Summer Social - Friday 11th. August. 2000.

• This will be our trip to the Ashmolean Museum including an introductory talk from the curator of coins, Nicholas Mayhew.

Normal monthly meetings take place at the Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, commencing at 7.00 p.m.

As you no doubt read in last month's newsletter, I have been elected Secretary of the club. This is the only office that I have not previously held in my long association with the club.

Writing is not one of my strong points but I will give it my best shot. Following on from Dave who did a splendid job over the last five years will be a hard act to follow.

Ken is not very well at the moment and we wish him a speedy recovery.

A splendid talk given by one of our own members, Michael, on "Soho's Anti-forgery Experiments".

As one might expect when the word Soho crops up one thinks of Matthew Boulton and so it was that this talk centred around him. What was probably not generally known was that Matthew Boulton joined his father's business after leaving school, manufacturing 'toys' and knickknacks. However Boulton was an ambitious man and when his father died he expanded the business and started producing much more up market items, quality silver and plate, and coins for foreign countries. Boulton moved in high circles and knew many of the highest figures who were able to lobby on his behalf, even in Parliament, and he set out to use this influence to further his business projects. Boulton was interested in producing good quality coin that would be difficult to forge and he thought that three things would be needed. The coins should be:

• of uniform size and weight
• have the effigy designed to a high standard
• be protected by a raised rim

It was not until he went to Paris and saw what Droz was doing that Boulton found most of the technical answers to his problems. Droz was asked to produce patterns for Boulton, which he duly did so that he could show the government what could be produced. However because of much animosity by the Royal Mint, who were able to muster even more influence than Boulton in high places, it was some years before he got an order to produce coin. The order, when it came, resulted in the Cartwheel Pennies, Twopences and other copper values.

Our sincere thanks to Michael for an excellent talk, illustrated by a selection of pieces and trials - some possibly unique.

The experimental raffle produced a fair amount of interest and we shall be continuing with it for the time being. There were 5 dealer tables open.

The display this month was by myself, being a selection of coins from my collection from the Americas.

The trip to the Ashmolean will be on Friday 11th August. Members who have already signed up for this trip have made their own travel arrangements. Should any other members wish to turn up on the day, would they please let a member of the committee know, as the Museum needs to know the numbers in the party. The introductory talk by Nicholas Mayhew will start at approximately 11-30am.

For those who have not yet renewed their subscription for 2000/2001 these are now due and remain at the same rate as last year - £12. Please send your subscriptions to Maurice Bull or hand them to a committee member.

Coin Fair. Saturday 15th. July Commonwealth Institute. Kensington. London W8.

Coin Fair Sunday 13th August. National Motor Cycle Museum Bickenhill Birmingham.

The speaker was Barry Greenaway whose subject was a "A Roman Hoard".

At that time we had a membership of 60 which made a small surplus of £3 for the year!