People and markets
Early Islamic Copper Coins
In 2025, Nikolaus Schindel published a sylloge of early Islamic copper coins following the reform of 77 AH. A book that has been very well received by specialists! It demonstrates what numismatics can be at its best.
read more at our partner SIXBID
The Coins of Gaza in Roman Times
Yoav Farhi has published the sixth volume of the *Corpus Nummorum Palaestinensium* by the Israel Numismatic Society. It is dedicated to the Roman coinage of Gaza and serves as a new standard reference work that is a must-have for anyone wishing to expertly identify coins from this city.
read more at our partner SIXBID
Come to think of it
What Is the Value of a Coin?
Ursula Kampmann presents a few extreme examples—all of which were auctioned in June 2026—and analyzes the values.
read more at our partner SIXBID
Coin Show Etiquette: How Dealers Should Conduct Themselves Toward Collectors
Don’t think that only collectors behave badly. Many of you, dear readers, have written to me about what dealers could improve in their conduct. Together, we’ll establish rules for what constitutes good behavior for a dealer at a coin show.
read more at our partner SIXBID
What Is the Value of a Coin?
Ursula Kampmann presents a few extreme examples—all of which were auctioned in June 2026—and analyzes the values.
read more at our partner SIXBID
Coin Show Etiquette: How Dealers Should Conduct Themselves Toward Collectors
Don’t think that only collectors behave badly. Many of you, dear readers, have written to me about what dealers could improve in their conduct. Together, we’ll establish rules for what constitutes good behavior for a dealer at a coin show.
read more at our partner SIXBID
Coins, Medals and more

Short-Whiskered Dragon: The dragon with the short whiskers
Heritage has valued a proof coin from the Chinese mint in Tianjin, dated 1911, at US$2 million. The proof coin is extremely rare; only three examples are known to be in private hands. More important, however, is its historical significance, as the coin symbolises the changing times in China.read more at our partner SIXBID

The Imperial Collection
On 23 June 2026, the first part of the Hohenzollern coin collection will go under the hammer. The Osnabrück-based auction house Künker will be auctioning coins and medals from the collections of the Kings of Prussia and the Emperor of Germany. We present a selection of particularly special items and explain what the coins in the collection reveal about the character of Emperor Wilhelm I.read more at our partner SIXBID
Archive
In Search of the Big Five
The Big Five – they are the stars on South Africa’s commemorative coins. We visit the elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, and leopard in their most famous reserve, the Kruger National Park. Let’s see how many of the iconic five we can capture (with the camera).
Berlin and South Africa – A Time-Honoured Connection
Did you know that the first coins of the Boer Republic came from Berlin? It was quite a challenge to create the dies because the Berlin engraver Otto Schulz had no idea of Boer identity, which is why things almost went wrong…
Charles I of Austria-Hungary: A Hapless Emperor Who Was Beatified
In the context of its Summer Auction Sales, Künker will offer the only gold coin of the last Austro-Hungarian Emperor that is available on the market. Johannes Nollé tells the story of this coin and its commissioner, who died in Madeira aged only 35.
The First Piece of Mail Sent Using a Stamp to Be Offered at Sotheby’s
A Penny Black affixed to a Mulready envelope is among the most valuable items in Philately ever offered at auction. The earliest posted envelope using a prepaid stamp, dating to 1840, will be sold at Sotheby’s with an estimate of $1.5–2.5 million.
On the road
Japan Mint: Hiroshima Branch
The Japan Mint doesn’t just produce beautiful circulation coins. It also manages the entire production process in-house, from the blank to the finished coin. This makes Japan one of the few countries that are completely self-sufficient when it comes to its circulation coins. We visited the branch of the Japan Mint in Hiroshima.
read more at our partner SIXBID
The Mercado de Monedas y Sellos on Plaza Mayor
Madrid is unique worldwide: nowhere else has hosted a coin and stamp market every Sunday for nearly a century. At around 100 stalls, collectors of all ages browse coins from ancient times to the euro.
read more at our partner SIXBID
Japan Mint: Hiroshima Branch
The Japan Mint doesn’t just produce beautiful circulation coins. It also manages the entire production process in-house, from the blank to the finished coin. This makes Japan one of the few countries that are completely self-sufficient when it comes to its circulation coins. We visited the branch of the Japan Mint in Hiroshima.
read more at our partner SIXBID
Who is who
Fun
Franklin’s World:
Good to know
Selling coins and the age-old question: How do I get the most for my coins?
Consigning items for auction requires choosing the right auction house—one that gives the collection proper attention and reaches the right buyers. Commission is often a secondary consideration.
read more at our partner SIXBID
What is provenance?
Provenance: This term plays a decisive role in the coin trade today. Provenances are worth their weight in gold. The same antique coin with a proper provenance can cost several times more than it would without provenance. So what is provenance?
read more at our partner SIXBID
Japan Mint: Hiroshima Branch
The Japan Mint doesn’t just produce beautiful circulation coins. It also manages the entire production process in-house, from the blank to the finished coin. This makes Japan one of the few countries that are completely self-sufficient when it comes to its circulation coins. We visited the branch of the Japan Mint in Hiroshima.
read more at our partner SIXBID





































Early Islamic Copper Coins
In 2025, Nikolaus Schindel published a sylloge of early Islamic copper coins following the reform of 77 AH. A book that has been very well received by specialists! It demonstrates what numismatics can be at its best.
read more at our partner SIXBID
The Coins of Gaza in Roman Times
Yoav Farhi has published the sixth volume of the *Corpus Nummorum Palaestinensium* by the Israel Numismatic Society. It is dedicated to the Roman coinage of Gaza and serves as a new standard reference work that is a must-have for anyone wishing to expertly identify coins from this city.
read more at our partner SIXBID