Convict Paul Manning tried to con the Royal Mint out of gold coins by ordering them under a false name when he was still in Lewes prison.

The Mint's mail-order service initially agreed to sell him the coins but stopped the deal when it was realised Manning was trying a scam.

The story had a happy ending for Manning, who only got probation after pleading guilty in court, and for the rest of us who now know there's one Mint that hasn't got a hole in it.