Readers may recall mention of the ‘Shah Jahan’ Diamond during our interview with Anthony Spink in issue 34 of the Insider last year. The diamond in question, which appeared in a 1985 Christie’s sale in Geneva, is a pink-toned 56-carat table cut of a ‘spectacular’ nature.

Readers across all collecting areas will know that Spink likes its sale items to find the very best of homes. The Medal Department therefore contacted the East India Club to advise the Secretary that, as the Club owns a magnificent portrait of Sir John, seeing his medals join the portrait would in effect be seeing them ‘go home’.

It is not often that banknotes and medals have something in common – apart from the occasional stylised battle scene – but this article aims to highlight a particularly interesting crossover!

The first issue of Venezuela has, for over a century, been the target for the famous collectors of South American countries. Ferrari and Hubbarb are just two of the names that come immediately to mind.