Archive: People and Markets

One of the coins seized during the police’s Operation Fantail. (Courtesy of Durham Constabulary.) Next to it, a passage from the biography of Alfred the Great written by Asser. The coin presents the prominent 9th-century ruler in a whole new light.

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.

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Only one year after winning the Saltus Award, Hanna Jelonek is honored with the 2023 Mel Wacks Judaica Art Medal Award.

The Mel Wacks Judaica Art Medal Award 2023

At FIDEM Florence 2023, the winner of the Mel Wacks Judaica Art Medal Award has been announced. The award is given for medals with Judaic, Biblical or Holy Land themes.

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Swissmint's latest collector coin is dedicated to Wind power. Background: Appolinary Kalashnikova via Unplash.

Swissmint Commemorates Wind Power

Following the issues on hydropower and solar energy, Swissmint completes its trilogy “Energy of the Future” with the new commemorative coin “Wind power.” As with its two predecessors, the silver coin glows in the dark.

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Famous Dacian Helmet Stolen – Thieves Blasted Their Way Into the Museum

On the night of 24 to 25 January, a museum in Assen, Netherlands, was targeted by thieves. They stole four important Dacian gold objects from a temporary exhibition – including the famous Coțofenești helmet. Do we have to worry about it being melted down as well?

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

VOC: The Other Side of the Dutch Golden Age

VOC coins tell the story of the Netherlands’ colonial past. The States General granted the VOC all the rights of an independent state: it could declare war, make treaties and issue its own currency. Join us on a trip to Indonesia, the place where the spices grew that financed the Dutch Golden Age.
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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