Gold has always been one of the safest investments.

Medal collecting can be an expensive hobby, and there is a growing interest in collecting original dress miniature medals such as the group pictured. Beware of modern low quality replicas.

'Distinguished Conduct Medal, awarded for Conspicuous gallantry. He (The recipient) bandaged 2 wounded men after extricating them from a dug-out in which they had been buried during a heavy bombardment, and when they were buried again he again rescued them and got them into safety and finally to the dressing station' 'Sapper W Liggins, 1st West Lancashire Field Company. Royal Engineers.' He died later in the war, in 1918. This took place in March 1916 on the western front. His distinguished conduct medal (pictured) is the award for bravery immediately below the Victoria cross. Owning items like this is why I am interested in Medals and history, perhaps because it puts our current situation into perspective. Click www.Coins4all.co.uk if you need any more information

From bicycles to tanks on the Western front. 1916.

43rd Foot (Monmouth Light Infantry) Regimental medal. 1814 Peninsula War award.

A rare piece of history! The 43rd Foot (Monmouth Light Infantry) Regimental medal. 1814 Peninsula War award..

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Gold as a gift? An Antique 22ct sovereign from £264 delivered to you.

Timeline Photos

The Colour of Money. 'Coloured' coins are now being produced for collectors, such as the example on the right, a 5 pound coin commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The colours are printed on during the manufacturing process, and while you may not see coloured coins in your loose change yet, it is only a matter of time as Australia and Canada already have circulating issues. However in 1887 the process was much more labour intensive. A skilled craftsman would have created the enameled silver Crown on the left entirely by hand using processes now lost to history, in readiness for Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, and to meet the latest craze for enameled coin jewelry. Which one do you like the best?

Unique personal notebook of a Graf Spee prisoner | eBay

My wife thinks this man is like Uncle Albert from only fools and horses as his ships kept getting sunk! Seriously the times he lived through are hard to imagine.

WW1 Trio. Gunner A.E. Callaby. R.F.A

A survivor of the great war

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Christmas and coins. Part 2. Putting a silver coin or coins in a Christmas pudding is an age old custom and it was said to bring luck to the finder. In the early part of the 20th Century this was typically a silver Sixpence or Threepence. We are now at the time of year when the creative amongst you will be stirring your pudding mix and may be looking for a silver coin with which to grace your creation. The vast majority of us will be picking ours from the supermarket shelves in the coming weeks, and can still create the effect with a pair of tweezers and a little patience. If you wish to purchase a silver sixpence or threepence please visit my shop www.coins4all.co.uk or click the ‘Learn More’ button on my Facebook page. Priced at £2 to £3 these are a bargain and are much more interesting than the plastic toy in the Christmas cracker. Enjoy!

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Christmas and coins. This is how the story starts. Read on.... The tradition of Christmas stockings also began with coins. There are countless versions of the story, but this one is delightful, and starts with St. Nicholas. A 4th Century Greek saint, he was also rich as his wealthy parents had died when he was young. He loved giving gifts to those less fortunate, preferably in secret, and heard about a local nobleman who had lost both his wife and his money, and had moved into a peasants’ cottage with his three daughters, all of marriageable age. In those days, a girl needed a dowry to offer the groom’s parents, and this poor family had barely enough to eat. St. Nicholas knew they were too proud to accept charity. On spotting that the girls had hung their stockings to dry on the chimney ledge St Nicolas decided to climb down the chimney and put a bag of silver coins into the oldest girl’s stocking. On the next visit he placed coins into the second daughter’s stocking. The third time, the grateful father hid in the room and caught St. Nicholas in the act. Although St. Nicholas begged him to keep it a secret, word soon got out, and everyone started to hang their stockings, hoping for a visit from St. Nicholas. Of course, his generosity meant that all three daughters could marry, and everyone was happy ever after, especially the nobleman! If you would like to give someone the perfect gift of a Gold Sovereign this Christmas please let me know, or visit my store)