Match Game 2014

Recently having once again overextended the purchases without adequate attention being paid to that pesky income issue,
I took advantage of a 'free listing' and posted around 40 sestertii and assorted Ae's the "Bay".
It is always hard to sell off the 'good' stuff (better stuff anyway)
but finding new treasures requires some sacrifices be made.
More to the point (I have trouble with that sometimes) while I had listed most of the coins on the high side I did reduce halfway through the 30 day listing period.
I will assume several persons afflicted with the 'illness' succumbed very quickly !

I sold off several coins for a tidy sum ! Hooray !

Now while I do often ship to the world over I had no intention of loosing one of my precious ancients.
The listing stated in boldface that unless the buyer was personally "known" to me
"All overseas delivery by registered mail only" !
I have lost a few items of late (mostly to Russia) and had no desire to repeat this with something above the $1.99 level.
One of my sestertii was 'claimed' by a Brit who not only paid up immediately but sent me a message of profound 'joy'.
He is a collector of Britain types and immediately noticed great similarity between my listing and his own precious Antoninus Pius sestertius with Brittania reverse.
I knew it to be a rare type (priced accordingly) but he told me he had seen (never mind purchased) only four of them in all his many years of collecting.
As an after thought he mentioned that he was rather well known to several reputable sellers and if possible would prefer to save the extra $10 which registered mail would cost. But he had no problem either way !
Well why not ten bucks is ten bucks and better spent on other things
...... like more coins !

Now I felt reassured when I looked over the mailing address
A rather venerable looking High School for girls.
Excellent !
Now the name. Hmmmmmm. How curious ...... first thing to cross my mind was "1066 and all that".

Anyhow being more than satisfied with the particulars I shipped off the AP and had the great pleasure to exchange more than a few messages back and forth across the pond with 'Guy'. A quite pleasant and 'educational' exchange ! I did make one small request. I asked for and received a photo of the two coins side by side.





I must admit, and so informed my new 'friend' Guy that it made me rather jealous !
I would much prefer to be the one with the matched set !
But I can't complain too much as I had made a rather nice acquaintance.
Being so pleased with the pics I asked his permission to post them here for others to admire.
I assured him he would remain anonymous and simply be referred to as some "crazy Brit".
Within minutes I got a positive response.

"By all means, and I don't mind you using my name. And yes, they make a nice set."

So while I had intended on keeping his name under cover I shall 'drop' it ......
besides it is sort of impressive to say the least !
At least that is as far as length is concerned.
I am somewhat ashamed to say I had never heard of him before but he is considered a leading expert
on the subject of the Emperor Carausius and made some not unimpressive discoveries relating to the coinage of the British tyrant.
It would appear (according to Guy) that Marcus Carausius was much more than simply a military man with little formal schooling.

So the name of the mystery buyer is Guy de la Bédoyère.
More formally 'Guy Martyn Thorold Huchet de la Bédoyère'.
I can't even pronounce it never mind spell it !
And as I said I must confess to never having heard of him before.
But I plan on buying a few of his books ..... and rather doubt I will forget the name anytime soon. Of course if ever asked about him I can know say something like "delightful fellow" and yes he is now officially "known to me".
How nice.

BTW as an added bonus I placed in the package the rather odd follis (Diocletain ?)
which Ian attributed as an early London issue and bears a rather odd resemblance to M Carausius.
I had almost listed it for sale a month back but hesitated at the last moment with the thought
"why do I want to sell this one to someone who will have no appreciation of it ?"
He seems quite happy with it.

I referenced Ian (aka 'Bobby')as an expert on early London issues who has determined it to be "Small and light and with a questionable style, It is official though."
You might be pleased (maybe not) Ian to hear that Guy Martyn Thorold Huchet de la Bédoyère without hesitation concurs with your attribution.
So we shall let the doubters find their own experts ......