During the reign of George III there was a shortage of silver preventing the minting of new coins. Spanish 8 real pieces were over stamped with the head of King George. The coins were valued at 4/9d.
Being presumptuous that I got the last one right and I can't wait to hear from Cologne, I have set the next question. Ignore it if it isn't my turn. I come from Notting Hill originally but I am much better known for my fictionalised exploits in Sussex with my friend, who was called "Billy Moon" by the family. I now reside in New York. Who am I?
Correct ! The shortage of silver led to a half a million pounds worth of these Spanish coins being overstamped with a small engraving of George III - thus having literally two Kings heads visible. The value was about 4 Shillings and Sixpence. This was in 1797. 8 years later Matthew Boulton erased completely the existing design on full weight Spanish coins and stamped them as Bank of England five shilling dollars. Dollar being the English word for Thaler. Over to you !
Does it have something to do with Winnie the Pooh ? I think most people are out having barbeques at the moment which is why there's been little response - I dragged myself in from a beer and grilled lamb !
Billy Moon was Christopher Robin Milne, so as his mate was Winnie the Pooh and the stories were bought by Disney, I guess it is Winnie.
While we are waiting for ratification from New Zealand here's a quickie. What is missing from the following sequence : Stralsund - Hamburg - Rouen - Washington - Paris - New York ?
I know that Stralsund, Hamburg and Rouen all have tall churches in common, but am not sure about Washington, Paris or New York. Is it something to do with that?
Tallest structures in chronological order? As in Washington Monument-Eiffel Tower-Empire State Building? In which case Cologne is probably in there somewhere, or even Ulm Minster?
I could give a clue by extending the list at both ends. The new list: Lincoln - Tallinn - Stralsund - Hamburg - Rouen - Washington - Paris - New York - Oklahoma City. One is still missing in the middle however.
Ok. You've got it Cologne Cathedral replaced the Cathedral in Rouen as the highest man made structure on Earth, and was (Boo) replaced by the Washington monument in 1884. Thereafter no religious buildings have held this position. So, over to you BB.
Right - another obscure music one off the top of my head What or who connects Mistletoe and Wine, The Alan Parsons Project and an 80's hit song that could have been written about the Watford club emblem?
