History Lesson
In 1991, we were involved in litigation with our ex-colleague Alan Holloway. I telephoned Spink and asked Mark about some coins which our company owned. Within 24 or 48 hours, we received letters from Holloway's solicitor recounting the contents of the telephone conversation. We make the strong presumption that Mark had not conferred with fellow Spink directors or its board, and that he had acted on his own initiative by telephoning Holloway and relaying the contents of our conversation. This is a clear breach of client confidentiality, and as such is ethically questionable.

Special Relationship?
What puzzles us slightly is why Mark would do this. We find ask ourselves asking the question "Was there some special relationship between Mark Rasmussen and Alan Holloway?". If so, why, and what was it?

Confidentiality Assured
In 2001, Mark left Spink and set up on his own. Naturally he applied to join the BNTA. I can remember receiving a standard letter from the BNTA membership committee asking for comments on the proposed new members application. I did think at the time that I should have drawn the BNTA's attention to the above incident. I now regret that I did not do so. It would not have been necessary for us to attempt to veto his membership, but at least to bring the matter into the open, and possibly receive an apology or explanation from Mark.
Shortly afterwards, we saw one of his adverts in which he states "Confidentiality Assured"!

Mark Rasmussen P.O. Box 42, Betchworth, Surrey, RH3 7YR • Telephone:

I started my new career as an independent dealer at the start of 2001 having left Spink and Son after 32 years. Some of you may know little about me, I started as office junior with Spink and Son in 1967, dealing initially with 20th Century coinage, banknotes and bullion coins, graduating to running the milled coin section on the second floor, then world coins and medallions. I was made an Associate in 1985 and become a Director of the company in 1993. I was privileged to catalogue many a fine collection over the years, H E Manville, Lord Hamilton, Norweb and Selig Pt. II to name but a few. I am a member of the BNTA, a past council member and a previous chairman, a past council member of the IAPN, and a member of the ANA since1980. As from 2004 I am now as an independent dealer a member of the IAPN (The International Association of Professional Numismatists). I mainly deal in coins of the British Isles and Ireland from Celtic to the twentieth century. I publish a lavishly illustrated list, which reaches many of you who live abroad; too far from the metropolis or your nearest coin shop. I am hoping to produce this four times a year but this may vary. It will then be published on the Web two weeks after posting the printed edition. Having been involved in cataloguing coins for so many years it is something from which I get great deal of pleasure. I hope you find something of interest and enjoy the product. My business is entirely mail order and my stock is kept in my bank vaults, so please be patient when awaiting your order. It usually takes up to seven working days to deliver by Special Delivery. I want my customers to be pleased with their purchase, and if not entirely happy to be able to return it. Those of you that I have known for years have been extremely supportive in a variety of ways. I hope I can provide the service you require in return and look forward to helping and advising you and new clients over the years to come....

BNTA Members, Ethics, & Failures

More to follow...

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