Red Riley

Spit it out Peter.

On the other hand going back onto the gold standard brought this country to the brink of ruin in 1925.

I think that's only relevant if you're a mathematician. Since the introduction of the zero from the Indian sub-continent slowly from the 12th century, a base of 10 made far more sense. Everyone else has looked at the problem and come up with base 100 as being the best solution. If we had decided otherwise it would have been a case of 'everyone being out of step except my son John' would it not?

Hi dagz, Welcome to the madhouse. We are generally a friendly bunch even if we do have the odd rant...

Russia is 3rd world, draconian corrupt cold full of mafia, but have good Vodka.........da. Oh and no need to call me God, Zeus is fine Pretty much as I've said before re China, I do feel sorry for people attempting to make an honest living in Russia, but internet con-men have made it nigh on impossible for anybody honest to sell so much as a paper clip on the net.

Would this not be a case where the Crown could appeal against an over-lenient sentence? If not, what was the ruddy act passed for?

People don't like change as that twerp in the Yorkshire Post proved, but it was stir crazy not to go through with decimalisation in the 1850s. The re-introduction of the half crown was a mistake as we then had two denominations far too close to each other. But I guess we learnt to live with it and the anti-change brigade were presumably happy as Larry. In the meantime much school time was wasted teaching kids a bizarre and over-complicated system which really should have drifted off into the sunset 100 or more years before it finally did.

Personally...I would say 1872, which is also the only Gothic I ever saw in circulation... Wow your doing very well for you age! Thank you, but it really is true. The coin was about 100 years old at the time though.

Hence more crime, hence overcrowded prisons. It's a vicious circle...

Maybe it's their relative lack of history, but the florin tends to be an overlooked denomination and personally I think that's sad. Their lack of a past though has meant that the designs have tended to be less staid than any of the other silver denominations bar the crown and in my view the Godless, Gothic and Standing Britannia series are all time classics and the Victoria Old Head pieces were quite pretty too. On the other hand the 1937-51 design was perhaps one of the dullest to appear on any British coin...

Then we have probably met. I don't go as often as I would like as, despite being the nearest coin club to me, it is still an hour's drive away and finding my way and parking in Reading is an absolute nightmare. Still, it's a very good club and I've always been impressed with the activities and talks provided for the members. Just one thing, can't you move the meeting a bit closer to me?

My brother in law was a prison warder and later an assistant governor before he had more than he could take. In his view half of the prisoners he encountered were doolally and should have been in the funny farm.

No, no they weren't called Hoolighan, Hoolahan or anything like it but they were Irish and came over during the potato famine. Did you know that everybody in the western world is descended from the emperor Nero?

Personally...I would say 1872, which is also the only Gothic I ever saw in circulation, but if date is irrelevant, just wait and see what comes up. In my opinion though, the earlier portrait (the change happened in 1879) is the nicer. A similar portrait, although completely different lettering appeared on the 1849 'Godless' florin and these are relatively common in high grade, so may be a best buy.

True, I believe. The adjective comes from a troublesome Irish family who lived in London in the C19th I think... So did my Irish ancestors; we might be related. Oh, the shame of it...

Michael Gouby is very close to there, close enough for you to pay him a visit while your wife does the market. Portobello Road is where I cut my collecting teeth buying odds nad ends from a dealer called Ken King - I often wonder what happened to him. The place used to be a real den of thieves and vagabonds but the entire area has gone stratospheric since those days, sanitised and just not so much fun any more. Personally I don't actually know if there are any dealers in the market itself, but somehow I doubt it.

That's because they're Norfolk-ing good! I'll get my coat...

Touché £400. They are all after your meal deals...what ever happened to proper pubs?I won't bother...or can't afford to bother. We are off to the pub...tonight but it won't be for the beer...maybe a nice steak for £6.95 but I won't fill my bladder at £3 a pint and £4.75 for a glass of plonk. Oh come on Peter, you're sounding more and more like my Gran every day. Beer was 12p a pint when I started drinking but then I was earning all of £20 a week. If you take RPI into account, I doubt if there's much difference. I agree that the quality of our pubs has gone down though.

Ditto, I bet you're amazed that an old fart like me even had a Facebook page!

II was going to say the same thing, not only because of the fair which is way too far north for me, but York itself is worth a couple of days of your time.

Dear oh lore, that rant was 'Grumpy Old Men, the Unabridged Version'. Much as I love this country's predecimal coinage, it was a pain in the arse to use. We have 10 fingers for a reason.

That pee water is overpriced whatever you pay for it.

Just to confuse you it's Gouby obverse J - much easier to look up than Freeman - whatever, it is still the most common of the lot. That type of reverse should have a sig. Have a look under the shield. Just checked the website i bought this 1861 from Derek, the seller states that it has 15 leaves, gouby OBV J has 16 leaves Doh... I hate 1860 and 61. Why do you think I didn't answer straight away? Per Gouby, the only two without signatures are H and J. In H, the 'B' of 'BRITT' stands clear of the head whereas in J it is virtually touching. All others will be signed.

Ee... where there's mook...

I often wonder what on Earth they sell. A quick glance at their website seems to show very little that I would want to buy and what there is is usually very expensive. Their shop is in a great position but must cost a fortune in rent/business rates. I know they sometimes handle the sale of various hoards but I just wonder what else they sell to make ends meet.