Three Transportation Tokens

The autonomous region called the TransDniester Republic issued a most unusual set of coins in 2014. They are made of composite material, are semi-transparent, and have a textured surface. This territory was part of the Soviet Union, and later became an unrecognised Moldovan breakaway state, that is still recognised internationally as being part of Moldova. These coins are a plastic-type material but with a hardness that produces a stone-like sound when rubbed. They were issued by the 'TransDniester Republic Bank' and there are 4 denominations. 1 Rouble circular, 3 Roubles square with rounded corners, 5 Roubles pentagon-shaped with rounded corners, and 10 Roubles hexagonal with rounded corners. They have rounded corners for ease of use and for ease of machine readability at high speeds. These were an experiment and who knows if they will continue to issue them. But we thought that they were very interesting and rather well priced so we obtained 100 sets of them. Supplies are limited.

Today the Royal Mint is charging £49.50 for a 2012 Sterling Silver Proof Pound. We have bought one hundred pieces of the 2009 Silver Proof Pound, all in their original black cases of issue with their certificates just as they were issued by the Royal Mint. You have a shield on one side and the Rank-Broadly bust of Queen Elizabeth II on the other side. They are struck, in Proof Sterling Silver and were sold by the Royal Mint back in 2009.

Probus became emperor in AD 276 after overthrowing the emperor Florianus. A native of the city of Sirmium in what is now Serbia, he rose to prominence and proved himself a capable administrator and commander and is recognised as an emperor who contributed to the revival of the Roman Empire at a time of severe turmoil and crisis. In AD 277/8 his armies defeated the Goths, Alamanni, Longiones, Franks, and Burgundians. He realised that the best way to keep his soldiers out of trouble was to keep them busy so, with the frontiers of the empire stabilised, he set his men to the task of rebuilding the shattered infrastructure of key provinces that had crumbled under previous emperors by building roads, bridges and fortifications, draining marshes, digging canals and, interestingly, planting extensive vineyards. New plantations sprang up across Europe and there is mention in some records of Probus authorising the planting of vineyards in Britain too so we may still be enjoying the fruits of his labours today! These Antoninianus, or ‘Ants’ as we call them, are as good as they come, virtually as struck and with original lustre. The reverses will be of our choice, and there are a variety of reverse types available most with standing figures but a limited number available in this grade.