About Michael

Michael Gouby, started his business career in 1961 - firstly in accountancy, which lasted for only one year, when he realised that it was not his calling.

In 1962 he started his apprenticeship as a trainee buyer in the men's fashion department at Harrods and thereby developed his skills in retailing.

Whilst at Harrods he began collecting coins in a small way back in 1964, when the coin market was much quieter and was just on the verge of becoming a main stream collecting hobby. As a young collector he found it difficult to sell his duplicates to the large London dealers and therefore turned to selling via the small ads magazine "Exchange and Mart"; which in the early 1960's became a growing trend for 'part time dealers'.

In 1965, Michael extended his coin sales by having a stall, on a Sunday morning, in Cutlers Street; a then well known location for buying and selling small antiques, coin and medals. It was a hive of activity for budding coin collectors and part-time dealers. It was located near the other famous Sunday market - Petticoat Lane.

1966 was a turning point for Michael; as a senior manager of Harrods approached him, asking his advice, as the store wished to set up its own coin department. They knew of his developing knowledge of coins and that he was dealing - part-time away from Harrods. He developed a plan for them, as to the location that would be best suited in the store, on the ground floor, in the gift department for a coin counter. We advised on the capital that might be required and the possible turn over for the first year. However, they eventually rejected his plans for how the coin department should be developed and run and decided instead on the 'safe' option of having an outside coin company wholly supply and price the coins, with a member of Harrods staff simply to sell them. Having decided on this course, Harrods then asked Michael to sell his coin collection, at cost price to them to be added to the department's virginal stock. He was also required to sign a contract which would forbid him from dealing in coins in the future outside of Harrods. In exchange he would be moved to the new coin department as the coin salesman. Michael resigned and left the store.

The Harrods coin department lasted approximately ONE year and made a great deal of money for the 'outside' company but very little money for Harrods !

Following his resignation, with a Mayfield school friend, Howard Neville, they formed the partnership of Michael Howard Coins and their first full time retail outlet was a stand in the Antique Hypermarket, on Kensington High Street. They were also to be seen at the Coin Fairs being staged in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester which was a new concept for coin trading, at that time. Michael ran the stand with the help of a part-time female assistant, Anita, whom Michael knew from this time at Harrods. Anita had been looking for more flexible working conditions without the strict conditions required by a large department store.

In 1968 Howard joined the company full time and by the end of the year they acquired a second outlet, the shop at 6 Hillgate Street, Notting Hill Gate, as well as retaining the stand at the Antique Hypermarket.

However, in late 1969 Howard decided that his interest really lay in antiques rather than in coins and the partnership was mutually dissolved. Howard remained for a few more years at the Hypermarket whilst Michael retained the shop at 6 Hillgate Street; where he has been ever since.

In 1970 Michael was joined by Alistair Mackay. a very knowledgeable young man on Greek & Roman coins who was looking for space to sell his coins. He rented the front part of the shop and sold Greek and Roman coins as well as early artefacts, which complemented and completed the range of the shops stock from ancient to modern coins. Alistair stayed until late 1974 and then moved to Rothwell, in Northamptonshire in early 1975 where he dealt with all types of coins, etc. but his main field remained with ancient Greek & Roman coins. He did watch and clock repairs. All the ancient coins (Greek & Roman) in Michael's shop has been identified and priced by Alistair. They remained close friends with a very strong working relationship until his unfortunate death in late May 2025.

In 1986 Michael wrote and published a reference book and catalogue on "The British Bronze Penny from 1860 to 1970" which is now a standard reference book on the subject. It remains as one of the reference book on British bronze pennies from 1860 to 1970. See the web page for more details. Unfortunately, now out of print and stock. 2nd hand copies do become available from time to time.

In 1994 he was elected Chairman of the Reading Coin Club which he served for the maximum period of 5 years. He was then asked to preside as President which he did for 3 years. The increased pressures of business, in London, meant that in 2002 he stepped down from any official office within the club. However he still fully supports the club and is an active member and attends the club meeting, most months.

The Reading Coin Club meets regularly on the first Monday of each month at the Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square - in the centre of Reading (next door to the library) and is only a 10 minute walk from the main line station.

The meeting commences at 7:00 pm with the talk or planned activity starting at 8:00 pm. From 7:00 - 8:00 pm is time for trading, friendly discussions and beverages, etc. Regularly between 20 to 30 members attend. The club has an extensive numismatic library and a monthly email news letter is sent to each member advising as to what happened last month and what is planned for the following meeting, etc.

A cordial welcome is extended to all interested visitors who must be introduced by a member. For anyone wishing to come along to a club night Michael is probably available to be their host as he attend most meetings - just ask him!

For more details about the club, or read some of the newsletters, or check on what is happening next month, etc. why not visit their web site - either now or later at www.readingcoinclub.co.uk

Michael's next book, in 2000, after several years research, was on "The British Bronze Coinage 1860 to 1869" and it examines the production of the British bronze coinage; Pence, Halfpence & Farthings, from 1860 to 1869 - which covers the first 10 years of the great British re-coinage from copper to bronze coins. Part of the research material has been obtained from previously unrecorded documents. He also carefully looks at the production of the coinage during the first three years, from 1860 to 1863, when the the Royal Mint subcontracted out a very large part of the work to two other mints: the James Watt and the Ralph Heaton mints, as it, the Royal Mint, was rather busy with the more important business of issuing the gold and silver coinage require for the country. The later part of the research shows which Mints would have produced what coins and possibly with which dies during those early years of 1860 to 1863. See the web page for more details.

In December 2009 Michael published an updated version of his first book on the British bronze coinage but this time it only concentrates on the extremely popular Victorian series. Michael has found many other major varieties for that period, date variations as well as many more minor errors and anomalies. This book is "The British Bronze Penny (Victoria 1860 to 1901) Specialised edition". See the web page for more detail.

In 2014 Michael decided that it was time to retire from running a shop. So after 48 years, on 8 May 2014, the shop was closed and later that month sold to neighbours so that it could be converted back into a house.

There is no more coin shop at that address !

Michael is still busy helping with the orders received by Michael Coin Ltd. However, he is doing this now in a more relaxed way as he is semi-retired. He and his wife are now taking more 'time out' and holidays !

Michael Coins Ltd can only deal with order - via "mail order". There are NO premises to visit.

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