XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 17

SICCA

1.  J. Hardie Kier (Galashiels): The newer coin of the two a canny Scot mak’s sure of (sicca(R); R = rupee; newly minted coin).

2.  H. T. R. Twyford (Sheffield): Rs. 1; but you may add another r to make sure (sicca(r); Rs = rupees).

3.  S. B. Green (NW10): Scotch firm loses rupee—so Chartered Accountant employed, and rupee discovered! (sicca(R), sic CA).

H.C.

S. S. Blythe (Rotherham): 6 – X + 200 + a = 180 grains troy weìght (appx.) (si(x) CC a; weight of sicca rupee).

T. Carter (Newcastle): A coin even a Scot can’t make sure of (sicca(r)).

A. C. Foskett (Bognor): Basic Canadian contains at least one newly-coined word! (hidden).

Mrs N. J. Griffin (Cowdenbeath): A rupee? The bill is mounting! (acc. is (rev.)).

Sjt K. J. Harding (Carshalton): The coin is surely short of a king’s head (siccar less R(ex)).

C. Helme (Southsea): As elsewhere, in India a Scot’s almost certain to make money (sicca(r)).

Gnr C. Herzig (Redcar): Even the dry parts of that old classic Caesar Book V. are worth two bob (India paper) (hidden, 2 defs.; sicca (L.) = dry).

Sqn Ldr H. M. Jamieson (Duns): It has just received the official stamp, so back the bill (sic + ac. (rev.); newly minted coin).

J. W. Keith (Carnoustie): A chip of a new block—as the Hindu might say (cryptic def.; chip slang for rupee; newly minted coin).

W. L. Marshall (Preston): An integrant of geodesic calculus = 192 π (hidden; sicca rupee = 192 pies).

R. J. Munnings (Welwyn): 200 settled in the best part of Siam on one rupee (CC in Sia(m)).

A. I. Oldaker (N21): If French account rises rupee goes down. (It sounds worse already!) (si (Fr.) + acc. (rev.), ‘sicker’).

J. A. Plowman (Lane End): The rupee is lower by the sound of it—so my accountant says (‘sicker’, sic CA).

G. W. Pugh (Ferndown): To be sure, it should be a little longer, but it’s fresh and bright and will pass (sicca(r); newly minted coin).

J. H. Quincey (Oxford): Just issued from the classic case of oriental numismatics (hidden).

R. C. Shorter (Leyburn): “Almost sairtainly one and saxpence” sae said the Accountant (sicca(r), sic + CA; value of sicca rupee; sic, sae = so).

W. J. Swords (Plymouth): In Poona Tommy calls it a chip, but not of the old block! (cryptic def.; chip slang for rupee; newly minted coin).

Capt C. Tyers, RN (Eastbourne): No Scotsman can ever make quite sure of this bit of siller (sicca(r)).

Comments—on so large a number must be short. An exceptionally strong entry, very hard to judge: many more were very close up. It is hoped that the powerful Scots contingent will pardon a Londoner his Scotch!