Collectors are divided on whether to buy slabbed coins. Many numismatists like the professional grading and descriptions and the protection the slabbing offers. However many of us prefer to handle the actual coins.

Interestingly archaeologists have discovered that slabbing coins was known to ancient Roman collectors. Perspex or plastic of any type had not been invented, and glass was expensive, so the coins had to be encased in stone or concrete. This meant the coin was protected from wear, accidental damage and were difficult to steal (or even move at all). However the coins could not be viewed by the collector. Julius Caesar who was a keen collector, came up with the saying “veni vidi vici” which means “I came, I saw, I saw no coin”.

 

Some coins were stamped SPQR which stands for Slab Pretty Quickly, Romans. So look out for rocks or stones which may contain a coin.  You would be a fool not to!

 

 The Penny

At our January meeting we looked at the humble penny in the UK and abroad. here are some colloquial uses:

"A penny for your thoughts" is a way of asking someone what they are thinking about. It was first documented John Heywood's 1547 Dialogue Conteinying the Nomber in Effect of All the Proverbes in the Englishe Tongue

"In for a penny, in for a pound," is a common expression used to express someone's intention to see something through, however much time, effort, or money this entails.

To "give (one's) tuppence/tuppenny/two'penneth (worth)", is a saying that uses the words for two pence to share one's opinion, idea, or point of view, regardless of whether or not others want to hear it. A similar expression using the US term of cents is my two cents. Give me five cents in Catalonia means to give the summary only. 

To "spend a penny" means to urinate. Its etymology is literal: coin-operated public toilets commonly charged a pre-decimal penny, beginning with the Great Exhibition of 1851.

 

                                                  A  Brilliant Christmas 
                                         And an Uncirculated New Year
                                                               From 
                                        Oxford Numismatic Society 2022

The theme of this month's meeting was a seasonal one. here is a photograph of some Christmas Club tokens. people would pay a few pence a week to save up for Christmas. Between the wars and later most people did not have bank accounts and this was the only way of saving. however the customer could only buy goods from the shop and they sometimes charged a fee and there were penalties for leaving the scheme early. They were popular in the USA and this country.

Have a cheerful collecting Christmas 

 The them for this month was coins and medallions relating to remembrance. here are some items

Great Britain 1919 peace souvenir

Russia 5 rouble commemorative of 1941-1945 war.      Italy: unknown warrior

South Africa 1945 peace commemorative.   Tsarist Russia 1915

New coins 

The new portrait design has been published. It is not clear when they will be used on day to day coinage. what will the King's portrait look like on the Commonwealth coins?

It is interesting the legend has the English version of his name Charles. The name Elizabeth was used on her coins but George V, VI and Edward VIII all used the Latin versions. Victoria is the same in both languages. Both kings Charles I and Charles II used Carolus.

 

Elizabeth the Great

The lives of kings and queens is an essential part of numismatics. The passing of Her Majesty on Thursday is the end of an era.  Most of us have never known a different monarch.  Numismatically her reign started with the new issues bearing the Gillick portrait. That image was controversial at the time but it is now regarded as youthful and full of grace. The royal titles on the 1953 coins have BRITT OMN but this was only used for that year

Her portraits changed over the years, beginning with portrait designed by Arnold Machin for the new decimal coins from 1968 although D Day was not until 1971. “New pence” quickly became just “pence”.    The third portrait of the Queen was designed in 1985 by Raphael Maclouf. The fourth portrait of the Queen was designed by Ian Rank-Broadley. The last portrait was designed by Jody Clark in 2015 and shows the Queen with the Royal Diamond Diadem Crown, which she wore for her Coronation in 1953. Many coins were issued to mark Royal and national events over her seventy year reign. She appears on the coins of many commonwealth countries.

Her Majesty offered continuity in a world that changes too quickly. Rulers come and go but not many could justly claim the title “The Great”. She is entitled to that because of her many years of service and devotion to duty. She was not only the Queen of the United Kingdom but also of fifteen countries in every country. She was a vital link to many other nations and people across the world which we value so much.   By tradition the portrait of the new king on his coins will face the opposite direction to the predecessor. It will be interesting to see what royal titles will be used on his coins.

We look back on her long reign with pride and gratitude and look forward to the reign of Charles III

God save the King