Fenman

My birthday is also on 15th March. what a coincidence It certainly is ! Beware the Ides of Mars... http://famromo.wiccan.net/iuno/03ides.htm

I'll be 34 on the 15th March. Sort of middle aged (ish) then.

Chris, I was led to believe it was any man from or near the Fenlands who cut peat. I should really look into the true meaning seeing as it's my screename lol. I shoot rifles and actually took the name from my favourite piece of kit, the Theoben Fenman rifle. I too have heard of Fenland drains, which are an artificial waterway popular with anglers. Afraid I only know this 'cos I'm a keen fisherman too.

To be honest I don't really mind the fella. Yes he's a toffee-nosed inbred who needs his eyes testing when it comes to his idea of beauty - let's face it, his love of equine sports appears to have influenced his love for Camilla - but he talks to trees and isn't fazed when people fire starting pistols at him He can't be all bad then. I think it's quaint that we will soon see a re-emergence of the insanity gene which seems to have ended with George III. It's not as if he's in charge of our nuclear red button or anything and I suspect he'll bring in plenty of tourism just through his comedy value No Camilla though - I draw the line at Red Rum's aunty becoming queen. A side-by-side bust of those two on a coin might wreck our entire economy

Thanks Geoff, that's cleared it up rather well

Not the international market but Huddersfield secondhand market (same thing ) The coin dealer was away buying lunch and had left his wife in charge of the stall so it was difficult to get much info from her and the glass case was locked. It looked like a Crown; Australian and possibly copper. Very near mint condition as far as I could tell. Any idea of the value of such a coin? Were the Australian Edward VIII coins very common?

Chris, is there anywhere I can get a net broadcast of this programme online? Ok, a few ideas: Maybe mention how people can protect commemorative coins they've bought recently. Let's face it, the Sunday mags are forever trying to flog limited strikes of some coin or other these days: Death of Diana, Golden Jubilee, Queen taking corgi for a poo, 200 years of fish and chips etc. On Saturday I was talking to a coin dealer on the market who had practically been accosted by an irate seller trying to get rid of scratched and chipped 1981 Royal Wedding coin. "But I've had it nearly 25 years, it must be worth something !" Ok, only worth a couple of quid in mint condition anyway but it brings home the fact that coins need to remain protected as thet get passed down. Bags out - hard plastic in Similarly, a mention about the plethora of the aforementioned commemorative coins, and why the general public should't be duped into buying coins which will not appreciate in value for a century or more. Buying older mint or unc coins is the most prudent way to gain a heirloom (a plug for yourself as Europe's foremost supplier of such things might be a shrewd move at this point )

Thanks for that, mate. I've got it now. Typical newbie, me Cheers.

Recently took delivery of the 2004 spink catalogue and have noticed reference to Die Axis. In the book it shows two arrows pointing up or one up and one down to denote the axis. So what is a die axis, the difference between the up and down arrow and how is it relevant to a struck coin? Many Thanks.

Hehehe Thanks for the advice chaps. I'll make a note of the contact in York. I do remember the Shambles from a previous visit - it's an 'Olde Worlde' section of the city, and very lovely. Lots of ankle-snapping cobbled roads which are a throwback to the Good Old Days Asoulutely right about Yorkshire being split into four: East Yorkshire calls itself something new each year. Humberside the last time I checked but it's constantly in flux so I could be wrong. Still, I'd much sooner walk through any other town than Leeds with a pocket full of bullion coins. Oh no, Sir !! Thanks again for the contact.

Yorkshire hey? Have you tried that coin shop in York? Actually I haven't, what's the name of it? I live in West Yorkshire so haven't been to the northern area for some time - although I'd be prepared to if there are some bargain trinkets involved. Thanks.

Being a very novice coin collector at present, I'm totally intrigued by the inconsistency of coin prices, particularly the Spink to ebay difference. Of course, living in the Yorkshire sticks I don't have great access to the bustling metropolis of anywhere with a resident coin dealer so it's ebay and online stores only for me. Coins are cheaper on ebay but the people grading them are often a 'bit off'. I got into coins recently after deciding to collect half and full sovereigns for investment purposes. There are some good bargains on ebay, and sometimes I wonder how dealers can sell for such low prices. Some stuff has gone for less than bullion value! I quickly discovered all that glitters is not gold ... and to be honest, the most interesting coins are base metal anyway.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=2218646149 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=2218643786 Blimey!!

In the absence of a more solid explanation for the 'Great Robin Farthing Mystery', would it be possible that this bloke is referring to a token coin? I have since found out that his mother took these coins to bingo for good luck. Gambling establishments were and still are very eager to pay anything rather than hard cash Just a theory.