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DF_ATG_152 x 106:Layout 4 16/12/11 14:11 Page 1 2 21st January 2012


Winter Fair 24 - 29 January 2012 Battersea Park, London


Antiques


Mid-Century Modern Textiles


Works of Art news


Royal Mint not living up to expectation of trust, says Lobel


continued from front page


of marketing executives. “People need to understand that the


One


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Royal Mint is a private company seeking profi ts, not a public body. It is a highly trusted brand because of its name, but it is not living up to that expectation of trust.” To support his argument, Mr Lobel


quoted numerous examples of limited issues, including expensive gold coins, which he says are ludicrously overpriced. Referring to a full page advertisement


One


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Fairest of them all... decorativefair.com


in a national newspaper leading up to Christmas, in which the Royal Mint offered silver sixpences for £19.95 each with a charge of £2.95 for postage, he said: “Coincraft offer the same coins at £4.95 each. What’s more, the Royal Mint advertised them as the ‘legendary silver sixpence’ struck from 1920-1947 that people used to put in Christmas puddings. But they stopped issuing them in 1946 and it was the silver threepence that went into Christmas puddings, so one wonders whose expertise is being used here.” The Royal Mint is now offering the


same coins via their website for £30, having added a presentation case. Other offers Mr Lobel saw as being


ridiculously overpriced included:  A George III half sovereign priced at


£1100 (dealer price £350-500);  A 2012 Paralympic gold proof


The Portobello Group operates numerous Anti ques Arcades & Centres on Portobello Road


 Numerous established dealers  Wide range of general and specialist anti ques


 Assorted fully fi tt ed units available for rent on a monthly basis


£5 (melt value £1205) priced at £2880 (dealer price (£1500-1600);  A King James Bible £2 gold piece of


2011 issue priced at £995 (dealer price £695).


 A Mary Rose £2 gold piece of 2011


issue priced at £995 (dealer price £695). “I could go on,” Mr Lobel told ATG.


“On most non-gold numismatic coins you are going to get less than 50 per cent of what you paid for them.” He said mints in the United States,


Australia and other countries were selling comparable coins at half the price set by the Royal Mint. For example, 2011 proof US silver


eagles in their original cases are currently being advertised at $65.95, around £42.25. It has around an ounce of pure silver in it, which is about ten per cent more than the 2011 silver proof £5 being offered by the Royal Mint at £99.50. Mr Lobel also argues that overcharging


has had a clear effect on sales of commemorative issue coins over the past 15 years. “The 1981 silver proof issues for


Prince Charles’ wedding to Princess Diana sold 218,000 pieces, but by the time we got to 1997 silver proof issues for the Queen’s Golden Wedding saw only 33,000 sell. “Only 13,379 sold for Prince Charles’


50th birthday in 1998 and only 16,000 commemorating the Queen Mother’s death in 2002. For Prince Charles’ 60th birthday in 2008, the total was down to 10,000. “The problem is that the Royal Mint


are fl ooding the market in an attempt to cash in and collectors have got wise to it.” The Royal Mint agreed to respond to


Mr Lobel’s accusations a week ago, but despite several reminders have yet to do so.


Subtle change to summer fairs calendar as AAL moves forward


THE dates for the trio of major London summer fairs have now been released. The sequence of the three events


sees the Olympia International Fine Art & Antiques Fair (June 7-17) overlapped by Art Antiques London (June 13-20) followed just over a week later by Masterpiece (June 28 to July 4). The calendar is subtly different from


Enquiries & Unit Applicati ons: Telephone: 020 7727 5242 Mobile: 07795 662110


www.portobellomarketlondon.com  67, 69 & 73 - Chelsea Galleries  101-103 - Red Tea Pot


 119 - The Crown  141-149 - Admiral Vernon Anti ques Arcade  161-163 - Harris’s  165-169 - The Red Lion


last year when Olympia and Art Antiques London (incorporating The International Ceramics Fair and Seminar) both opened on June 9. This year they will overlap rather than clash. The new dates also mean there will be less clear air between the fi rst two fairs and Masterpiece at the end of the month. Talk of the disjointed London summer


season abounded at last year’s fairs. Two events opening on the same day proved unpopular, while overseas visitors in particular were asked to make a choice


between an early or a late June trip. Haughton Fairs, organisers of Art


Antiques London, held since 2010 in a purpose-built pavilion in Kensington Gardens next to the Albert Memorial, were the last of the three organisers to declare their hand for 2012. They say the new dates have been well received by exhibitors. After celebrating its tenth anniversary


last year, Master Drawings London is returning once again to Mayfair, St James’s and Bloomsbury from June 27 to July 5.


Update


IN ATG No 2021 we misspelt an address: Antiquated Decorative Antiques have moved from 10 New Street in Petworth to Bridgefoot Cottage, Glasshouse Lane, Kirdford, West Sussex RH14 0LP.


ATG


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