A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars
Numismatists Do Not Fear Change
“Each of these wore some scarf or medallion as emblem of his office.” – The Valley of Fear (VALL) Back in August of 2015, we did a HolmeWork Assignment on the aluminum Sherlock Holmes medal, pictured on the left with the red background. We had no information, at the time, on this… Continue Reading
Sherlock Holmes was the fictional consulting detective of Victorian England invented by the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Immensely popular in the days of his publication, Sherlock Holmes remains an icon of literature, detective procedure, and adventure, known to almost everyone today through the original stories and numerous modern adaptations in literature and on the… Continue Reading
“… your eyes fixed themselves upon your newly-framed picture of General Gordon …” – The Adventure of the Cardboard Box (CARD) I suppose that the Adventure of the Framed Portrait began with my childhood love of reading. Reading and Numismatics were two childhood passions that would carry over into my adult life. I… Continue Reading
“… it was a present from a certain gracious lady …” – The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans (BRUC) There are numerous references to coins sprinkled throughout the sixty stories of the Canon. I find it helpful to visualize the design of the coins and the other items mentioned in the stories as I am reading.… Continue Reading
“… near the museum …” – The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle (BLUE) Between 2012 and 2014, the Numisproof Collection issued a series of 18 designs that it called its Iconic London Collection, with each medal being plated in 24 karat gold. Designs included in the series included: British Museum, Leicester Square, Greenwich Observatory, London Zoo, The… Continue Reading
“It might be his portrait.” – The Hound of the Baskervilles (HOUN) Today, we are featuring this 1913 Buffalo nickel that has been engraved by Sam Alfano of Louisiana. His biography, from his Master Engraver website, offers up this capsue: Sam Alfano began engraving in the early ’70’s with a set of engraving tools purchased from a… Continue Reading
“Why not give ourselves up to the unrestrained enjoyment of the present?” – The Adventure of fhe Mazarin Stone (MAZA) Several years ago, we first reported on the Jerrry Lewis Enjoyment Certificates that promoted his 1962 film, It’s Only Money. The $1,000 note features Lewis donning a deerstalker cap, and all of the notes features an… Continue Reading
“But thanks to my cheque-book and the good Altamont all will be well to-night.” – His Last Bow (LAST) In the last several weeks, we have seen groups of wooden nickels, including 2 with Sherloockian themes, being offerred repeatedly on a major online auction service. We are making the assumption that both woods were issued… Continue Reading
“… we have very properly laid in the new almanack …” – The Valley of Fear (VALL) With the release of the Baker Street Almanac 2019 earlier this month, we thought that now would be an appropriate time to reprint this adapation of our article that appeared in the 2018 Alamanac. When The Fourth Garrideb was… Continue Reading
“… embellished with a rude engraving …” – The Valley of Fear (VALL) 89Pines carvings can usually be identified by his engraver’s mark that he places on the opposite side of the coin he engraved. (See above FIVE CENTS) Over the past five years, your editor has come across many auction listings on eBay for… Continue Reading