972Germany Gold pattern thaler
of Joachim Murat, 1806.
Special Strike
Estimate: 300.000 EUR

947Roman Empire
Aureus
Probus
Estimate: 60.000 EUR

773Ancient Greece
Syracuse
decadrachm by Euainetos
Estimate: 100.000 EUR

1011Belgium
Grand écu d'or
du Brabant
PCGS MS 63
Estimate: 60.000 EUR

1054Chinese Empire,
Gold pattern dollar
Special Strike
Estimate: 200.000 EUR

1753France
Napoleon I
5 franc "République"
Gold pattern
Estimate: 150.000 EUR

1808France
Charles X
Platinium medal of the coronation
Estimate: 80.000 EUR

2122Great-Britain
Charles II
Gold Broad pattern 1660 London
Proof
Estimate: 150.000 EUR

2476Russia
Nicolas I
platinum 12 roubles 1842
NGC MS 63
Estimate: 30.000 EUR

2553USA
20 $ 1921,
Philadephia
PCGS MS 63
Estimate: 100.000 EUR

People and markets

Forrer’s Dictionary is available in full on Numista!

Leonard Forrer’s numismatic encyclopaedia of medallists and mint masters is available in full on Numista and is easily searchable. Find out more about the coin dealer who compiled one of the most important encyclopaedias in numismatics.
read more at our partner SIXBID

What’s going wrong with the COTY: Letters to the editor

I would never have expected such widespread support when I wrote about the problems with the Coin of the Year Award. Here you will find the two most detailed letters to the editor, which highlight a number of additional aspects.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Forrer’s Dictionary is available in full on Numista!

Leonard Forrer’s numismatic encyclopaedia of medallists and mint masters is available in full on Numista and is easily searchable. Find out more about the coin dealer who compiled one of the most important encyclopaedias in numismatics.
read more at our partner SIXBID

What’s going wrong with the COTY: Letters to the editor

I would never have expected such widespread support when I wrote about the problems with the Coin of the Year Award. Here you will find the two most detailed letters to the editor, which highlight a number of additional aspects.
read more at our partner SIXBID







Come to think of it

What’s going wrong with the COTY? Proposals for reform

Three awards for the Austrian Mint, three for the Monnaie de Paris, and the most inspiring coin comes from Ukraine. Just like in recent years. Does this result truly reflect the market?
read more at our partner SIXBID

Report on cultural property protection

Cultural Property News laments the fact that the arguments put forward by the largest lobbying group representing the US anti-collectors’ faction – the Antiquities Coalition – are based on lies.
read more at our partner SIXBID

What’s going wrong with the COTY? Proposals for reform

Three awards for the Austrian Mint, three for the Monnaie de Paris, and the most inspiring coin comes from Ukraine. Just like in recent years. Does this result truly reflect the market?
read more at our partner SIXBID

Report on cultural property protection

Cultural Property News laments the fact that the arguments put forward by the largest lobbying group representing the US anti-collectors’ faction – the Antiquities Coalition – are based on lies.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Don’t miss a thing!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER HERE

Coins, Medals and more

More pictures of the Wesseling hoard

For several weeks now, the German daily press has been reporting that Germany’s largest (Hadrianic) hoard has been discovered near Wesseling. We enquired and received more pictures.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Lucerne, Leodegar and the largest Swiss gold coin of the 16th century

On 27 October 2026, SINCONA will present the Lake View Collection. It features spectacular Swiss coins, including a 20-fold gold guilder from the city of Lucerne dated 1557.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Archive

Maximilian: The Last Knight and / or a Bankrupt

On 3 July 2025, Künker will auction the Hermann Wohnlich Collection presenting coins and medals from Tyrol. The offer includes an impressive ensemble of representative coins of Maximilian I, which are an excellent testament to his ability to cultivate his image. The effects of this can still be felt today.

What Will Be Depicted on Croatia’s Euro Coins?

In 2023, Croatia will become the youngest member of the euro zone. The themes of Croatia’s euro coins have already been chosen – and one of them has stirred up controversy. Let’s find out how Croatia presents itself to Europe on its new coins.

Einer der Höhepunkte von Künker Auktion 395 ist eine spektakuläre Goldmedaille zu 110 Dukaten, die aus dem persönlichen Besitz von Fürst Ferdinand I. von Bulgarien stammt. Diese Medaille führt uns mitten hinein in eine Zeit, in der Bulgarien seine Wirtschaft modernisierte. Der Fürst packte dabei tatkräftig mit an. Und die Eisenbahn spielte dabei eine zentrale Rolle.

Bulgaria, Prince Ferdinand I and the Railroad

One of the highlights of Künker’s auction 395 is a spectacular gold medal with a weight of 110 ductats. It was the personal property of Prince Ferdinand I. of Bulgaria. This medal takes us back into a period when Bulgaria modernized its economy. And the railroad system played a major role in this.

Railway tunnel under Surami pass near the village Tsipa, Chkherimela valley, Georgia 2014. Image: Karel61 via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0. In front: Silver medal commemorating the opening of the Suram Tunnel in 1890 by L. Steinman. Künker auction 408, No. 234.

For Railroad Fans: The Suram Tunnel

Railroad history is linked to numismatics in many ways. Fascinating large-scale projects were often celebrated with medals and commemorative coins. Our example takes us to Georgia: A medal that will be offered for auction by Künker commemorates the opening of the Suram Tunnel.

On the road

Boston Is Getting a Museum of American Finance

Boston is opening a new Museum of American Finance: Discover rare banknotes, U.S. financial history, and interactive exhibits exploring the world of money.
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

Boston Is Getting a Museum of American Finance

Boston is opening a new Museum of American Finance: Discover rare banknotes, U.S. financial history, and interactive exhibits exploring the world of money.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Who is who

Fun

Franklin’s World:

Good to know

How do commemorative coins differ from collector coins?

For a long time, I thought the term ‘collector coin’ was a made-up term coined by uninformed mints. A collector coin is, in fact, by no means a commemorative coin.
read more at our partner SIXBID

What is a Kontorniat?

The word ‘Kontorniat’ comes from Italian and is derived from the Italian ‘contorno’ (= edge). You can find out here what cultural and historical phenomenon lies behind these numismatic objects.
read more at our partner SIXBID

Boston Is Getting a Museum of American Finance

Boston is opening a new Museum of American Finance: Discover rare banknotes, U.S. financial history, and interactive exhibits exploring the world of money.
read more at our partner SIXBID