Smythe, New York’s Oldest Dealer and Auctioneer in Coins, Paper Money, Antique Stocks and Bonds and Autographs

London, England. — Spink, the world’s leading auctioneers of Coins, Stamps, Medals and Banknotes, Bonds and Share Certificates, based in London and established 1666, has acquired R.M. Smythe & Company, specialists in Antique Stocks and Bonds, Banknotes, Coins, and Autographs, based in New York City and established in 1880.

Both Spink and Smythe are known around the globe for their illustrious histories, impeccable reputations and unparalleled expertise.

The merging of these two companies is the next logical step in line with Spink’s strategy for the future and will create the first truly global, fully integrated, collectables house.

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Rocketing fuel costs, bad housing news, inflation and recession debates, interest rate adjustments or lack of, a volatile stock market … 2007 has been an interesting one.

Then there’s the shiny stuff … precious metals. They performed in absolute style for 2007 and provided a year of a different type of excitement. Anyone who started the year buying silver, gold or platinum is sure to be smiling ear-to-ear.

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Analyzing the effort to reward ratio of creating counterfeit coins and then successfully getting them into daily circulation would seem to forestall an attempt to actually do it. Unless you have a mint-style facility with all the necessary equipment, materials and staff at your disposal, the work required to phony up fake coins is an imposing thought.

Then, imagine trying to close "shop" and before heading home for the day, exchanging your freshly forged counterfeit coins for real cash at the local store.

Believe it or not, one man, Marcus Glindon from north London, undertook an almost similar and gigantic task. He managed to counterfeit 14 million blank coins, and 2.5 fully stamped £1 coins during a seven year period.

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It could be the largest coin ever, coming in at a weight of 12 tons, a height of 7 meters (~23ft) and a depth of 70 cm (~2.3ft). You could stand from a very long distance away and still make out its golden color, royal portrait and finely detailed rim. You’d probably say it looks like a huge British one pound coin.

Is it too big to be true? In one word… Yes.

Although called a coin, it’s actually made of wood and isn’t legal tender. But it does have a sizable symbolic value. The wooden "coin" was completed and its sized used to symbolize the 50 million pound coins it could apparently hold. (Approximate US value of $101 million.)

It was rolled out today to mark the beginning of the UK public vote in deciding where £50m will be awarded, the largest amount ever, by the Big Lottery Fund. The final four environmental groups competing for the money are:

• THE EDEN PROJECT: THE EDGE - The next evolution of the Eden Project in Cornwall, where communities will be able to share the ideas they have for improving their lives and surroundings.

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