Today marks 250 years since the birth of the First Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley . Known for his triumph over Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, he is considered a British Military Hero. But here are 10 things you may not have known about the First Duke of Wellington. Is today actually the Dukes Birthday? We don’t know exactly...
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Previously the longest reigning British monarch, Queen Victoria’s time on the throne spanned six decades, 20 prime ministers and an age of innovation and change that has shaped our society. Queen Victoria’s influence resonates with us to this day, but here are some interesting facts you may not have known about one of Britain’s best known rulers.
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“… A bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, and covered at the back with a glutinous wash” – Rowland Hill Rowland Hill calculated that it made more financial sense to price deliveries by weight. Until then, the cost of delivery of a letter was paid by the recipient – and the price was dependent on the number of miles travelled and the...
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Whether we are dropping them into collecting tins, filling up piggy banks or trying to win more of them in slot machines, copper coins have been an important part of British life for centuries. However, the British Treasury has hinted at the possibility of removing the one and two penny from circulation, and the idea has inevitably divided the...
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For as long as coins have existed, artists have been required to design them. After all, a coin without a design is simply a blank piece of metal and therefore not a coin at all. The art of coin design is a demanding discipline that requires a high degree of technical accuracy and the ability to conceptualise a design in three dimensions. Not...
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A large quantity of Roman coins was found by two metal detectorists in a woodland area of Derbyshire. Following an inquest at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court held on January 21 st 2019, the coins have been officially declared as treasure!
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When I was boy, I remember being intrigued by the image of a man with an outrageous mane of long hair and a large book on his lap. He appeared on a banknote that a visiting aunt had presented me with, and before exchanging it for a large bag of sweets at the local corner shop I asked my mother about him.
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The abdication of King Edward VIII in December 1936 is one of the most extraordinary stories in British regal history. Edward abdicated the throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson – and was replaced as King by his brother, King George VI, previously Prince Albert, Duke of York. The abdication crisis had a curious affect on British...
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An auction battle has taken place for a very lucky penny that saved the life of a soldier in WWI.
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