Archive: People and Markets

How the Romans Made Counterfeits

Counterfeits have been around in ancient Roman times, too – usually, they were cast from a copper-tin alloy. Researchers at the University of Tübingen examined the counterfeiting process and reconstructed it experimentally. A video documents their experiment.

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A ‘reverse proof’ commemorative issue – this is the coin all 2-euro collectors wanted to have, but even those who paid for it could not get their hands on the coin. Photo: Monnaie de Paris

Monnaie de Paris Faces Criticism from Enthusiastic Collectors

As athletes around the world prepare to deliver top performances at the Olympic Games, the Monnaie de Paris – France’s prestigious mint – has disqualified itself in the eyes of many collectors for unsporting behaviour. What happened?

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New Collector Coin by Swissmint: St. Nicholas

Christmas spirit at the Swissmint: on 27 November 2024, the latest swiss silver coin, St. Nicholas, was issued in honor of the traditional St. Nicholas processions on 6 December.

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The design of the 2-euro coin commemorating the 35th anniversary of German reunification is causing debates. Artist of the coin's obverse: Thomas Serres (Hattingen), artist of the reverse: Luc Luycx (Belgium), photographer: Hans-Joachim Wuthenow (Berlin).

Two-Euro Ticker: New 2-Euro Coins in September 2024

The Federal Republic is once again stirring up the collector world with two surprising announcements. Additionally, San Marino, Slovakia, and Latvia are delighting collectors with new designs.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

The Birth of the Krugerrand

The South African Krugerrand is the world’s oldest bullion coin. When it was first minted in 1967, the concept of producing a coin that matched the weight of an investment unit – one ounce – was both new and innovative. Learn more about the economic background and the meaning of its design here.
A map of the Duchy of Jülich-Berg by Willem and Joan Blaeu, 1645 and the reverse of the newly discovered denomination of a 6 Albus light of 1640.

A Discovery From Jülich-Berg

New coin varieties are not so uncommon, but a new denomination really is. Joachim Stollhoff has found a 6 Albus light of the Duchy of Jülich-Berg minted in 1640. The coin will be offered in the forthcoming auction of Münzen & Medaillen GmbH.
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