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Category Archives: United Kingdom

Numismatic Rembrances of the 1951 Festival of Britain

Numismatic Rembrances of the 1951 Festival of Britain

“… like lamps at a festival… “ – A Study In Scarlet (STUD) During the summer of 1951, the Festival of Britain was held throughout the United Kingdom, with a major exhibition on the South Bank of the River Thames. Originally conceived as a centennial celebration of the famous 1851 Great Exhibition, the large amount of… Continue Reading

Paget’s Death Recalls Role in Designing Ill-Fated Coinage of King Edward VIII (12/18/1974)

Paget’s Death Recalls Role in Designing Ill-Fated Coinage of King Edward VIII (12/18/1974)

  The medal at the right was designed by T. H. Paget to mark the installation of the Prince of Wales as Master of the Honorable Company of Master Mariners. The prince set for Paget to prepare the coins of his reign as Edward VIII, but the right-facing portrait demanded by tradition displeased the new… Continue Reading

British Coin Designer Paget Dead at 81 (6/19/1974)

British Coin Designer Paget Dead at 81 (6/19/1974)

Coin Designer To The World Famed British coin designer Thomas Humphrey Paget, whose art adorned the coins of 19 countries, died recently in England. He was 81. Paget, whose signature, “H P,” was carried by millions of coins around the world, received his training at London’s Central School of Arts and Crafts. He later studied… Continue Reading

Thomas Humphrey Paget Tells Own Story Of Designing Coins For Kings (9/28/1966)

Thomas Humphrey Paget Tells Own Story Of Designing Coins For Kings (9/28/1966)

Paget Used Initials H.P. As Signature On His Works Little did Thomas H. Paget, Burwash Common, Sussex, England, realize that six years after he sketched King Faisal II of Iraq in the lad’s tiny school bedroom at Harrow, the King would be the victim of an assasin’s gun. Paget, designer of coins and medals of… Continue Reading

British Royal Mint Graphic for the Sherlock Holmes Coin

British Royal Mint Graphic for the Sherlock Holmes Coin

” It is art for Art’s sake, Watson.” – The Adventure of the Red Circle (REDC) Kudos to the British Royal Mint for some of the graphics they released to promote the sale of the 2019 Annual Coin Sets. Here is the one they designed to promote the new 50 pence coin that features Sherlock Holmes. Thanks to… 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

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