THE UNAPPROPRIATED DIE ERA: 1884-1885 Figure 1 -Unappropriated Dies – Die Proofs, 1872While proofs of 19 duties were prepared for use for varying Great Britain revenues, the eight duties shown above were those appropriated for the Military Telegraphs issue in 1884 “In essence De La Rue prepared a set of dies for each value desired […]
MILITARY TELEGRAPHS IN BRITISH BECHUANALAND Read Article »
‘IN THE SPRING-TIME, THE ONLY PRETTY RING-TIME’ (AS YOU LIKE IT, ACT V, SCENE III) HISTORIC FINGER RINGS AT SPINK, LONDON – APRIL 2025 There’s something a little bit different amongst the lots of the latest Spink Coin sale, in the form of two historic finger-rings. Both are astonishing, recent metal detecting finds which, after
IN THE SPRING-TIME, THE ONLY PRETTY RING-TIME Read Article »
‘Daikokuten embodies Japan’s cultural evolution through his unique and multifarious blend of culture, religion, and philosophy.’ As the excitement of the New Year gives way to the inevitable January blues, many of us find ourselves in an all too familiar slump. Following a season of indulgence, we have full stomachs and empty wallets by spring,
Daikokuten: THE JAPANESE GOD OF WEALTH Read Article »
PART 3 FROM JAMES I TO JAMES V “He also issued gold coins which he named the demy and the half-demy, based on the English half- and quarter-noble and approximately equal in size, though of slightly reduced fineness” Introduction This article continues the story of Scottish money with a survey of the intriguing coin is-
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STAMPS FORTHCOMING SALES Spink looks forward to a busy auction schedule from April through May, following the Europhilex International Stamp Exhibition held in Birmingham from 7th to 11th May. Having already offered the British Solomon Islands from the Greenwood collection, Lionheart Part XXI and Michael Medlicott’s Trinidad and Tobago, the Stamp Department launch into their
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ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MEDALS London, 24th April 2025 In our auction of 24th April 2025, the Medal Department are thrilled to offer a most comprehensive collection of South Africa Medals for the campaigns of 1877-79. Most often, this most attractive medal is associated with the perhaps more famed Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 – more of
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It was soon clear that with the demands of the ‘day job’, the work on RIC would be frustratingly slow, especially as I was asked to curate a Roman exhibition which was to tour four Continents of the World. It seems a very long time ago, around Christmas 2009, when I was asked to write
Fifteen Years in the Making: RIC V.5 – Carausius and Allectus Read Article »
VERONA: THE LITTLE ROME “There is no world without Verona Walls,but Purgatory, torture, Hell itself ” quote written on plaque beneath bust of Shakespeare near Piazza Bra Verona – perhaps over-shadowed a little by its near neighbour Venice – is an interesting place to visit for a weekend, or longer if you use it as
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WORLD BANKNOTES – E-AUCTION London, 27th March – 10th April 2025 Following a thrilling start to the year with our January online auction, The Robin Benke Collection of English Banknotes and an incredibly successful live sale at NYINC, the excitement of remarkable banknotes continues! Our current online auction presents a notable collection of Bank Polski
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IN MEMORIAM: GEORGE MÜLLER (1926-2025) Georges (George) Ernest Müller, former Director of Spink’s Ancient Coin Department, passed away on 6th January, at the age of 98, surrounded by loved ones at his family home in La Rippe, Switzerland. Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris on 6th December 1926, George was educated at the Lycée Pasteur, and later
