Archive: People and Markets

John Highfill († 15 June 2025)

Tulsa, Oklahoma rare coin dealer John Highfill, founder of the National Silver Dollar Roundtable and author of a landmark 1,200-page reference book, The Comprehensive U.S. Silver Dollar Encyclopedia, passed away on June 15, 2025. He was 82.

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Sophisticated Coloring in combination withan Ultra High Relief makes the coin motif particularly lively.

CIT’s Lily Pad – Dragonfly

A dragonfly on a lily pad: CIT and B. H. Mayer use state-of-the-art minting technology to capture nature’s beauty in an awe-inspiring way.

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From a Collector’s Market to an Investor’s Market: Reasons, Consequences, Opportunities, Part 1

Complaining is of no use: change is coming, or may already be here. The question is how to deal with it. In order to develop smart strategies, one must be aware of what is actually happening and why. Ursula Kampmann summarizes the most important changes in the coin world in a loose series. Today: the shift from a collector to an investor market.

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Peter Ilisch (1947–2023). Photo: Verein der Münzfreunde für Westfalen und Nachbargebiete e. V., Axel Obdenbusch.

Peter Ilisch (1947–2023)

Peter Ilisch passed away on 29 May 2023. The former curator in Münster specialised in medieval and early modern Westphalia. As an obituary, we publish the speech of Stefan Kötz, who paid tribute to his predecessor in office at the funeral service.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Franz Joseph und Sisi, gemalt von Franz Xaver Winterhalter. Davor Rückseite der Hochzeitsmedaille aus dem offiziellen Erinnerungs-Set, aus Auktion Künker 415 (28. Oktober 2024), Nr. 361.

Sisi and Franz: Commemorating the Dream Wedding that Was Actually a Nightmare

As part of the phaleristic auction 415 on 28 October 2024, Künker will be auctioning the set of gold medals that Emperor Franz Joseph presented to his father-in-law, Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria. It is the numismatic souvenir of a wedding that turned out to be a nightmare for his daughter – young Elisabeth, who is better known as Sissi or Sisi today.
Naval battle near Elseneur. Painting by Peter van de Velde. Coin: Netherlands / Holland and West Frisia. Pattern for the 1670 scheepjesschelling. Very rare. Very fine. Estimate: 200 euros. From Künker 414 (27/28 September), No. 4447.

Bloody Flag and Scheepjesschelling

On 27 and 28 September 2024, Künker will auction off part 2 of the Beuth Collection with Dutch coins in collaboration with Laurens Schulman. This important collection includes numerous rarities. But it also contains affordable coins with two-digit estimates that are just as fascinating as their unique and extremely rare counterparts, as we will prove in this article.
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