Mr Spiderwick was a dealer who valued Albert Tatlock's coin collection when the pensioner decided to sell up in 1965. An avid collector for many years, Albert had in his possession many antique coins including a George II ha'penny and an 1869 penny worth which according to a catalogue he'd read was worth £20 alone.
Under normal circumstances, Albert would never have parted with his beloved collection, but in 1965 he went through a period of financial difficulty and decided to see what they were worth. Calling the dealer out to 1 Coronation Street, Albert watched keenly as he examined each coin with a magnifying glass and then asked Mr Spiderwick to make him an offer, before being struck dumb when the dealer responded with £2 for the lot. Spiderwick went on to explain that for coins to have any value, they had to be clear and unmarked with the inscription and date visible, but Albert's were worn almost entirely smooth; even his most valuable coin, a Maria Theresa thaler, was worth only 9/-. Albert so crushed at learning that his most prized possessions were almost worthless that he decided not to accept Mr Spiderwick's final offer of 50/- and to hang onto them for sentimental value instead.