VKurtB Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 Will be touring the British Royal Mint on 5 December and attending the Bloomsbury Coin Fair on 7 December with NGC UK in attendance. Any other advice for numismatically related things to see or experience? Arrive in London on 29 November, then circling Great Britain by rail - Aberdeen, St. Andrews, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, London. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebo Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 Sounds like a great trip. Would love to tour the Royal Mint. The rail is also a fun and easy way to travel. While a bit out of your way - I'd like to make a stop at Chards. But that's just me and becuse I've never had the chance to visit their shop. Dealt with them - but not face to face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VKurtB Posted November 25, 2019 Author Share Posted November 25, 2019 Thanks for that suggestion. We are renting a car out of Liverpool one day and Blackpool isn't far off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbbpll Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 If it was me, I might try to see one of the many coin hordes if it was along the route. A lot of them seem to be housed in smaller local museums, but I have no idea how they are displayed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coinsandmedals Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 (edited) My wife and I spent a few weeks in London this past summer. It is a fantastic city with such a rich history. In addition to what is listed above, I would recommend checking out the Tower of London. There is an old Mint exhibit there that is pretty interesting. The British Museum also has a display of money that includes some unique pieces. If you want to do a little shopping, I would suggest checking out either Sovereign Rarities or Baldwins. Sovereign Rarities has an impressive selection of British coins, but I’m not sure about anything else. The lady who helped me was super friendly, and she took the time to show me coins that were way over my budget. We had an excellent conversation about circulated pattern pieces, and I got to examine some stunning coins. I can not recommend them enough. At first, I was a bit disappointed with Baldwins. They have a main showroom downstairs that is scarcely populated with “meh” generic coins. The good stuff is all upstairs in the coin cabinets. If you talk to whoever is running the showroom, they can buzz you upstairs to meet with a numismatist that can tailor your shopping experience to your interest. I worked with a gentleman named Chris, whom I can not recommend enough. He is a fellow copper enthusiast, and we had an excellent conversation about a range of topics. I’m not sure what you would be looking for, but both stores will provide some beautiful “eye candy” that you might find tempting. Of course, there are other shops like Coincraft in London. If I remember correctly, there is also a small shop across from Baldwins. I found most of the small local shops disappointing. They mostly seemed to deal in bullion, which I have no interest in I hope you have an excellent trip! If you would like restaurant recommendations or anything along those lines, please feel free to send me a message. Edited November 25, 2019 by coinsandmedals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 Have a safe drive! Remember to switch lanes half-way across the Atlantic. The British Museum has what many consider the finest collection of coins and medals in the world. Unfortunately, they do not have any free samples. Matt G 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VKurtB Posted November 25, 2019 Author Share Posted November 25, 2019 53 minutes ago, RWB said: Have a safe drive! Remember to switch lanes half-way across the Atlantic. The British Museum has what many consider the finest collection of coins and medals in the world. Unfortunately, they do not have any free samples. We're planning a massive seat swap. LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numismatic, A.A.S. Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 Dave Regan in Southport.... I'm totally in...have a blast...with media these days I'm sure there's more on Facebook or an Auction house....Adam Partridge or Davenport, Scotty Bluffs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VKurtB Posted November 26, 2019 Author Share Posted November 26, 2019 12 hours ago, Numismatic, A.A.S. said: Dave Regan in Southport.... I'm totally in...have a blast...with media these days I'm sure there's more on Facebook or an Auction house....Adam Partridge or Davenport, Scotty Bluffs? Yes, except I refuse to even have a Facebook account. Too much anti-privacy creepiness there. Mr. Zuckerberg can go pound sand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numismatic, A.A.S. Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 Just now, VKurtB said: Yes, except I refuse to even have a Facebook account. Too much anti-privacy creepiness there. Mr. Zuckerberg can go pound sand. Facebook has been caught selling everyone's info....I dropped them myself awhile back...Little boy Liberal anti-gun owner but has a security detachment team packing Automatic weapons....just like his kind..... Good luck on the trip.....if I'm even here after this.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VKurtB Posted November 26, 2019 Author Share Posted November 26, 2019 5 minutes ago, Numismatic, A.A.S. said: Facebook has been caught selling everyone's info....I dropped them myself awhile back...Little boy Liberal anti-gun owner but has a security detachment team packing Automatic weapons....just like his kind..... Good luck on the trip.....if I'm even here after this.... My eyes will be on acquiring a nice older Maundy set, if I can find one I like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Matt G Posted December 3, 2019 Administrator Share Posted December 3, 2019 On 11/25/2019 at 2:35 PM, RWB said: Have a safe drive! Remember to switch lanes half-way across the Atlantic. The British Museum has what many consider the finest collection of coins and medals in the world. Unfortunately, they do not have any free samples. I second the British Museum coin exhibit and it is a short walk from our London Office as well as the Bloomsbury show. My colleagues would be more than happy to provide samples at the events in which they attend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post VKurtB Posted December 10, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 10, 2019 (edited) Well folks, my Great Britain sojourn is now in the rearview mirror. I ate genuine Scottish haggis, drank fine single malt scotch whisky (It loses the 'e' over the Atlantic.), and got INSIDE the Royal & Ancient Golf Club clubhouse in St. Andrews, gazed upon the Claret Jug with mine own eyes, touched Jack Nicklaus' locker, and walked the first, second, 17th and 18th holes of the Old Course. My lady friend had torn a ligament in her knee the day before we left, so going out to the turnaround was out of the question. I got down into the famous Road Hole bunker and imagined myself hitting out, and duly raked it smooth of my footprints as a proper gentleman should. I found the spot Tom Watson bounced his ball off the Road Hole wall and onto the green close enough for a routine par. We toured the Old Course Hotel shops and had a wee dram by the fire there. It. Was. Cold. No rain, and brilliant blue skies, though. We toured the Royal Mint in South Wales, and one day I'll return for the longer Wednesday deluxe tour. I passed out BU 2019 Kennedy halves to the workers at the Royal Mint we encountered and a few random young people present. I was wearing my American Numismatic Association National Volunteer blue golf shirt. We drove from Liverpool to Blackpool and farther up the coast, and we not only stopped at Chards in Blackpool. The ladies there look as good as they sound. I snagged the 2019 two volume Spinks catalog there and even sprung for a massively nice raw 1935 George V Crown. I see it as a MS64-65. We'll see. I grabbed elongates everywhere I saw a machine. Edinburgh was a big one for those. We attended the Bloomsbury Coin Fair in London on Saturday past, and for a small show by American standards, the material ran the gamut from "book stock" to medieval rarities. I even saw some American semi-key coins offered. I saw that "other" top-ish TPGS, but I could not see NGC. I wonder what happened. I was able to augment my "shillings by Spink number" and "half crowns that wow me" sets by several pieces each. The rather mundane selection of green box and maroon box Festival of Britain 1951 crowns was topped by a PL that looks cameo to me. I now own it. Speaking of cameos, I went to London and brought home a 1967 U.S. Special Mint Set with a fully cameo half, dime, and cent. Bingo! The half may make UC. A really nice wartime Swiss franc rounded out my purchases... except for one thing. I nabbed a 1902 Matte Proof Maundy set, and the Beatles aren't the ONLY "Fab Four". Beautiful original toning in cobalt and sepia (Hey, I should write auction listings!). I am going back, as soon as I get caught up with life here. Edited December 10, 2019 by VKurtB Crawtomatic, rrantique and kbbpll 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebo Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Wow - sounds like a wonderful trip. It also sounds like you picked up some very nice pieces for your collection. Can't wait to hear what you do on your next visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
