Irregular Postings on Coin Collecting & Numismatics - Both Canonical & Conanical

A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars

Numismatists Do Not Fear Change

Tag Archives: Watson

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.

Fantasy £100 Bank of Baker Street Notes Feature BBC Sherlock Cast

Fantasy £100 Bank of Baker Street Notes Feature BBC Sherlock Cast

” … for the sake of a few hundred pounds. “  – The Red-Headed League (REDH) We have another fantasy bank note, this a £100 note from the fictional Bank of Baker Street. The front of this 76 millimeters by 140 millimeters note features larger portraits of John Watson and Sherlock Holmes on the right, while… Continue Reading

Sherlockian Themed Geocoins – Part 2

Sherlockian Themed Geocoins – Part 2

“… something precious, something which he could not bear to part with, had been left behind.” -The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge (WIST) Back in August 2018, we first posted about Sherlockian themed Pathtag Geocoins. We now have learned of two more pathtag geocoins along with three other totally different geocoins. First, let’s update you on the two… Continue Reading

From Watson’s Tin Box – The Cardboard Box

From Watson’s Tin Box – The Cardboard Box

“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) Then I will tell you. After throwing down your paper, which was the action… Continue Reading

The Unauthorized [and Illicit] Dr. Watson Battle of Maiwand Bar

The Unauthorized [and Illicit] Dr. Watson Battle of Maiwand Bar

“The campaign brought honours and promotion to many, but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster.” – A Study in Scarlet (STUD) Facsimile of Dr. John Watson’s 2nd Afghan War Medal With the [at last and about time] Long Overdue Maiwand Bar* For the believer in versimilitude actual 2nd Afghan War Medals may… Continue Reading

Campaign Medals of Jude Law’s Dr. Watson

Campaign Medals of Jude Law’s Dr. Watson

“I served at the fatal battle of Maiwand.” – A Study in Scarleti (STUD) We have done a few posts before on the various cinematic versions of Dr. Watson and the various military decorations they have worn. We now turn our attention to the portrayal by Jude Law in the two movies in the Robert Downey,… Continue Reading

A Sherlock Hound Phonecard

A Sherlock Hound Phonecard

” Holmes the sleuth-hound” – The Red-Headed League (REDH) We discussed Sherlock Hound on these pages before. Between November 6, 1984 and May 21, 1985, 26 episodes of the animated series Sherlock Hound aired in Japan. Based on the Sherlock Holmes stories, the characters were portrayed by anthropomorphic dogs. Sherlock Hound was the title given to the series when syndicated… Continue Reading

The 2007 Cook Islands Sign of the Four Coin

The 2007 Cook Islands Sign of the Four Coin

” He handed them a shilling each…” – The Sign of the Four (SIGN)       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 productions of The Adventures of… Continue Reading

The Decorated Dr. Watson of the 2013 Sherlok Kholms Russian Television Series

The Decorated Dr. Watson of the 2013 Sherlok Kholms Russian Television Series

“The campaign brought honours and promotion to many …” – A Study in Scarlet (STUD) Dr. Watson hanging up his uniform in the first episode of Sherlok Kholmes In November 2013, Russian television aired eight episodes of Шерлок Холмс, translated as Sherlok Kholms. The series starred Igor Petrenk as Holmes as Andrei Panin as Watson. This would be… Continue Reading

Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke on a Phone Card

Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke on a Phone Card

“Thanks to the telephone…” – The Adenture of the Retired Colourman (RETI) Many of the visitors to this website probably recall the days when pay phones were a common site when walking down a city sidewalk or inside a hotel lobby. You would drop a few coins into the phone, dial the number and make… Continue Reading