Santa Clara Coin Show, James Bond and Jake the Alligator Man

I visited the Santa Clara, California coin show on Friday, September 6.

Santa Clara is located about 50 miles south of San Francisco.

I had been to previous editions of this show run by various promoters, especially
when I used to live near there.

I found some interesting tokens and oddities, bought my first Sasanian coin, and was
getting ready to leave when I saw a coin dealer table with British gold Sovereign coins
(1/4 oz gold) with Queen Elizabeth on them.

I had wanted a 1963 Sovereign since I was a kid, did he have one?

I could see the date 1964 on some and I asked the dealer if I could take a look at them.
He and his partner were busy with other customers so it took a while to look at them.

I found a 1963 Sovereign which I bought for a little over the gold price.

Why 1963?

Back in 1963, I saw a film called "From Russia with Love".
It was the second of the James Bond films with Sean Connery as the British secret agent.
In the film, Bond is being sent to Istanbul to meet a beautiful Russian spy.

There was a scene early in the film where Bond's chief hands him an attache case
with some devices, including straps containing "fifty gold sovereigns".

I knew what a "sovereign" was, and could see the figure of young Elizabeth II on them.
The strap with the sovereigns turns up later when Bond tries to bribe an assasin with them.

I am now equipped for visits to Istanbul to meet blonde spies:




I also found this interesting token with "Jake the Alligator Man", appearing at
"Marsh's Free Museum" in Long Beach, Washington.



Marsh's Free Museum, Long Beach, Washington - Jake the Alligator Man
Obverse: JAKE THE ALLIGATOR MAN / MARSH'S FREE MUSEUM
Reverse: WORLD'S LARGEST FRY PAN / LONG BEACH, WASH
Metal: Brass - Size: 28mm - Weight: 7.45gm

I remember seeing Jake in Hot Springs Arkansas in 1992, he does get around.

 

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"Bond on" Willie. Most excellent story........

 

I just saw that movie -- watched it just to see the fight between Sean Connery and Robert Shaw on the train. One of the best stage fights on film...

 

Did you ever see him (Shaw) in the Dam Busters? Damn good movie.........

 

I can't think of anything more American than a coin with a man-alligator on one side and the world's largest fry pan on the other.

 

Tastes like chicken............