Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the gd-system-plugin domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114
FINA | The Fourth Garrideb - Numismatics of Sherlock Holmes
Irregular Postings on Coin Collecting & Numismatics - Both Canonical & Conanical

A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars

Numismatists Do Not Fear Change

Category Archives: FINA

Adventure of the Final Problem

Data! Data! Data! – The Final Problem

Data! Data! Data! – The Final Problem

“‘Data! Data! Data!‘ he cried impatiently. ‘I can’t make bricks without clay.’” – The Adventures of The Copper Beeches (COPP) This column is composed of material (Data!) developed for a short course called Appreciating Sherlock Holmes that I teach twice a year in the Community Education Life Enrichment Program for a local community college. It is composed… Continue Reading

The 17 Steps: The Final Problem

The 17 Steps: The Final Problem

Seventeen thoughts for further ponderance of the case at hand – The Final Problem (FINA) THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND … WAIT A MINUTE! A still-bereaved Watson writes: “My hand has been forced, however, by the recent letters in which Colonel James Moriarty defends the memory of his brother, and I have no choice but… Continue Reading

“Hey Pal, Can You Spare A ‘Bob’? – A Very Simplified Guide to Sherlock Holmes and Money of the Victorian Age

“Hey Pal, Can You Spare A ‘Bob’? – A Very Simplified Guide to Sherlock Holmes and Money of the Victorian Age

If anyone has experienced the thrill of a summer in Houston, Texas, you know indoor reading is one of few options left for survival. During the summer of my 14th year, as other young men were discovering their first love — fishing, or a summer job, I discovered the stories of the Canon. As I… Continue Reading

Badges of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London

Badges of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London

“… becomes the badge of a society.”  – The Adventure of The Five Orange Pips (FIVE) Editor’s Note: This post has been a “work in progress” for nearly a year as we tried to gather information about the various medals of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. Just a few hours after this was posted, we have… Continue Reading

A Pobjoy Mint Advertisement from 1995, With A Mistake

A Pobjoy Mint Advertisement from 1995, With A Mistake

“… my agent there has sent me this advertisement from a local paper.” – The Adventure of The Three Garridebs (3GAR) Several months back, we published a post about the Pobjoy Mint’s 1994 press release announcing the Return of Sherlock Holmes series of coins for Gibraltar. Recently, we came across the above Pobjoy Mint advertisement from… Continue Reading

SherloCON 2016 Announces Dates and Medal Design

SherloCON 2016 Announces Dates and Medal Design

“He is the Napoleon of crime, Watson.” – The Adventure of The Final Problem (FINA) Deutsche Sherlock Holmes Gesellschaft, a Sherlock Holmes society based in Germany, has annouced the date of it’s next biannual conference, SherloCon.  The 2016 version will be held April 22-24, 2016 in Saarbrücken and the conference theme will be the 125th… Continue Reading

Pobjoy Mint’s 1994 Catalog & Press Release

Pobjoy Mint’s 1994 Catalog & Press Release

“… I would read as easily as I do the apocrypha of the agony column.” – The Valley of Fear (VALL) When I first started collecting coins, I was very intrigued when I could find ephemera (advertising, invoices, order forms, etc.) related to the items in my collection. Not much has changed for me over the… Continue Reading

April HolmeWork Assignment: Gibraltar’s 1994 Golden Sherlock Holmes Coins

April HolmeWork Assignment: Gibraltar’s 1994 Golden Sherlock Holmes Coins

A few weeks back, we published Ed Rochette’s 1995 syndicated column featuring the Pobjoy Mint releasing a series of coins commemorating the Return of Sherlock Holmes. Twenty-four different coins were struck in 3 different metals with 8 different designs. We have photographs of the 8 cupro-nickel Crowns and the 8 .925 fine sterling silver coins.… Continue Reading

Gibraltar Marks The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1995)

Gibraltar Marks The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1995)

Just ask any fan of the world’s first consulting detective. Sherlock Holmes lives! He is alive and well, considering his age, and settled comfortably in Sussex raising bees. If this were not true, why then would the Baker Street Irregulars have celebrated his birthday Jan. 6? To these devotees, Holmes turns 140 and his birthday… Continue Reading

Sherlock Holmes & Professor Moriarty Featured on 2011 Tuvalu Dollar Coin

Sherlock Holmes & Professor Moriarty Featured on 2011 Tuvalu Dollar Coin

‘You have probably never heard of Professor Moriarty?’ – The Adventure of The Final Problem (FINA) In 2011, the Pacific nation of Tuvalu issued a 5 coin set featuring “Heroes and Villains” of literature.  One of those coins featured Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty.  If the country of Tuvalu sounds familiar to you, you might recall it… Continue Reading