People and markets

Phil Skingley (1972-2026)

Philip Skingley was the epitome of a British gentleman—always polite and friendly, a tireless, knowledgeable numismatist who shunned the limelight. He died unexpectedly on February 4, 2026.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Podcast Greysheet at the World Money Fair 2026

Since last year, the Greysheet Podcast has been bringing American investors and European numismatics closer together. John Feigenbaum and Ursula Kampmann report live from the World Money Fair.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Phil Skingley (1972-2026)

Philip Skingley was the epitome of a British gentleman—always polite and friendly, a tireless, knowledgeable numismatist who shunned the limelight. He died unexpectedly on February 4, 2026.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Podcast Greysheet at the World Money Fair 2026

Since last year, the Greysheet Podcast has been bringing American investors and European numismatics closer together. John Feigenbaum and Ursula Kampmann report live from the World Money Fair.
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

French History in Coins – Part 3: A New Napoleon

Under Emperor Napoleon III, France experienced an economic upswing. The Paris cityscape was completely revamped, just as coin designs. The gold rush in the US thrust Europe’s silver money into a crisis. The answer came from France.

Gustav III: A Conservative Revolutionary

On 20 June 2023, Künker will auction off medals that the Swedish King Gustav III himself gave as a present to the young Peter Frederick Augustus of Oldenburg. These medals are a testament to the policies of the king who was shot dead at a masked ball in 1792.

Image detail from “The last viaduct before entering the Trieste railway station”, image: SLUB Dresden. Public Domain Mark 1.0. PPN 337170053. In front: Double vereinstaler 1857. From Auction Künker 308, No. 471.

A Commemorative Coin Celebrating the Completion of Austria’s Southern Railway

Commemorative coins were issued far less frequently in the 19th century than today. The fact that Emperor Franz Joseph dedicated a commemorative coin to the Austrian Southern Railway is therefore testimony to the outstanding importance of this line. In auction 408, Künker is offering two of only 1,644 specimens minted.

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.

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