People and markets

CoinsWeekly is now also available in Spanish

From 1 January 2026, MünzenWoche will also be available in Spanish. We have gained an extremely committed young colleague as a partner for this.
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

CoinsWeekly is now also available in Spanish

From 1 January 2026, MünzenWoche will also be available in Spanish. We have gained an extremely committed young colleague as a partner for this.
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

Come to think of it

Paul Hollis: US Mint Director in controversial times

It’s every coin collector’s dream: a coin enthusiast becomes director of the US Mint. But dealer Paul Hollis will need diplomatic skills, as coin designs are highly controversial.
read more at our partner SIXBID

The BdDM as watchdog: More than 50,000 counterfeits exposed on eBay

Counterfeiting is a major problem, especially on online platforms. eBay is aware of this and hopes that the community will clean up its own act. The BdDM supports eBay in its fight.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Paul Hollis: US Mint Director in controversial times

It’s every coin collector’s dream: a coin enthusiast becomes director of the US Mint. But dealer Paul Hollis will need diplomatic skills, as coin designs are highly controversial.
read more at our partner SIXBID

The BdDM as watchdog: More than 50,000 counterfeits exposed on eBay

Counterfeiting is a major problem, especially on online platforms. eBay is aware of this and hopes that the community will clean up its own act. The BdDM supports eBay in its fight.
read more at our partner SIXBID

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Coins, Medals and more

750,000 CHF for the First Sovereign

A royal edict of October 28, 1489, introduced the sovereign, a new English gold coin. A premier first-generation example has just sold at auction for 750,000 CHF.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Kill the profiteers!

In the 19th century, the German Peasants' War was seen as purely religious, while communists stressed its economic causes—an interpretation now considered correct.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Archive

Swissmint, a Mint of Records

Swiss numismatics is full of surprises, rarities and exciting stories. We have compiled a little overview of national and international records for you.

The Casa de la Moneda Museum in Madrid

Are you interested in coins of Spain and the Hispanic world? Then we have an important address for you: the Museum of the Casa de la Moneda in Madrid, which is located on the premises of the Spanish mint.

Gaius Iulius Vindex. Denar, zwischen März und Mai 68, Vienne(?). Äußerst selten. Vorzüglich. Taxe: 1.500 Euro. Aus Auktion Heidelberger Münzhandlung 89 (12. November 2024), Nr. 113. Hintergrund: Büste Neros, im Kapitolnischen Museum in Rom (cjh1452000 - CC BY-SA 3.0) und Büste Galbas im Stockholmer Schloss (Wolfgang Sauber / CC BY-SA 3.0).

The Roman Civil War of 68/9: The Prelude to the Year of the Four Emperors

Heidelberger Münzhandlung will offer a series of coins of impeccable quality struck during the Roman Civil War at its auction on 12 and 13 November 2024. We take advantage of this opportunity to examine the historical background of these issues, going back to a time when counter-emperors did not (yet) dare to put their portrait on coins.

Sotheby’s, The One (2nd February 2024), lot 8: The 2nd May 1840 Penny Black Cover. Estimate: $1,500,000 – $2,500,000.

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

Where Minting of Commemorative Coins was Revolutionized

Have you noticed that most of our commemorative coins today have a much higher relief than they used to? Find out why here.
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

Where Minting of Commemorative Coins was Revolutionized

Have you noticed that most of our commemorative coins today have a much higher relief than they used to? Find out why here.
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

Where Minting of Commemorative Coins was Revolutionized

Have you noticed that most of our commemorative coins today have a much higher relief than they used to? Find out why here.
read more at our partner SIXBID