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

A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars

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Category Archives: BSI Scions

The 1987 Phone Card of the Baristu Society of Japan

The 1987 Phone Card of the Baristu Society of Japan

“I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me.”

– The Adventure of the Empty House (EMPT)

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Many of the visitors to this website probably recall the days when pay phones were a common site when walking down a city sidewalk or inside a hotel lobby. You would drop a few coins into the phone, dial the number and make your call.  Perhaps you would use a calling card  if you were making a long distance call. In the mid 1990’s, there started to appeared prepaid calling cards by some enterprising companies, such as AmeriVox. These prepaid calling cards would generally have 50 call units that would be redeemed at a fixed ratio as the call progressed, until the card would have no remaining call units.

In Asia, prepaid calling cards are quite prevalent and frequently used to promote products or services. Public phones are equipped with card readers.  A user would insert the prepaid card into the reader, make the phone call and when finished remove the card.  The card reader would punch a small hole into the card, prior to its removal, showing approximately how many call units remain, if any.

This particular phone card was issued in 1987 by the Baritsu Society of Japan and was good for 50 units. Featuring a Sidney Paget drawing in black ink on a green background, it also has printing in white and red inks.

Kickstarter For Sherlockian Game to Feature Medal

Kickstarter For Sherlockian Game to Feature Medal

“But what is his game?” – The Adventure of the Three Garridebs (3GAR) On July 7, a Kickstarter campaign will be launched by Baskerville Productions to promote their new tabletop game, The Original Sherlock Holmes and his Baker Street Irregulars. Michael W. McClure, BSI, is the game’s creator and he has shared his thoughts with us:… Continue Reading

The 2019 Sherlock & Segar Statue Poker Chip

The 2019 Sherlock & Segar Statue Poker Chip

“… the story of the statues.” – The Adventure of the Six Napoleons (SIXN) Chester, Illinois is the hometown of Elzie C. Segar, the creator of the Popeye the Sailor Man cartoons. In 1977, the city erected a statue in his honor. Since 2006, Baskerville Productions began work on a “Popeye & Friends” character trail of… Continue Reading

The Medals of the Hansoms of John Clayton

The Medals of the Hansoms of John Clayton

“We hired a hansom …” – The Adventure of the Naval Treaty (NAVA) Recently, we posted a HolmeWork Assignment asking about the 1997 DISI Award Medals, and Brad Keefauver, the 41st Garrideb, was quick to respond that DISI was the Downstate Illinois Sherlock Invitational that took place for two years, starting in 1996. Brad then posted on… Continue Reading

Wooden Nickels from Altamont’s Associates

Wooden Nickels from Altamont’s Associates

“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

The Year in Sherlockian Numismatica – 2018

The Year in Sherlockian Numismatica – 2018

“… 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

2020 Wooden Nickels Issued by Junior Sherlockian Society

2020 Wooden Nickels Issued by Junior Sherlockian Society

“… .thickly wooded round …” – The Boscombe Valley Mystery (BOSC) This January’s BSI dinner featured another wooden nickel produced by the Junior Sherlockian Society. Sponsored by the Beacon Society, a scion of the Baker Street Irregulars, they are searching for children and youth eager to develop an understanding and appreciation of the great detective… Sherlock Holmes. The wooden nickel… Continue Reading

The Bimetallic Question of Montreal’s Lapel Pin

The Bimetallic Question of Montreal’s Lapel Pin

“… a Minister needs information as to a point which involves the Navy, India, Canada, and the bi-metallic question …” – The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans (BRUC) It was in The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans  that we learned of Mycroft Holmes knowledge of the bi-metallic question. Bimetallism is the practice of a country using… Continue Reading