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

A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars

Numismatists Do Not Fear Change

Category Archives: United Kingdom

Meet the Garridebs: William Pavey Meskan

Meet the Garridebs: William Pavey Meskan

“A little later the chief constable sent for me.” – The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez (GOLD) It’s been just over a year since we last published one of our “Meet the Garridebs” features. Let’s take this opportunity to meet the 12th Garrideb, William Pavey Meskan, aka Beau. One of our founding charter members (Syracusean,… Continue Reading

Book Review: The Adventure of the Apprentice’s Coin

Book Review: The Adventure of the Apprentice’s Coin

“… I have had considerable experience of my work during the seven years that I was apprenticed …” -The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb (ENGR) In 2011, noted Denver-based Sherlockian Darlene A. Cypser self-published The Adventure of the Apprentice’s Coin. In the story, Sherlock Holmes is attacked in an alley and is rescued by a young boy.… Continue Reading

Visa’s 2012 London Olympic Games Sherlock Holmes Pin

Visa’s 2012 London Olympic Games Sherlock Holmes Pin

“The hand which fastened that pin…” – A Study in Scarlet (STUD) Your editor is also a collector of Sherlockian lapel pins and recently came across the above pictured lapel pin. The Summer and Winter Olympic Games are a boon to pin collectors, with hundreds of pins being issued to commemorate the Games by various… Continue Reading

The Adventure of the Fur-Trimmed Hat

The Adventure of the Fur-Trimmed Hat

” … the compliments of the season.”  – The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle (BLUE) I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes on Christmas Eve, with the intention of wishing him the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a chartreuse dressing-gown, the day’s newspapers well-studied and his black briar emitting… Continue Reading

A Check on Lady Frances (1955)

A Check on Lady Frances (1955)

“She banks at Silvester’s.” – The Adventure of Lady Frances Carfax (LADY) According to the distinguished French criminologist, Alphonse Bertillon, it is impossible for a bird to fly through a cloud without leaving traces. And so, while passing near Montpelier during one of my recent trips through Southern France, I decided to investigate a bird of another color. Not… Continue Reading

The Ballad of the Queen’s Shilling (1965)

The Ballad of the Queen’s Shilling (1965)

What a beautiful coin the shilling is which bears the famous Wyon head! J. C. Horsley, RA—victim of Whistler’s savagely contemptuous “Horsley soit qui mal y pense!” —did a sketch of the 19-year old Queen, and William Wyon engraved the head for a medal struck to commemorate the Queen’s first visit to the Mansion House. HM liked the Wyon head so… Continue Reading

The Decorated Judy Dench of “A Study In Terror”

The Decorated Judy Dench of “A Study In Terror”

“… she is a most consummate actress …” – The Adventure of the Cardboard Box (CARD) The 1966 film A Study in Terror featured noted actress Judi Dench in just the third film of her long and illustrious career. Dench would play the role of Sally, who assisted her uncle in running a hostel / soup kitchen.… Continue Reading

Update on the Sherlock Holmes Memorabilia Company Medal

Update on the Sherlock Holmes Memorabilia Company Medal

“I only saw it because I was looking for it.” – The Adventure of Silver Blaze (SILV) Last week, we posted our most recent HolmeWork assignment and asked for your help in determining if the Sherlock Holmes Memorabilia Company had produced a medal. Roger Johnson, the 48th Garrideb, reached out to us with comments about a… Continue Reading

Afghanistan or Iraq? Military Decorations of Captain John H. Watson

Afghanistan or Iraq? Military Decorations of Captain John H. Watson

“Which was it – Afghanistan or Iraq?” – A Study In Pink When the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) premiered their new series of Sherlock in July of 2010, devoted Sherlockians watched to see how the writers would take items from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes stories and update these items to the modern… Continue Reading