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

A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars

Numismatists Do Not Fear Change

Category Archives: Stories

Data! Data! Data! – The Retired Colourman

Data! Data! Data! – The Retired Colourman

“‘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… Continue Reading

B. Max Mehl Offers a Brief Review of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Other Works

B. Max Mehl Offers a Brief Review of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Other Works

“My collection of M’s is a fine one.” – The Adventure of the Empty House (EMPT) Noted coin dealer B. Max Mehl published the following in the March 1918 of his house organ Mehl’s Numismatic Monthly: The Black Prince, What Coins Did He Strike? “An American boy” asks: “Are there any British coins of the Black Prince, and… Continue Reading

Greece Issues Two 2017 Coins Honoring Diogenes

Greece Issues Two 2017 Coins Honoring Diogenes

“Well, in the Diogenes Club, for example.” – The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter (GREE) Earlier this year, the Greek Ministry of Finance authorized the Bank of Greece to issue two “collector” coins featuring the philosopher Diogenes. Many of you are probably familiar with the mention of the Diogenes Club, the familiar haunt of Mycroft Holmes, in… Continue Reading

The 17 Steps: The Retired Colourman

The 17 Steps: The Retired Colourman

Seventeen thoughts for further ponderance of the case at hand – The Retired Colourman (RETI) AND NOW, THE END IS NEAR . . . Sherlock Holmes begins this last tale with a sad soliloquy: “But is not all life pathetic and futile? Is not his story a microcosm of the whole? We reach. We grasp.… Continue Reading

The 2016 Silver Blaze (Southern Division) 2 Guinea Banknote

The 2016 Silver Blaze (Southern Division) 2 Guinea Banknote

“‘Then he paid up his two guineas…“ – The Hound of the Baskervilles (HOUN) In 1952, Thomas L. Stix, Sr. started the New York Silver Blaze at the Jamaica Raceway in honor of the story of the same title by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The race was an annual (well, almost) race at various tracks around… Continue Reading

Sherlocko the Monk: The Adventure of Tightwaddo and the Missing Penny

Sherlocko the Monk: The Adventure of Tightwaddo and the Missing Penny

“It was like some strange caricature …” – The Adventure of the Priory School (PRIO) There are a few Sherlockians that might be familiar with the works of cartoonist Gus Mager. From December 9, 1910 until February 1913, Mager drew Sherlocko the Monk for the Hearst newspaper syndication group. He would draw over 270 strips under… Continue Reading

Data! Data! Data! – The Silver Blaze

Data! Data! Data! – The Silver Blaze

“‘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… Continue Reading

From Watson’s Tin Box: The Silver Blaze

From Watson’s Tin Box: The Silver Blaze

“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)   Watson’s Tin Box, a BSI scion that meets in Columbia, Maryland,… Continue Reading

The 17 Steps: Silver Blaze

The 17 Steps: Silver Blaze

Seventeen thoughts for further ponderance of the case at hand – Silver Blaze (SILV) HIS OWN PERSONAL CNN “Fresh editions of every paper had been sent up by our news agent,” Watson writes. We all know London had a lot of papers in those days, but did everyone have a newsagent to deal with their newsprint… Continue Reading

From Watson’s Tin Box: The Yellow Face

From Watson’s Tin Box: The Yellow Face

“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) Watson’s Tin Box, a BSI scion that meets in Columbia, Maryland, shares… Continue Reading