Archive: People and Markets

Goldbeater. Frontispiece from a register of creditors of a Bolognese lending society. Illuminated by Nicolò di Giacomo di Nascimbene, called Nicolò da Bologna Italy, Bologna, ca. 1394–95. The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1056, fol. 1v detail. Photography by Janny Chiu.

Medieval Money, Merchants, and Morality

The new exhibition in the Morgan Library & Museum examines the economic revolution in medieval Europe and charts the expanding role and perception of money during that period. The medieval manuscripts shown in the exhibition are truly stunning!

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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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Hideo Futahashi (†2024)

We have only now learned that Hideo Futahashi has passed away. Mr. Futahashi was a key figure for Europeans looking to gain a foothold in the Japanese coin market. He was one of those open-minded Japanese who loved introducing European coin enthusiasts to the beauty of his country.

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Royal Canadian Mint President Marie Lemay and artist Steven Rosati unveil the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III at the Mint’s facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 14, 2023.

Royal Canadian Mint Unveils New Effigy of Charles III

The Royal Canadian Mint have unveiled the new effigy which will be seen on Canadian circulation, collector and bullion coinage. The new likeness was revealed on the 75th birthday of His Majesty. Michael Alexander takes a closer look.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

The Augustean Denarius Find From Brohl-Lützing Offered at Auction

In the current auction of Solidus, the treasure find of Brohl-Lützing is on offer. The hoard of 18 denarii contains rare coinage from Pompeius to Augustus and thus takes us right into the highly exciting era of the Roman civil wars.

Royal Gold: England’s Five Guineas and the English Gold Currency

On 10 December 2024, Numismatica Genevensis will offer the most complete run of English Five Guineas ever sold at auction. The pieces are considered to be the most beautiful and the heaviest English circulation issues in gold. They were struck from 1668 to 1777, during the period when England replaced its bimetallism with the gold currency. Read on to find out more.
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