Today I went for a haircut and a shave. Not far from  home is an Asian Barber from Gujerat in India. Living in Leicester I went to evening classes to learn Gujerati, at least to have some ability to converse beyond ‘Kemcho’. On the last two visits I decided to treat myself to a shave… Read more »

I am being entertained today by a friend who is celebrating his 73rd birthday at the King Power Stadium. The occasion is being marked by twelve of us sharing his day with a ‘Hospitality Package’ which includes a meal, the match and nibbles after the game. Fantastic. My celebration today is also the fact I… Read more »

The recent DNW auction of British and Irish notes offered an amazing array of notes. The early cashiers, Nairne, May, Bowen , Newland….wonderful notes. Also, some great Treasury notes along with superb Replacements and First Runs. Such a fantastic catalogue to behold. I wish I could have bought the lot but alas, such fantasies exist… Read more »

I sold a ‘Marshale Hole’ note to a buyer in the USA. The note is a small card that was used during the Boer War in Matabeleland and authorised for use by Marshal Hole. The buyer is an authority on the use and creation of currency during sieges. The first use of paper money (instead… Read more »

I received an order from the USA and the invoice told me a Bank Transfer was being completed. I posted the note (worth £363) by tracking mail as normal. I checked the bank account later only to find no money had come through. I emailed the buyer. ‘Emma Rose’ in New York only to find… Read more »

I am asked by many people to give a value to individual banknotes or collections. Quite often a collection can be ‘run of the mill’ with little value but sometimes a rarer replacement banknote, a first run or a Treasury banknote can be found amongst the collection. Please feel free to contact me to value… Read more »

I have two large allotments. One is an orchard that produces apples in abundance and the other supplies vegetables for our table. I have taken over the ‘jungle’ allotment next to the vegetable plot. The previous occupant was a shadowy figure only seen in the evenings. He died and it has taken over twenty of… Read more »

While I cannot wave a magic wand and make you, and me, millionaires, the million serial number might be some compensation. The one listed on the website is very rare indeed. This B271 is mention by Pam West in her excellent outline of how the million serial number notes were produced. They are rare indeed… Read more »

Bidh mi a ‘cruinneachadh notaichean banca Beurla ach tha mo chridhe fhathast ann an Alba. Tha iarrtas mòr air na notaichean £ 100 Albannach air feadh an t-saoghail. Bidh mi a ‘dol a cheannach an uiread as urrainn dhomh nuair a thig mi gu tuath air a’ chrìch sa Ghiblean.

I have sold a good number of Clydesdale Bank notes recently – the £100 notes and the £50 notes have been very strong in demand. The interest in Scottish notes seems particularly attractive to buyers in China and the USA. Scottish banknotes are superb in the quality of design and the £100 notes in particular,… Read more »