Geoff T

I would never, ever, read the Daily Mail on this or any day! Geoff

Something along the lines of "Look ahead, but clearly". G

The one a the bottom is definitely a half crown. The obverse has the second head and the reverse the second reverse, so it must be 1823 or later. Geoff

I think it has to be the 1952 half crown, because it's unique and, having held it, it's become existential rather than a dream coin. Mind you, I wouldn't say no to a Una, or one of the proof Edward VIII escapees... G

To be fair, it's easy to describe something as "extremely fine" when we don't actually mean EF - the words roll off the tongue as a general description. The danger is putting them in print where they'll be interpreted in the strict numismatic sense. I've seen far worse things on eBay! G

I was in Singapore the week before last. Yes, it is spotlessly clean, although the only piece of litter I saw in the otherwise perfect MRT (underground) system was - a chewing gum wrapper. I think someone was being highly subversive there. Mind you, all this comes at a price. The country is run as a benevolent dictatorship. There's freedom speech and action up to a point, but the penalties for those who go beyond that point are draconian and sufficient to alert those concerned with human rights abuses. It's the nanny state gone, not just mad, but dangerously manic. Pretty coins though... G

I've heard that a substantial amount of the material we set aside for recycling actually ends up in landfill sites as we don't have the resources to reprocess it. The other day I dutifully put out my recycled paper at 8am only to find it still there at 6.30pm. When I rang the council they told me they'd sent out the wrong collection schedule for my area. Faced with inefficiency like that it's no wonder people are tempted just to chuck it all in the bin. Mind you, it's the litter louts who can't even be bothered to do that who really get my dander up... G

If they don't, can you blame them when all they're met with is a a pile of off-topic criticism? Poor English drives me mad too - I'm the editor of a professional journal with a reputation for being a spelling/punctuation/grammar guerilla - but sometimes discretion is the better part of answering enquiries. (Dear me, I sound like a right oldie!) G

Are you sure these are coins? The only things of real value are the official award medals and the official commemorative medal issued by the Royal Mint. The latter were made in gilded bronze, silver and platinum and were sold in presentation cases. They're piedfort, about 50cm across and have an obverse with the queen enthroned, based on the Elizabeth I sovereign. G

Geoff is here! Almost certainly a medal - there were more for Edward VII than anyone - but very puzzling. The odd thing is that it says "Coronation coin" on it. Any chance of seeing the reverse? A coronation medal should somewhere give the date 26 June 1902 - although as all anoraks will tell you, the ceremony was postponed until 9 August. Only the official medals have the correct date. 1911 is the year of George V's coronation. A mule? The other odd thing is that there's no "Omn" after Britt. Looking forward to a reverse pic. G

If you have £26,750 to spare, Colin Cooke is selling a BU Una

I'm afraid not. My interest in medals doesn't stretch to military ones and my knowledge of non-British ones is minimal. Sorry not to be of more assistance - Geoff

More specifically, he became King of Hanover on the death of William IV in 1837. Since George I Hanover and Britain had shared the same ruler; initially they were electors in Hanover (and Dukes of Brunswick) and latterly Kings. You can see the horse of Brunswick on the royal arms on. e.g. the reverse of a William IV half crown. Women couldn't succeed to the throne of Hanover so the succession there passed to Victoria's uncle Ernst August, Duke of Cumberland. He was in turn succeed by his (blind) son as George V of Hanover (after whom the Paris hotel is named) before Hanover was annexed by Prussia. Ernst was a reactionary and no more popular in Hanover than in Britain. The tokens were used in a popular game of the time and are quite common. Geoff

It could be a non-official coronation medal from 1911 but I have my doubts. The countries on the reverse are Empire territories - mostly dominions like Canada, Australia and South Africa. The inclusion of Ireland is puzzling though; in 1911 it was part of the UK, which might argue in favour of this being a 1935 silver jubilee medal. In 1935 what was to become the Irish Republic was technically a dominion (self-governing country) within the Empire. I would also expect a 1911 coronation medal to make some reference to the event. One possibility is that it was issued in connection with the British Empire festival at Wembley in 1924-25. Geoff

Yes, but these days they call themselves New Labour

The 1848-1898 medal will be to mark the golden jubilee of the Emperor Franz Josef (reigned 1848-1916). Diamond jubilee ones were also produced in 1908. Geoff

Is there a standard reference work on coinage from the former British colonies? Huge amounts of currency were minted for use throughout the British Empire; I only have a little but I'm keen to learn more. Thanks - Geoff

Each to their own, but I find them a bit too fussy. I prefer the simple elegance of Wyon's effigy of William IV or De Saulles' for Edward VII. If it has to be something more elaborate, then I'd go for Boehm's jubilee head portrait of Victoria - unjustly maligned in my opinion. And we haven't even mentioned reverses... G

Well, you see Chris, it's just that pre-decimal kids like me did Latin at school - so I think "By the grace of the coin, guardian of the forum" should be "Nummi gratia fori def[ensor]". Geoff As the man said - Veni, vidi, vici - Been there, done that, got the Latin O level...

I'm there from just before 9am till just after 1pm. G

How did we get from colonial coins to cabbages in 3 days? Talking of nuts, I recently saw some chocolate covered nuts in Singapore and on the box it said "Testes covered in milk chocolate". (There we are - back to the colonies AND Latin in one fell swoop!)> G

Thanks for the tips - I'll follow them up. G

I'll be in college next Saturday morning if you want to come and say 'hi' and talk pre-decimal. G

The Royal Mint moved to wales in 1974, if my memory serves me correctly. G

But we did! If someone gave you a 10/- note when I was a kid then you were rich. It was worth four half-crowns! Jumpers for goal-posts... Geoff