The annual display competition attracted three entries of a very commendable standard. The competition entries, introduced with a few words from the exhibitors, were, as follows:

'Can You Follow the Story of the Credit Crunch? ' Graham

Graham told the story of crunches past and present and illustrated them with numerous numismatica, right down to an unstruck 50p blank to remind us that the future is a blank canvas and the value of our money will be known in good time.

1. Asset Bubbles are nothing new, Tulips in the 17th Century, and the South Sea Company shares collapsed in the 18th, and silver bullion recovered was coined in 1723 and bore the initials SSC.
2. FOR the U.S.A. & GB PROPERTY VALUES DIVED. Milton New Hampshire Bicentennial Medal 1776-1976 House Scene.
3. STOCK MARKET RESPONDS BADLY: A London Brokers Pass Token. J Ashby Stock broker No3 Bartholomew Lane Bank.
4. BANKS ARE IN CRISIS. BASE RATES FALL. 1994 £2, 300th Anniversary of The Bank of England 5. You reap what you sow! `Sower' Medalet.
5. £/E £/$ The Pound fell against the Euro & the Dollar. Greek Euro/1888 USA $1. m cod we Trust.
6. Our Manufacturing industry was hit early on. HULL LEAD WORKS 1d Token 1812
7. Then came Quantitive Easing from the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street. Three Shillings Bank Token George III 1st bust 1812.
8. & 1804 Bank of England Dollar (current for 55.) REV. Britannia seated left Upright K to left of shield.
9. & Minting Scenes from: 1804. Two figures in front of a large coining screw press. On base, PACTIS PROEAT. Magnifying glass and coin die below. Exergue MDCCCIV By ANDRIEU.F. DENON D. Purchased Becket f7. 2003.
10. & Advertisement Ticket. Birmingham TAYLOR & CHALLEN LD ENGINEERS BIRMINGHAM / MINTING MACHINERY
11. & Birmingham % d Token. Lutwyches Manufactory Birmingham. Minting Press AVER.
12. & Paris Mint Scene of men casting ingots before furnace. In Exergue: Bag of coins. SAVERS ALSO SUFFERED with low interest rates: Where does one invest? Coins are as good as any;
13. Benjamin Nightingale London Numismatic Token. Obv. Moneta seated by a coin cabinet - cornucopia spilling coins Leg. "Vilius est Argentum Auro Virtutibus Aurum.
14. PARLIAMENT IN TROUBLE & CALLS FOR A GENERAL ELECTION: Election Results Medallion. Obv Houses of Parliament. In exergue: General Election 1974 Rev. Prime Minister Rt. HON. HAROLD WILSON
15. & Winston Churchill was also a member of Parliament.
16. INDUSTRIAL STRIFE FACTORIES CLOSING, Underground workers strike threatened: 1926 Strike-breakers Medal - General Strike "For services in National Emergency"/ 3 standing females bearing steam engines. By E. Gillick.

WHICH WAY IS OUT?

1. ROBBERY: 1745 2/6 George II LIMA: Some of the treasure seized by Admiral Anson during his circumnavigation of the globe, 1740-4, and by other privateers, was made into coin, which had the word LIMA below the king's bust to celebrate the expedition's successful harassment of the Spanish Colonies in the New World.
2. GAMBLING: Mother of Pearl Fish & Butterfly gambling chips: Keep your temper card counter
3. LUCK: Readers Digest Token.
4. INFLATION: German Notegeld, 10,000 Mark 1923

WITH MANY DEPENDENT ON CHARITY: THE SALVATION ARMY SOCIAL WORK 2D Square Tin BI acteate token. OR DO WE VOTE FOR ANOTHER OUTCOME?

1. Public Finance & the Re-establishment of Public Credit 1818 France. Rev. The standing figure of Prudence, her foot firmly suppressing the serpent of discord, empties a cornucopia of it's coins, which pour into an open chest, to the right is the seated figure of France, who aids in the restoration of public finance. Leg CREDIT PUBLIC RETABLI.
2. INDUSTRY BEGINS TO WORK ON FULL CAPACITY AGAIN: FLINT Lead Works 1d Token 1813 c. FAITH IS RESTORED IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM: A Denarius of the Roman Republic. C. Cassius 126 BC. Libertas in quadriga right. C CASSI/ROMA. Libertas A personification of personal liberty, the condition of a free man. Under the Empire libertas comes to mean political liberty, not only in republican declamations but in official language. NO MORE SPIN or is that too much to hope for?
3. TRAJAN DECIUS AD249-251 AR Antoninianus of Rome. Obv Abundance standing right emptying cornucopiae.
4. COMMODUS shows whom? Securitas seated holding a globe: Commonly associated with the Emperor or the State as a 'virtue' or 'desirable state' (res expetenda). Securitas was commonly evoked when some imminent danger had been averted.
5. The 50p Coin Blank reminds me that the future is a blank canvas and the outcome and the value of our money will be known all in good time. Graham 01/06/09

'A Collection of Minting Errors' James

James Quincey then gave a talk on his collection of minting errors and counterfeit pound coins. Examples included a two pound blank with edge legend but no milling, a 2008 5p with an odd coppering effect, misaligned dies on a 2000 20p and a 1775 George III halfpenny reverse brockage.

'British Numismatic Society Medals' Gavin

Last but not least was Gavin Scott with a talk entitled “Brittania rules the Waves (and inland waterways)”, illustrating the year 1894, when it could truly be said that Britannia did rule the waves. Not many people know that both the Manchester Ship Canal and Tower Bridge were opened in 1894. Gavin had one of the medals by Bowcher and Miesch struck to celebrate the opening of Tower Bridge on show.

As usual the standard was high but there must be a winner and this year it was Graham who goes home with the Michael Broome Memorial Cup to keep for another year. James won the raffle for the members who put in displays.