Renniks cattle dog

[kchan1111]

I think guides might also serve another purpose - especially where a new collector is concerned.  I have always tried to add 'footnotes'  to many issues to either explain subtle differences from similar looking coins or just to include some historical notes of interest.

You probably don't see a lot of Holey Dollars, Adelaide Ingots or Hay Internment notes on eBay, and if you did, the buyer would only be interested in providing enough info to entice you to buy - the seller is not interested in giving you a history lesson.

Hi Greg, I have found the footnotes in your guide extremely valuable. There are more information in there other than prices. I have found the information on varieties especially useful. The numbers may not be the most up to date but they reveal a great deal about the relative rarities, which I find insightful when I am new to an area.

I recently was able to pick up a second hand numismatic reference library for $100 or so from an auction. It includes a copy of every edition of McDonald guides with the exception of one or two. I think it would be fun just to look and compare prices over time. But I do wish that all this information is available in electronic form.

I will be getting a copy of the 23rd ed when it comes out. :good:

[notcb]

Hi,

Some interesting points of view expressed in the discussion.

One comment I would make is that parts of both Mackas and Renniks are ripe for an on-line style of price update - that is the items which contain reference numbers:

Sovereigns,   Kookaburras,  PNCs, Banknotes and Banknote Folders

If a numbering system could be developed for both predecimal, decimal and Perth Mint coins, then an on-line price update could be managed.

How practical it would be to develop a numbering system that takes into account all the variations (especially with some of the early pennies etc,) I don't know.

Cheers

Peter  (notcb)

[Fulvio]

Heh, mentioning workshop manuals reminded me of the engineering manuals for our IBM 370/145 at DSS (way back before the Centrelink merger). For those who aren't aware, IBM only leased machines rather than sell them, and each came with an on-site engineer (who was in reality an industrial spy) and a custom-built trolley loaded with loose-leaf manuals and drawings. I reckon the trolley alone must have cost ten grand, and never mind the contents.

Anyway, I should have pointed out that the NMRA Data Sheets date back to the 1940's... long before computers. I'm not so much advocating a dead tree coin replica so much as the concept of divorcing the pricing and catalogue functions, and making both updateable.

Clearly these days digital is the way to go. Exactly how to avoid the piracy problem bears consideration, and its good to hear you're looking into it. But definitely have the pricing separate, and regularly updated. By doing away with printing and distribution you should be able to cut the price by 80% AND make a bigger profit I should think.

[Bigfellani5]

Heh, mentioning workshop manuals reminded me of the engineering manuals for our IBM 370/145 at DSS (way back before the Centrelink merger). For those who aren't aware, IBM only leased machines rather than sell them, and each came with an on-site engineer (who was in reality an industrial spy) and a custom-built trolley loaded with loose-leaf manuals and drawings. I reckon the trolley alone must have cost ten grand, and never mind the contents.

I remember running punch cards through a machine to pay people when I worked for dss.

The funny thing was computers were first used at department of social security in 1972. It used a code called model 204. I did y2k testing for almost 3 years up until march 2000 before I jumped ship to tax. The funny thing was model 204 was still the code used in centrelink

[Fulvio]

I remember running punch cards through a machine to pay people when I worked for dss.

Yeah, and the guy upstairs who would bring the cards down for the USB run had a little deck in his drawer he would add in and remove afterwards. The scam went on forever, until, after each higher-up who caught him added their own cards :mafia::mafia:, the deck got big enough to be picked up. The AFP raided the joint :police_badge: and carted them all off. :police_car:

The funny thing was computers were first used at department of social security in 1972. It used a code called model 204. I did y2k testing for almost 3 years up until march 2000 before I jumped ship to tax. The funny thing was model 204 was still the code used in centrelink

For those who don't know what we're talking about:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_204

This is why its broken:
http://www.businessinsider.com.au/heres-why-it-costs-500000-to-change-a-letter-on-the-ancient-centrelink-computer-system-2015-3

And here's a bit about them starting to consider thinking about a feasibility study into looking at evaluating possible replacements. Maybe even this century!
http://www.governmentnews.com.au/2015/02/thanks-a-billion-centrelinks-megasystem-overhaul-looks-primed-for-budget/

DSS was, and probably still is, the least tech-savvy place in Australia. During our training, we had to produce a report on some aspect of the system. I chose our 3420 tape drives:



And to make the work easier, I took in my TRS-80 Model II and set it up in a disused office. Everyone, from the manager down was fascinated... they were like this:



Later on, while in Canberra, I was in the control room at Health near the Mint (they were hosting our mainframe temporarily) and things got real slow while our hosts did some upgrading of their own systems. So I broke out my NEC 100 and acoustic coupler (like this minus the briefcase and printer)



to connect to a mate's network for a chat to relieve the boredom. Boy did they freak out. Within minutes I was surrounded by all the top brass and got raked over the coals for 'breaching security'. On a battery powered device and a telephone, long before WiFi was even imagined. DOH!

