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

A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars

Numismatists Do Not Fear Change

Category Archives: Queen Elizabeth II

Sherlockian Honoured with British Empire Medal

Sherlockian Honoured with British Empire Medal

“You just do it for the honour of the thing”

– The Valley of Fear (VALL)

On December 27, 2019 the full 2020 New Years Honours List was announced. 315 people, out of 1,097 individuals on the entire list, were to become Medallists of the Order of the British Empire. In reviewing that list, we find the following entry:

Catherine Marie Cooke          For services to Libraries

Cooke is the Meetings Secretary for the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and received her investiture of “The Book of Life”in 1994 from the Baker Street Irregulars. She can now use the post-nominal letters “BEM.”

The British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service was created in 1917 as part of the Order of the British Empire and was replaced, in 1922, with the current British Empire Medal. Created originally with military and civil classes, it has only been awarded to civilians since 2012.

Suspended from a rose-pink ribbon with pearl-grey edges, the medal’s obverse features a seated Britannia while the reverse features the monogram of her majesty..

Congratulations to Ms.Cooke on this honour.

Thanks to the 13th Garrideb, Peter E.Blau, and to the 48th Garrideb, Roger Johnson, for alerting us to this news item.

Executive Producer of Sherlock Gnomes Featured on 2020 UK Coins

Executive Producer of Sherlock Gnomes Featured on 2020 UK Coins

“… still standing in the doorway …” – The Sign of the Four (SIGN) The British Royal Mint has recently announced the second design of there series “Music Legends” will feature Sir Elton John. We are only mentioning this here as John served as a Executive Producer on the Sherlock Gnomes film. You can read more… Continue Reading

Oops! They Did It Again!

Oops! They Did It Again!

“Possibly there is some mistake.” – The Adventure of the Creeping Man” We have come across another minting error involving one of the 2019 United Kingdom Sherlock Holmes 50 pence coins. Unlike the clipping errors we highlighted in our April 2020 post, this coin has two separate and entirely different errors. First, right above Sherlock’s… Continue Reading

NCLT Coins Featuring Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man

NCLT Coins Featuring Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man

“… iron-faced men …”  – A Study in Scarlet (STUD) I never realized that South Pacific Islanders were so fanatical about the Marvel Comic Universe and the movies that have been produced about those characters. Seriously, we have been reminded that we did posts featuring the non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) coins featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman,… Continue Reading

Some Mistakes Were Made

Some Mistakes Were Made

“Possibly there is some mistake.” – The Adventure of the Creeping Man” During the process of striking several thousand coins for circulation, it is quite likely that few error coins will slip through. One of the most common errors to be found are incomplete planchet errors, more commonly known as “clips.” As the above illustration… Continue Reading

I Struck This 50 Pence Coin

I Struck This 50 Pence Coin

“… like any other tourist …” – The Hound of the Baskervilles (HOUN) From June 28, 2019, until September 23, 2019, visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in Wales had the opportunity to strike their very own 2019 50 pence coin that featured Sherlock Holmes. Visitors were able to strike one coin per day and… Continue Reading

Wear a 2019 Sherlock Holmes 50 Pence Coin as a Ring

Wear a 2019 Sherlock Holmes 50 Pence Coin as a Ring

“… who came for the ring which I advertised?” – A Study in Scarlet (STUD) For those who want to decorate themselves and share their love of Sherlock Holmes and numismatics, it is now possible to wear a ring crafted from a 2019 United Kingdom Sherlock Holmes 50 pence coin. Examples can currently be found avaiable on… 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

British Royal Mint Issues 2020 Agatha Christie 2 Pounds Coin

British Royal Mint Issues 2020 Agatha Christie 2 Pounds Coin

“… my hated rival …” – The Adventure of the Retired Colourman (RETI) The British Royal Mint has released the designs of the United Kingdom’s 2020 coinage, and they feature a 2 pound coin honoring mystery writer Agatha Christie and 100 years of mystery. Currently, these coins are only available as part of the annual coinage… Continue Reading

TFG Issues Souvenir Card at Norwegian Explorers Conference

TFG Issues Souvenir Card at Norwegian Explorers Conference

“… at this conference.” – The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone (MAZA) Our friends at the Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota held their triennial conference this past week with the theme of “Dark Places, Wicked Companions and Strange Experiences.” Friday, August 9 also happened to be the fifth anniversary of our group’s founding. To celebrate the event,… Continue Reading