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Hound of the Baskervilles

Windsor Mint Issues Series of Sherlock Holmes Medals

Windsor Mint Issues Series of Sherlock Holmes Medals

“Now, these are a really very fine series of portraits.”

– The Hound of the Baskervilles (HOUN)

Back in February, we reported the the Windsor Mint had produced a Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective Medal. Within the past week, they have announced five additional medals with Sherlockian themed designs. We are sharing all six designs here, starting with the design we discussed in February

All six designs have a portion of Sir Arthur Conan’s Doyle’s handwritten manuscript of The Adventure of the Three Students, specifically two of the opening paragraphs:

Things had indeed been very slow with us, and I had learned to dread such periods of inaction, for I knew by experience that my companion’s brain was so abnormally active that it was dangerous to leave it without material upon which to work.  For years I had gradually weaned him from that drug mania which had threatened once to check his remarkable career.

Now I knew that under ordinary conditions he no longer craved for this artificial stimulus; but I was well aware that the fiend was not dead, but sleeping; and I have known that the sleep was a light one and the waking near when in periods of idleness I have seen the drawn look upon Holmes’s ascetic face, and the brooding of his deep-set and inscrutable eyes.

All six medals feature the same reverse design. Once again, a portion of Doyle’s handwritten manuscript appears in the background of Holmes’ silhouette, this time from the The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter:

Please await me.  Terrible misfortune.  Right wing three-quarter missing. Indispensable to-morrow. OVERTON

‘Strand postmark, and despatched ten thirty-six,’ said Holmes, reading it over and over.  ‘Mr. Overton was evidently considerably excited when he sent it, and somewhat incoherent in consequence.  Well, well, he will be here, I dare say, by the time I have looked through The Times, and then we shall know all about it.  Even the most insignificant problem would be welcome in these stagnant days.’

Things had indeed been very slow with us, and I had learned to dread such periods of inaction, for I knew by experience that my companion’s brain was so abnormally active that it was dangerous to leave it without material upon which to work.  For years I had gradually weaned him from that drug mania which had threatened once to check his remarkable career.  Now I knew that under ordinary conditions he no longer craved for this artificial stimulus; but I was well aware that the fiend was not dead, but sleeping; and I have known that the sleep was a light one and the waking near when in periods of idleness I have seen the drawn look upon Holmes’s ascetic face, and the brooding of his deep-set and inscrutable eyes.  Therefore I blessed this Mr. Overton, whoever he might be, since he had come with his enigmatic message to break that dangerous calm which brought more peril to my friend than all the storms of his tempestuous life.

When the one medal only was available in February, it was priced at £10 Now, with six medals and a “presentation holder” the set is priced at £149.50. Each 24 karat gold-plated copper medal is 50 mm diameter and weighs 54g. Struck in proof condition, the medals are limited to 9,999 sets.

Details can be found at the Windsor Mint website. Now the bad news – they only ship within Europe.

CoinCollective’s Sherlock Holmes 50 Pence PNC & other Post-Mint Modifications

CoinCollective’s Sherlock Holmes 50 Pence PNC & other Post-Mint Modifications

“… there were several little changes carried out …” – The Adventure of the Speckled Band (SPEC) A United Kingdom collectibles company, CoinCollective, has created a philatelic-numismatic cover with the 2019 Sherlock Holmes 50 pence coin, and several other items that may be of interest to those collectors that want “one of everything.”   This cover… Continue Reading

The 1993 Sherlock Holmes Stamps First Day Cover

The 1993 Sherlock Holmes Stamps First Day Cover

“Holmes stopped at a post office…” – The Adventure of the Creeping Man (CREE) In 1993, the Royal Mail issued a set of 5 24-pence stamps featuring scenes from different Sherlock Holmes stories. Fleetwood, the philatelic collectibles firm, issued a Philatelic Numismatic Cover (PNC) featuring the stamps along with a Victorian farthing and penny. The envelopes… Continue Reading

A Connection Between Coins

A Connection Between Coins

We are sharing this post from the British Royal Mint’s website. To see the original post, click HERE. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the majority of the Sherlock Holmes™ stories during the Victorian era. The coinage of Queen Victoria, amongst other coins, included the Sovereign, the Half-Sovereign, the crown and the shilling. Struck by The… Continue Reading

In for a Penny, In for a Pound – British Money as Holmes Knew It

In for a Penny, In for a Pound – British Money as Holmes Knew It

“I’d like two shillin’ better” – The Sign of the Four (SIGN) Some Sherlockians are puzzled by references to money in the Sherlock Holmes adventures – “a fifty-guinea watch” in The Sign of Four, a pipe that cost “seven-and sixpence” in “The Yellow Face.” The British monetary system was undoubtedly complicated. A pound was divided into 20 shillings,… Continue Reading

British Royal Mint Now Selling 2019 Sets With Sherlock Holmes Coin

British Royal Mint Now Selling 2019 Sets With Sherlock Holmes Coin

“… a work which had been specially designed to please him.” – The Sign of the Four (SIGN) On January 1, 2019, the British Royal Mint released the designs of their 2019 dated coins and began selling the annual sets to collectors. As we predicted in our earlier post about the 2019 Sherlock Holmes 50… Continue Reading

British Royal Mint to Issue Holmes 50 Pence Coins in January 2019

British Royal Mint to Issue Holmes 50 Pence Coins in January 2019

“It might be his portrait.” – The Hound of the Baskervilles (HOUN) In January 2019, the British Royal Mint will be issuing a series of 50 pence coins honoring Sherlock Holmes. Late yesterday, an image of the coin’s design was leaked and shared to the World of Coins website. Below is the proclamation authorizing these coins, as… Continue Reading

Chad Issues 2018 5,000 Franc Coin “Honoring” the Hound

Chad Issues 2018 5,000 Franc Coin “Honoring” the Hound

“Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!” – The Hound of the Baskervilles (HOUN) OBVERSE:  YEAR OF THE DOG 2018 / (a snarling, drooling hound, with paws scratching into the soil. Pagodas, cloud, the moon and the Chinese character for the word “dog” in the background) REVERSE:  REPUBLIQUE DU TCHAD / Mouse Ox Tiger… Continue Reading

“Ghana” issues 2017 Hound of the Baskervilles 2 Cedis Coin

“Ghana” issues 2017 Hound of the Baskervilles 2 Cedis Coin

“… after his African experiences …” – The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier (BLAN)      Sometime in 2017, the west African nation of Ghana contracted the German company of MCI Internationale Munzhandelsgesellschaft mbH (aka MCI Mint) to strike a 2 Cedis coin for sale to collectors. To date, it has been poorly marketed. OBVERSE: … Continue Reading

Pope Leo XIII

Pope Leo XIII

“I had observed some newspaper comment at the time, but I was exceedingly preoccupied by that little affair of the Vatican cameos, and in my anxiety to oblige the Pope I lost touch with several interesting English cases.” – The Hound of the Baskervilles (HOUN) In The Hound of the Baskervilles, there is the tantalizing reference… Continue Reading