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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.

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

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

The Final Problem $2 Coin From The Cook Islands

The Final Problem $2 Coin From The Cook Islands

“… the best and the wisest man whom I have ever known.” – The Adventure of The Final Problem (FINA) In 2007, the Cook Islands contracted with the Perth Mint of Australia to produce a set of four 1 ounce .999 silver $2 coins.  All four coins featured color vignettes from the 1979 – 1986 Soviet television… Continue Reading

Gibraltar’s 1994 The Final Problem Crowns

Gibraltar’s 1994 The Final Problem Crowns

“… reeling over, locked in each other’s arms.” – The Adventure of The Final Problem (FINA) Gibraltar released 8 different designs for its 1994 series of coins commemorating the 100th anniversary of the return of Sherlock Holmes. In this post, we will discuss the three coins that feature the scuffle between Holmes and Professor Moriarty near the Reichenbach Falls… Continue Reading

From Watson’s Tin Box: The Final Problem

From Watson’s Tin Box: The Final Problem

“Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travel-worn and battered tin dispatch-box with my name, John H. Watson, MD, Late Indian Army, painted upon the lid.” – The Problem of Thor Bridge (THOR) Watson’s Tin Box, a BSI scion that meets in Columbia, Maryland, shares… Continue Reading

Radio Broadcast of Murder By Proxy – January 18, 1933

Radio Broadcast of Murder By Proxy – January 18, 1933

“… the last words in which I shall ever record …” – The Adventure of The Final Problem (FINA) We are pleased to share this recording of the January 18, 1933 NBC radio broadcast of Murder by Proxy. Edith Meiser adapted the script from Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Final Problem. This is the earliest known surviving recording of any Sherlock Holmes… Continue Reading