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No it's not just you. I wasn't even aware of the term until somebody at work was reading from a menu of some description, and said "your latte will be served by a barista (except she pronounced it as "barrister") leading me to wonder what the hell a barrister was doing serving coffee. I think next time I visit Starbucks, I'll just snap my fingers and shout "waiter", when I want service. Barista just sounds pretentious.

If one more person with clearly limited intelligence or ambition calls themselves a 'Barista', I will scream.... Do they know how much they really should know about their trade, yet clearly don't? Dunning-Kruger effect again? Maybe they think they are a Barrister. Pretty soon everyone who pours you a glass wine will call themselves a 'Sommelier'....

My purchase from Thursday's DNW sale, D+H177 in brass, which arrived this morning

Hi, Hopefully some time in the future, At the moment I am researching all circulation Half Sovereigns issued by the London Mint from 1817 to 1915,

Yeah, I'd ID as 10cf4 then - working with the plate coin in Spink and https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/pages/edwardian-Pennies/Edwardian Pennies P1.htm Probably worth getting a second opinion as I'm not much of an expert on these - used to collect Edward I pennies but was going by class/mint rather than sub-classes - most of my examples long sold.

Update: Nothing! These little suckers are very elusive. I did find an internet photo of the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper from I think October of 1984 where the proofs and uncirculated sets along with solo proof 10 dollar coins were offered. From a different source there were evidently the struck totals on the 1984 Jammy Proof set were 268, with only 67 individual 10 Dollar coins struck - no records of how many specimen sets though.

Indeed - have a look at this wreath of mine which would grade only fair. That suggests actually an awful lot of circulation? Maybe right through the 30's and even into WW2 era?

You might want to look at R. Ingram's current list and the catalog for the DNW sale on 5-6 June - both have some decent examples of modern British errors at reasonable prices/estimates.

My understanding, and judging from the RMs own emails is that they are now marketing coins from collector sources for sale, either directly or through auction. As has been pointed out this specimen appears to not be from their own sources.

Well after a protracted search, I've finally managed to locate and buy a 1918H with probably slightly better detail than most. At any rate, I think it's the best one I'm going to manage. The breastplate isn't fully struck up, but is not absent either, and there is some reasonable hair detail, which give the King's bald appearance on most 1918H pennies is a bit of an improvement.

I'd bet that the odd ones which did turn up in change post 1980 were most likely found in old drawers, pockets etc, and just added to be spent by individuals completely unaware of any further intrinsic interest or value (not that one on its own would be of much use anyway)

I remember the old penny falls and looking to see if there were any old ones ready to fall. I remember spotting an 1895 (when I was trying to complete a date set 1860-1967) and spending about 2/- before it finally fell. It's the only coin from my very early phase of collecting (I was about seven years old) that I still have. Also trying for an 1883 a couple of years later, running out of money, and getting it by putting a lolly stick into the slot. (Hope the statute of limitations has expired on that!)

In the late 60's there was plenty of pre 47 silver about although I don't recall pre 20. There was also a lot of Vicky WH and Ed V11 pennies usually worn.Hardly any 1/2d's though. The highlight of beach holiday's were the amusement arcades where I would snaffle anything interesting (armed with my 4 check your change mini books) Post 71 I was more interested in using old 1/2d's in the 2p cash falls and crane grabs...I've always been a bit of a "loose cannon"