People and markets

Lucien Birkler, †2025

Lucien Birkler passed away on December 22, 2025, and was once one of the most renowned coin dealers in the United States. We have lost a man who loved coins, collectors, and the coin trade.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Stumbling block for Philipp Lederer

On the initiative of the Berlin Coin Cabinet, a Stolperstein was laid in front of Philipp Lederer’s former coin shop in Berlin. Commemorating an important German numismatist and coin dealer.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Lucien Birkler, †2025

Lucien Birkler passed away on December 22, 2025, and was once one of the most renowned coin dealers in the United States. We have lost a man who loved coins, collectors, and the coin trade.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Stumbling block for Philipp Lederer

On the initiative of the Berlin Coin Cabinet, a Stolperstein was laid in front of Philipp Lederer’s former coin shop in Berlin. Commemorating an important German numismatist and coin dealer.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Come to think of it

Investing in coins? Yes, but which ones?

You can collect coins out of passion. But you can also collect them to build up a financial cushion. What do you need to bear in mind to ensure that coins not only bring you joy, but also as security?
read more at our partner SIXBID

Are these raids changing the debate on cultural property protection?

It is a terrible thought: irreplaceable cultural assets are destroyed so that their components can be sold. This brings home to us that cultural assets have not only historical value, but also material value. Could this realisation change the debate on the protection of cultural assets?
read more at our partner SIXBID

Investing in coins? Yes, but which ones?

You can collect coins out of passion. But you can also collect them to build up a financial cushion. What do you need to bear in mind to ensure that coins not only bring you joy, but also as security?
read more at our partner SIXBID

Are these raids changing the debate on cultural property protection?

It is a terrible thought: irreplaceable cultural assets are destroyed so that their components can be sold. This brings home to us that cultural assets have not only historical value, but also material value. Could this realisation change the debate on the protection of cultural assets?
read more at our partner SIXBID

Don’t miss a thing!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER HERE

Coins, Medals and more

Assassination in the sacred sphere: the Pazzi conspiracy

Political assassins have always used sacred spaces to carry out their attacks. Immersed in prayer, the faithful are easy targets. A remarkable Renaissance medal tells the story of an assassination.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Archive

A Medal Made by Dürer as the Official Gift of the City of Nuremberg for Charles V

On 29 January 2025, auction house Künker will be auctioning an object of major art-historical importance in Berlin: the very Albrecht Dürer himself had been commissioned by the Nuremberg City Council to create the dies for medals that were to be officially handed to Charles V during his entry into the city in 1521.

Marks and Pfennigs in Your Inheritance: What Should Heirs Do with Old DM Coins?

When dealing with inheritances, it’s common for heirs to come across coins from the Deutsche Mark era –often, these Pfennigs and Marks can feel overwhelming. However, heading straight to the Bundesbank, where nearly all DM coins can be exchanged indefinitely, isn’t always the best option.

Mit dieser Münze stimmt etwas nicht! Bild: NGC. Gemälde im Hintergrund: Eduard Gaertner, Unter den Linden, 1852

Counterfeit Detection: Altered Prussia 20 Mark

An NGC expert gives us insight into his everyday life. He shows how the year on a coin from the German Empire was altered by a coin doctor.

Naval battle near Elseneur. Painting by Peter van de Velde. Coin: Netherlands / Holland and West Frisia. Pattern for the 1670 scheepjesschelling. Very rare. Very fine. Estimate: 200 euros. From Künker 414 (27/28 September), No. 4447.

Bloody Flag and Scheepjesschelling

On 27 and 28 September 2024, Künker will auction off part 2 of the Beuth Collection with Dutch coins in collaboration with Laurens Schulman. This important collection includes numerous rarities. But it also contains affordable coins with two-digit estimates that are just as fascinating as their unique and extremely rare counterparts, as we will prove in this article.

On the road

A visit to Heritage Auctions

Join us as we delve into the world of Heritage Auctions – the world’s largest auction house, where rare treasures, exciting stories and records are just a hammer blow away.
read more at our partner SIXBID

US Mint: Denver Branch

There are few government mints that are open to visitors. One of them is the Denver Mint, where American currency is produced. What impact is current US policy having there? We investigated on site.
read more at our partner SIXBID

A visit to Heritage Auctions

Join us as we delve into the world of Heritage Auctions – the world’s largest auction house, where rare treasures, exciting stories and records are just a hammer blow away.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Who is who

Fun

Franklin’s World:

Good to know

What is an estimate?

Do today’s coin dealers have no idea about the value of a coin? Or why is it that their estimates have nothing to do with the surcharges? Ursula Kampmann explains.
read more at our partner SIXBID

What is money?

What exactly is money? It seems obvious. There are coins, banknotes, credit cards – wait, a credit card isn’t money, it’s just a means of transferring money, just like a cheque or an early modern bill of exchange. So what is it then? What functions must money fulfil in order to function as money?
read more at our partner SIXBID

A visit to Heritage Auctions

Join us as we delve into the world of Heritage Auctions – the world’s largest auction house, where rare treasures, exciting stories and records are just a hammer blow away.
read more at our partner SIXBID