater, and thus I find some really great material relegated to dealers' "bargain" bins. Case in point - this 1831 ".W.W" variety William IV penny turned up at a local (that being in my largely rural area a relative term, as it was still a sixty mile drive, one way) coin club sponsored show in a tray of "junk" coppers, and therefore cost me virtually nothing.

Some of mine - I don't have many, but I really like the ones I have:

That might be cruel - but I did pick up this one as an upgrade the other day. Not necessarily my favourite - I have posted those elsewhere - but not bad:

taken form the Royal mint museum facebook page, and what a beauty this coin is, almost certainly unique The coin illustrated here is a piedfort sixpence of 1963. It is the same diameter and carries the same designs as a standard sixpence but at 6.460g it is more than double the normal weight and it is made in sterling silver. For many years it has been in the Mint collection but so far it has not been possible to determine precisely why it was struck. There is no evidence of relevant experiments taking place at that time and in terms of size it cannot be related to any other coin the Mint was making in 1963. For the time being, therefore, the coin remains a mystery but the search will continue for an answer.

Hi. You might find Declan's site interesting . http://www.declanmageecoins.co.uk/E23.html

Sent this e mail off to dnw yesterday:- and received this reply:- I'm therefore assuming that the Hiram Brown buns will not be listed until the next dnw coin auction after June.

Really pleased with this . thought it was going to be a dog but pleasantly surprised. Much better grade than I thought it was. Almost a serious coin

I also had the same issue with a NGC slabbed 1922 MS 52 halfcrown.. I removed it from the slab and cleaned it with the Al. foil bicarb. of soda method and the results presented below. I know silver dip has been recommended but I think the foil method may be less destructive to the coin as it converts the silver sulfide directly back to metallic silver while emitting sulfurated hydrogen gas while silver dip is an acid that will etch the coin to remove the tarnish including some of the surface of the coin.I have previously posted these pictures but they seemed to relate to this discussion.