If only computers were alcohol. Now THAT they understood thoroughly. To the point that the pub across the road was an unofficial extension of the office, the first place you'd look if you needed someone. :dodgy:

[Bigfellani5]

When testing m204 for y2k bugs I spend 2 weeks in Canberra, 4 in Sydney and then 2 weeks home. Did this for 3 years. Out of 3 years testing we found only 2 show stopper y2k bugs. The rest was crap that paid people wrong amounts etc but not y2k related.

The system might be out of date and shithouse by today's standards but not bad for a system first implemented in the early 1970's that is still paying people today

[Fulvio]

Agreed. Times have changed, but I'm not convinced the code is any better these days.

[robbiegal]

Ok
I am confused as usual by the Rennicks cattte dog
I have just received the 26th Edition form online coins - "51st year Published"
Noting tells me the year it is for except inside the cover it has rennicks publications c 2015
So after aLL THE HASSLE WITH BUYING the THING AND THEN HAVING COURIER DELIVERY PRoBLEMS (ie being home to sign for then taking 15 minutes to make contact with the courier - eventually via internet email!!) (courier $8.50 versus Australia Post $14.50)

DO I NOT HAVE THE LATEST RENNICKS?

WE DID NOTICE THAT THE MACAS FOR 2015 ALSO DID NOT HAVE A YEAR ON THE FRONT COVER

my concern it that this rennicks book is already a year out of date?

just went to the rennicks website - the new book ORANGE COVER was released the 15th December  
VERY DISSPOINTED - won't be going back to that seller

26th Edition available Oct/Nov
Revised and Edited by Michael T Pitt
Soft Cover RACBV26 $37.50
Hard Cover RACBVHC26 $47.50

I now realise my mistake - I saw this edition information from a post from runway FROM LAST YEAR
OMG - I feel a bit silly
but I still think they are SLACK not putting a year on the cover - very deceptive

[Nevol]

I've reached the stage in my life where I literally read everything at least twice, sometimes more. My eyes play tricks on me all the time.

I try to pay close attention to post dates and times these days as I know what it's like to reply to an old post and have to wait for the penny to eventually drop and then feel like a bit of a drip.

I'm sure it happens to us all at times, so don't worry too much, but it's a bit of a bummer that you are now stuck with a book that's already out of date. :give_rose:

[robbiegal]

seller got back to me saying that the year is in the item specifics - which it is - if you read through all the item specific in the small print

so in other words - get stuffed - no suggestion to return and then buy the current edition or the like


other sellers like Peter Strich (stampeter) have the YEAR in the listing
so my seller just lost someone who has been a repeat customer and has recommended him in this forum on many occasions

[jens coins]

"online coins " says they have a 30 money back guarantee in their listing. You have to pay return postage, but if payed thru Paypal then you can claim the return postage from Paypal.

[robbiegal]

thanks Jen  
if it were me selling - I'd offer a return arrangement and purchase/swap for the new book

i might just try paypal

I've reached the stage in my life where I literally read everything at least twice, sometimes more. My eyes play tricks on me all the time.

I try to pay close attention to post dates and times these days as I know what it's like to reply to an old post and have to wait for the penny to eventually drop and then feel like a bit of a drip.

I'm sure it happens to us all at times, so don't worry too much, but it's a bit of a bummer that you are now stuck with a book that's already out of date. :give_rose:

yep and I WON'T be recommending that seller anymore

[trout]

"online coins " says they have a 30 money back guarantee in their listing. You have to pay return postage, but if payed thru Paypal then you can claim the return postage from Paypal.

Sounds like the best idea RG.
I have dealt with Old Mate in Lismore on many occasions and have had NO problems whatsoever.
Give Him a bell and sort it out over the phone and I would think that ALL will be made Good Mate :ok:
Rennics and Maccas  never put the date on their publications, Which I do think is a bit odd though :angel:

[Nevol]

This is from the front of my 2014 Maccas, and the year is also on the cover of all the ones I have since 2009. I don't think I have a 2015 one.

[trout]

I have never really looked that much at the cover So it looks like it is only the latest edition that doesn't have the year on it :blush:
I gave all my older editions away to other collectors as I got the new books :angel: