Who Was Frederick the Wise?

We all think we know him: Frederick the Wise who hid Luther at Wartburg Castle to protect him from imperial reprisals. As part of the Köhlmoos Collection, Künker will offer some coins featuring his portrait on 26 January 2022 that help us look beyond the myth.

From Lira to Euro. Italy’s History in Coins – Part 7: The Church and Fascism

In 1929, the Vatican and Italy signed the Lateran Treaty. This international agreement was the ultimate accolade for Mussolini. The Duce dreamed of an Italian empire in Africa and around the Mediterranean Sea. However, this dream turned into a nightmare.

From Lira to Euro. Italy’s History in Coins – Part 6: The Invention of Fascism

After the First World War, Italy suffered from frustrated nationalism and inflation. The left-wing journalist Benito Mussolini made use of this environment. He switched sides and, within a few years, seized power by force and ended up at the top of a fascist dictatorship.

From Lira to Euro. Italy’s History in Coins – Part 5: South Italy and the Mafia

When the big landowners in South Italy started to spend an increasing amount of time away from their estates, a phenomenon emerged that still plagues Italy today: the mafia. Since the unification of Italy, organized crime has exerted massive influence on politics.

How to Collect 2 Euro Commemorative Coins from Italy

Italian 2 euro commemorative coins are hardly ever found in circulation. And you should be careful regarding the secondary market: there are a lot of dubious offers. Don’t worry, with the tips of our expert numiscontrol, you can master this field!

Heavy Gold Coins – A Special Gift for Special People

Have you ever wondered why there were so many large gold coins weighing several ducats in the early modern period? We’ll show you with the help of some spectacular examples from the upcoming Numismatica Genevensis auction.

A New Pattern from Germany of the Yunnan Dragon Dollar

Heidelberger Münzhandlung presents a new testimony to the active cooperation between China and Germany: a pattern of the Dragon Dollar for Yunnan, produced with German minting presses.

Gold, Silver, the Morgan Dollar and the Rarest Silver Crown of the Latin Monetary Union

On 16 November 2021, Numismatica Genevensis will be auctioning a very important rarity: 5 francs, 1886 – the rarest silver crown of the Latin Monetary Union. Produced around the same time as the Morgan dollar, its rareness also shares the same economic and historical background: the overproduction of silver in the American town of Virginia City, Nevada.

Is the Most Expensive Coin in the World Even a Coin?

Only a few physical coins from the early stages of the digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin exist. One has now resurfaced after ten years. Current BTC value: US $48 million. Which makes it the most valuable numismatic item of all time.

Nudes at the Time of the French Third Republic

Medals reflect contemporary history, as demonstrated by the W. Risse Collection ‘Nuditas in nummis’. Johannes Nollé reveals the connection between the art of the 19th century and the plaques produced by French medallists from 1870 to 1940.