People and markets
The London Mint Office is insolvent
The London Mint Office has been in administration since 31 July 2026. Under UK law, this refers to a form of voluntary administration involving an automatic stay of payments due to insolvency.
read more at our partner SIXBID
Update on US Tariffs on Coins
And once again, President Trump has announced new tariffs. The good news is: They do not appear to affect coins and collectibles.
read more at our partner SIXBID
Come to think of it
Contemporary coins: a reflection of our times
To what extent do contemporary coins reflect our times and our sensibilities? Ursula Kampmann illustrates this using CIT’s ‘Scottish Highlands’ coin.
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
Contemporary coins: a reflection of our times
To what extent do contemporary coins reflect our times and our sensibilities? Ursula Kampmann illustrates this using CIT’s ‘Scottish Highlands’ coin.
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
Coins, Medals and more

From 10,000 to 325,000 euros: Catherine the Great dominates the auction
The Heidelberger Münzhandlung offered a 10-ruble coin of Catherine the Great at auction 92, starting at €10,000. It climbed to €325,000. We explain why, and what makes this coin so special.read more at our partner SIXBID

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
Archive
100 Yuan Lion Dance 1995: One of the Rarest Chinese Coins of Our Age
From 13 to 15 May 2024, Heidelberger Münzhandlung will hold its 88th auction sale. Among the highlights are some of the rarest contemporary issues from China, including the 100-yuan Lion Dance coin of 1995. 1,000 specimens should have been minted – but in the end, only 138 were produced.
Women on Commemorative Coins: A Long Road to True Equality
Every year, International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March—and this week, numismatists also have a reason to celebrate. On 6 March, a German 20-euro coin was issued to mark the 50th anniversary of the International Women’s Year. This coin marks the beginning of a new German commemorative coin series under the theme “Influential Women”. But does this mean that women have finally secured their place in the world of numismatics?
25 Francs in Gold: Swissmint’s New Gold Coin
Since 2022, Swissmint has been issuing 25-franc gold coins. The latest release is a tribute to the history of Swiss gold coinage, combining elements of the first 20-franc piece and the enigmatic 1955 issue, which never entered circulation. And Swissmint also has some interesting plans for the future, as Ursula Kampmann discovered.
Swissmint Patterns at Numismatica Genevensis SA
Numismatica Genevensis will offer Swissmint patterns at auction on 9 and 10 December 2024. Some of these patterns belong to a commemorative coin that will not even be released until 2025. All of these patterns are true rarities – ranging from unique to a maximum of four pieces in existence!
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
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
What is a cut bid?
Nowadays, when most bidders simply press a button on their computer, many have forgotten that, just a few decades ago, bidding was an art form. Here you can find out what psychological tricks were used in bidding and what a cut bid is.
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
















































The London Mint Office is insolvent
The London Mint Office has been in administration since 31 July 2026. Under UK law, this refers to a form of voluntary administration involving an automatic stay of payments due to insolvency.
read more at our partner SIXBID
Update on US Tariffs on Coins
And once again, President Trump has announced new tariffs. The good news is: They do not appear to affect coins and collectibles.
read more at our partner SIXBID