Coin Collector

Coin Collector gives you all the information, news, expert advice, market insight and inspiration you need to build your coin collection and get the most from your hobby. Every issue features in-depth collecting guides giving you the lowdown on coins from a wide range of periods and location, from Viking and Roman coins to the latest coins issued by mints around the world. Each issue includes the unique and popular ‘British Numismatist’ section, bringing you the latest discoveries, exhibitions, theories and literature from the academic world of numismatics. Written by authors, curators and learned experts, the pages provide an academic yet still accessible take on the hobby.

Coin Collector

Welcome

Writing in this issue

Coin Collector Editorial Board

COIN UPDATE

THE STORY OF THE WORLD FAMOUS COIN

NEW 50p HIGHLIGHTS NURSING VALUES

ENGLISH PENNY FETCHES HALF A MILLION

COINS MARK QUEEN’S 95TH BIRTHDAY

SOUTH AFRICAN MINT RELEASES KRUGERRAND ‘LOST HOARD’

IN BRIEF

HG WELLS COIN FEATURES FOUR-LEGGED TRIPOD

RARE CELTIC COIN INSPIRES GRAVESTONE

THE SUB-SEA SEARCH FOR A SIXPENCE

ASSOCIATION LOOKS INTO CREATION OF METAL DETECTORS INSTITUTE

ICONOGRAPHY AND INEQUALITY • Historic women appear rarely on coins, with many pieces instead showing symbolic feminine figures such as Britannia, figures that are often created by men. So what can the coinage of the world tell us about gender inequality and the changing attitudes? Ema Sikic, coin expert at Baldwin’s in London shares her views

AUCTION UPDATE

‘DARK AGE’ COINAGE DEMYSTIFIED • Midway through the sale of his renowned coin collection, expert and enthusiast Tony Abramson describes the historical significance of ten pieces

WHO BUYS THOSE BIG COINS? • As anyone who reads the numismatic press can tell you, a tremendous number of rare coins are being sold globally, so who is making these eye-watering purchases and is it a sign that the coin market is in rude health? Jeff Garrett finds out

COIN SHOWS IN THE DIGITAL AGE • The World Money Fair was one of the last numismatic exhibitions to take place before the world shut down back in 2020. Following the successful virtual version of the event this year, Sebastian Wieschowski reflects on the future of coin shows and on the challenges the numismatics community faces in the coming year

D-DAY FOR BRITISH COINAGE • On a grey, drizzly Monday, 15 February 1971, Britain went decimal. Ten years in the planning, ‘D-Day’ upended a currency system that had been unchanged for more than a millennium. Celebrating the publication of a new book, Making Change: the decimalisation of Britain’s currency, author Tom Hockenhull, Curator: Medals and Modern Money, British Museum provides ten littleknown facts about how it happened

GOLDEN GREATS • In the second part of his series focussing on the gold coins of Europe, Sebastian Wieschowski examines Greece’s royal and fiscal history, and reveals how the country’s financial instability meant few gold pieces were ever produced

BLOODY MARY’S MONEY • Dr Murray Andrews examines the coinage used during the reign of Mary I and reveals a tumultuous period of British history which forever changed the nation’s attitudes to religion and money

FLYING ACTION ON THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER • Collectors with a specific interest in medals awarded to Britain’s flying services have to wait until the end of the First World War before adding campaign medals to their collection, writes Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork MBE, Past President of the Orders and Medals Research Society

Build your knowledge, build your collection

GEORGE CRUIKSHANK’S BANK RESTRICTION NOTE • Signed by a hangman and featuring grim illustrations reflecting the harsh punishment for forging money...