Upcoming club meetings:

Monday 4th July.

·        Coins and Kings: The Mint at the Tower By Megan Gooch.

August

  • This will be the Summer Social, details to be advised.

Monday 5th September.

  • The Watlington Hoard of Saxon Coins By James Mather.

Meetings are held at the Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, commencing at 7.00 p.m.

 

Annual General Meeting 2016

1.       Apologies for absence – Michael, James, John & Dennis.

2.       Previous AGM minutes – Accepted as written – Approved Doug, Seconded – Neil

 

The annual report from the Committee Officers published in the May newsletter was not repeated. Instead just the points where the Committee required feedback, any member’s issues and the election of officers were covered

 

3     Committee Discussion Points
3.1 Given the state of the financial reserves the membership accepted the Committee’s decision not to raise subscriptions.

However, given that Hall hire fees and speaker costs are rising the possibility of an increase next year was accepted. It all depends upon good support for next year’s auction.

3.2 The proposal to have a 3 month rolling speaker programme with details published in the newsletter and the website was accepted. The reasons for the change as explained in the officer’s report were accepted.

3.3 As a consequence of 3.2 John circulated a preliminary example of the revised membership card, i.e. similar to before except there are no details of the speaker programme.

3.4 The proposal to maintain copies of newsletters solely on the website was accepted

3.5 The lively discussion regarding the last auction and improvements ideas for the next one will be reviewed by the Committee and the outcome reported in a future newsletter. The feedback included grading & by whom, publishing reserves, limiting the number of lots, timely submission of entries and minimizing poor specimens.

The Treasurer apologized for later auction payments than usual due to personal circumstances.

 

4   Points raised by membership – no specific issues; current Committee are doing OK

4.1 Could the new type of membership card be available as a handout rather than the publicity flyers? – Committee to discuss

4.2 The Committee will discuss Doug’s comment - re the merits of frequent incremental subscription increases versus a once off larger rise

4.3 A proposal from the floor was to honour F Milward with a Memorial lecture, which the Committee will discuss.

4.4 With regard to the costs of mailing a hard copy of the newsletter, one member suggested a small charge – Committee to consider.

 

5.  Election of Offices

Being no nominations from the floor the existing Committee was reappointed (Proposed Doug, Seconded Graham).

Nominations by the Committee were accepted for President = Gavin, VP = Henry, Auditor = Neil.

.

6   AOB 

6.1 The membership were happy with this reduced style of AGM

6.2 John advised the website is now up and running and welcomed any feedback. He said there had been enquiries, mostly from people wanting to sell coins, which as a club we don’t do. However, they are directed to the dealers listed on the website. If traders wish their contact details to be listed, then see John.

 

Annual Display Competition

 

There were 5 entries.

 

John  presented a collection of altered date coins (1989 1/2d and 1933 1d). The latter was procured from a dealer in Plymouth, from a friend of his producing them on the other side of town! This was followed by some pennies collected in the 1960s, the so-called ‘filled 2s’ variants of the 1920-21 1ds. More up to date were two apparently ‘rimless’ 1997 50ps. The suspicion is that there may have been a problem with the ‘rimming’ process when this type was first being produced. Finally, a modern rarity, an ‘interesting’ 1967 1d (!) where the date has an odd appearance.

 

 

 

 

Jawaid displayed a small collection of shillings from 1816. This is a collection that has grown in size and scope in the last few years as more pieces have been added.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael had a display of crowns. He particularly likes larger coins his interest having been sparked by the gift of a Cartwheel 2d from his Grandfather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neil produced an extensive display of medallions from the Plymouth area, or commemorating events at Plymouth. The display was inspired by Neil’s attendance at the recent Medallion conference. Unlike coins, it is still possible to get some large well executed pieces, without having to pay a fortune. One row was dedicated to famous people, the next to Exhibition pieces, then some representations of the arms of Plymouth, a row of school attendance medals, a medallion celebrating the first statue of Sir Francis Drake, actually in Tavistock and finally a group representing national events, such as the change of name from Plymouth Docks to Davenport Docks, the completion of the breakwater and last of all a medal commemorating the fact that Plymouth got back the right to elect its own Mayor in 1803.

 

 Chris & Rachel celebrated the Queen’s 90th Birthday by producing two very large displays, each an annotated map of the World, showing the Queen’s connection with various places on the Globe. The first display, celebrated her role as Head of the Commonwealth, some fifty three countries, and a third of the World’s population, though she is not Head of all of them.

 The second display delved a bit deeper into history and showed countries connected from Britain’s legacy, for example, the Queen was retained as Head of State for Pakistan after independence, unlike India. This study proved to be far more complicated than expected, with some countries being deliberately made independent from other countries, to avoid the creation of a politically unwanted situation later on. Note that not all the Commonwealth countries have direct historical links with the British Empire, some have elected to join. Each country was represented by a coin – some in odd shapes and a plethora of other information such as flags.

 

All the displays were interesting in different ways but there has to be a winner. This year the Michael Broome Cup was awarded to Rachel and Chris. Well done!

 

Subscriptions

Be reminded that subscriptions are now due. It would be most appreciated if members yet to renew their subscription would please do so at the next meeting. Please see our treasurer Peter Hall. Membership cards will be available for collection at the next meeting.

 

Future Events.

  • Bloomsbury Coin Fair, Holiday Inn – 2nd July
  • Midland Coin Fair - National Motorcycle museum – 10th July
  • Bonhams Auction, Medals, Bonds, Banknotes And Coins, Knightsbridge – 13th July

Past Events

In previous years, June has been the date for the AGM.

 

Club Secretary.