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V13 2010 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 13, Number 46, November 14, 2010, Article 14

SO WHAT'S A 'DEL BOY'?

Del Boy Roman coin Regarding this passage in a U.K. newspaper article, I asked "So what's a "Del Boy"? How are early counterfeits like these catalogued in the literature?"

A Roman coin discovered by a Brighton cleaner was struck at the time of Christ by a "Del Boy" forger who could not spell and did not know one emperor from another...

Jim Duncan of New Zealand writes:

Del boy was a TV character played by English actor David Jason in a series called "Only Fools and Horses" which revolved around a family of 'wide boys' of which Del was the leader, plus his Grandad and younger brother Rodney. They specialised in unlikely scams on gullible punters - like selling them London Bridge and the toll rights (as you know there ARE no tolls).

His tall skinny brother was Rodney played by Nicholas Lyndhurst, "Oh Rodders, you plonker". The surname was Trotter, and Del Trotter careened around the high-rise apartment buildings (or 'estates') of London in a 3-wheeled Robin Reliant (or similar).

A wide boy is a 'late' teddy boy - loud clothing, small brain, endless optimism. The show was very popular in 'english' speaking countries! A plonker is an idiot, and Rodney was always putting his foot in it.

Philip Mernick forwarded a link to a page on WikiPedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Boy .

Del is a lively character, most noted for his happy-go-lucky, confident persona. Whilst not always being successful, his general confidence and often forcefulness often convinces people to believe in him.

With a never-ending supply of get-rich-quick schemes and an inner belief in his ability to sell anything to anyone, Del embroils 'the firm' (as he calls the family business) in all sorts of improbable situations. It is this unwavering confidence that led to his oft-proclaimed but rarely realised ambition "This time next year, we'll be millionaires!"

Thanks, everyone! -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: METAL DETECTORIST FINDS UNUSUAL COUNTERFEIT ROMAN COIN (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n45a19.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

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