Archive: People and Markets
Your Tax Dollars at Work
Is the State Department funding a crusade against private ownership of cultural goods in the U.S.? Peter Tompa explains how taxpayer money was used to justify cultural property Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) or “emergency import restrictions.”
Change Of Leadership at the American Numismatic Society
Gilles Bransbourg will be stepping down from his position as ANS Executive Director in September 2024. Dr. Ute Wartenberg Kagan, currently President of the ANS, will return to this position, which she previously held from 1999 through 2019.
Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Coin-Embedded Tableware as Part of European Dining Culture
In European castles and treasure chambers, we often come across magnificent coin-embedded vessels. These items represent wealth and knowledge. Although their roots can be traced back to the Renaissance, it was not until the bourgeoisie of the 19th century that they came into their own.

The Wedding of a Century in Saxony
In the days of absolutism, a feast was not simply a gathering of friends and family. It was a political means of propagating one’s status. That is exactly what Augustus the Strong did in 1719. His son’s wedding was nothing but a welcome occasion.











Successful IAPN Congress in San Francisco
In May, the 72 annual Congress of the IAPN took place in San Francisco. Read here who won the prestigious IAPN book awards this year!
How Two Fraudsters Almost Changed England’s History
Two English metal detectorists attempted to sell off some illegally excavated coins. In a police operation straight out of a movie, the pair were caught and have now been sentenced. The seized coins present England’s King Alfred the Great in a totally different light.