The Victoria Cross at Auction Part 2: 1983-1999
Mar 01 2011

The Victoria Cross at Auction Part 2: 1983-1999 On the 8th December 1983, almost a century after having bought our first V.C. at auction, Spink decided to hold their first medals auction, having previously been exclusively dealers. The final lot of the sale (Lot 404) was the Zulu War V.C. pair to Private Thomas Flawn, 94th Foot. Much interest had been generated by Spink's entry into the auction market, and the lot sold for a creditable £19,000, fractionally below the top estimate of £20,000, b...

The Victoria Cross at Auction Part I: 1856-1983
Jan 13 2011

The Victoria Cross at Auction Part 1: 1856-1983 'We have instituted and created a New Naval and Military Decoration, to be styled and designated the "Victoria Cross", which We are desirous should be highly prized and eagerly sought after…'  It is now 154 years since the institution of the Victoria Cross as the supreme decoration for gallantry back in 1856, over which time has been awarded to 1,353 individuals. The first investiture took place in Hyde Park amid great fanfare on the 26th J...

The Naval General Service 1793-1840 Medal Rolls
Dec 01 2010

The Naval General Service 1793-1840 Medal Rolls, Past and Present By John Hayward 'Why are young men told to look in ancient history for examples of heroism when their own countrymen furnish such lessons'? William Napier's words could easily be applied to so many acts of courage and devotion to duty shown by Officers and men of the Royal Navy during the numerous maritime engagements fought against this country's enemies around the world between 1793 and 1815. Most of the great sea battles,...

The Waterloo Medal - Nearly a Bronze Medal
Dec 01 2010

Waterloo 1815 - nearly a Bronze Medal By John Hayward "...... I would beg leave to suggest to your Royal Highness the expediency of giving the non-commissioned officers and soldiers engaged in the Battle of Waterloo, a Medal...". This suggestion made by the Duke of Wellington to the Duke of York in his Dispatches, just ten days after his victory over the French, swiftly gave rise to a letter from the Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole to the President of the Royal Academy on 11th Jul...

Stamp Boxes
Nov 26 2010

Stamp Boxes The postage stamp was first introduced in Britain in 1840 and its use spread rapidly throughout the globe. It made its appearance as part of the reform of the postal system which, by reducing the cost and improving the efficiency, led to a steep rise volume as the service became accessible to a greater proportion of increasingly literate population. This itself was but a part of the revolution in communications brought about by the age of industrialization. Whereas mankind entered...

The Race Across The Atlantic
Sep 14 2010

By Dominic Savastano Today the biggest problem in flying across the Atlantic seems to be knowing which airport terminal you have to leave from and getting to the check point on time. Perhaps we should think for a moment or two of the first non-stop aerial Transatlantic crossing and we might realize that, despite occasional delays and lost luggage, just how lucky we are today. We might even pay homage to the statue of those two intrepid aviators, Captain John Alcock and Lieuten...

Notes For British Palestine
Sep 11 2010

By Dr. K.A. Rodgers Few tracts of real estate on our planet engender such intensity of emotions as does Palestine. For millennia the land has consumed hearts, minds - and bodies. It is seldom out of the news these days. Little wonder then, that objects that evoke its history are in demand, more so when they carry potent symbols of the region's past. For many, the banknotes issued during the British Mandate in the early twentieth century epitomize the land and i...

Veritas Temporis Filia
Sep 11 2010

By Richard Bishop "Here is a picture of the Kingdom of Heaven" Between 1552 and 1572, hundreds of skilled craftsmen were employed on the decoration of the St. Janskirk in Gauda. In the North Transept can be seen the magnificent King's Window, which took two years to complete. In one panel Solomon is offering a sacrifice in the Temple at Jerusalem. The sacrifice has burst into flames, a sure sign that the offering has found favour in the eyes of the Lord. In one of the ten banderols that bear...

The Order of the Thistle
Sep 06 2010

By Peter Galloway The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle was instituted by King James VII (of Scotland) and II (of England) in 1687 to recognize the loyalty of those who governed Scotland in his name. From those early years and through eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when political allegiance was often foremost in the selection of a knight, the Order of the Thistle has matured into an honour that recognizes Scots men and women of outstanding reputation and pre-eminent serv...

A Bibliography of 18th Century Numismatic Books
Sep 04 2010

By Christian E. Dekesel & Yvette M. M. Dekesel-De Ruyck Early numismatic publications contain invaluable evidence which can throw new light upon unsolved numismatic questions. This new work contains over 6000 numismatic works published between 1700 and 1800. The authors have studied each publication page by page and have meticulously categorized and analysed their contents. The first volume includes a detailed geographical, chronological and categorical analysis of all 18th century numism...

Portraits of Greek Coinage - 'Athens'
Jul 13 2010

  ARTetradrachm. c.450 BC. 17.18g (21/23mm diameter). Die axis, 315˚. Author's collection. Ex Spink, NCirc, August 2000, 2843. Cf. Starr, 196. Obv. Head of Athena r., wearing helmet decorated with three olive leaves and a curling palmette. Hair in two even loops across brow and temple. Disc shaped earring. Beaded edge to nape of helmet. Rev. Owl standing r., body leaning to r. with facing head slightly tilted. Conjoined tuft of tail feathers. Olive sprig and crescent...