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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;lordmarcovan, post: 25958622, member: 10461&quot;]OK, here’s what we’ve been waiting to see for 20 days now.&nbsp; My Santa this year is obviously the “get it done early” type, as the package arrived on December 5th.</p><p><br /></p><p>Inside were two wrapped gift parcels.&nbsp; I could feel through the wrapping paper that the larger, heavier one was a book.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1651919[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>But I had no clue on the smaller one, and that intrigued me.&nbsp; I wondered if it was another book.&nbsp; In fact, I’d sort of assumed that for the last 20 days.</p><p><br /></p><p>I opened that one first.</p><p><br /></p><p>Aha!&nbsp; <i>Not</i> a book, but … <i>coins</i>!</p><p><br /></p><p>And <i>British</i> coins!&nbsp; Did my Santa know I’ve loved British coins for over 40 years?&nbsp; Maybe.&nbsp; Or maybe it was just a great guess!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1651920[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>But what <i>kind</i> of British coins?</p><p><br /></p><p>Aha!&nbsp; It’s a 1970 proof set!&nbsp; I love these sets.&nbsp; I haven’t owned one since the 1990s.&nbsp; Back then, if you were lucky, you could get them for around ten bucks.&nbsp; Which was a great deal, because these were really high quality, attractive sets.&nbsp; I suspect the days of being able to get one for ten bucks are probably long gone.</p><p><br /></p><p>These sets were the last of the old predecimal (pounds/shillings/pence) monetary system, as the Brits transitioned to a modern decimal system in 1971.</p><p><br /></p><p>It was in these proof sets that the only 1970 British large pennies were issued.&nbsp; The last ones issued for circulation had been struck in 1967.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is the only time I’ve had one of these sets with the original outer envelope intact.&nbsp; I can imagine how few of those must have survived the last 54 years.&nbsp; By that I mean the outermost white paper envelope shown above, not the more sturdy inner case made of purple cardboard.</p><p><br /></p><p>Inside the cardboard case was the innermost plastic frame containing the coins, as well as the original booklet and card that accompanied the set.</p><p><br /></p><p>And also the letter from my Santa!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1651929[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1651923[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1651930[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1651931[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>As I mentioned, I love these sets:&nbsp; the 1970 proof-only penny, the chunky dodecagonal (12-sided) threepence, the little rectangular Royal Mint medal, and the handsome purple insert.&nbsp; This particular set also appears to have a hint of toning, as well.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now… on to the second, larger package, obviously a book.&nbsp; And a somewhat heavy book, at that.</p><p><br /></p><p>This was a copy of <i>Fads, Fakes, and Foibles</i> by Roger Burdette.&nbsp; While I was <i>vaguely</i> familiar with the author’s name, I’d never heard of this title.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1651932[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>And it looks interesting, too, because a quick flip through some of the glossy pages reveals color photos of some <i>coins</i> I’ve never seen before, either!&nbsp; Interesting patterns and stuff.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1651933[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I’ll bet this was not a cheap book.&nbsp; I will surely enjoy it.</p><p><br /></p><p><i><b>Thank you, Santa!&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></b></i></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p>Whew!&nbsp; I can go to bed now.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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