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.
Foreign Coin Production Ends at the Royal Mint – The End of an Era or Another Step Closer to a Cashless Economy?
The Royal Mint has announced that it will no longer produce coins for other countries, ending a business model that it has operated for 700 years. Michael Alexander puts this development into perspective.
Archive: Coins, Medals and more

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.

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.















Increasing Prices for German Coin Sets: Is This The End of Proof Coin Collecting?
Official coin sets – for many coin collectors, these issues are an essential part of a complete collection. The number of produced sets, however, has been diminishing significantly for years, and a huge price adjustment could now deter collectors even further.
Donald Trump: Now Also a Coin Dealer and Designer
Supporters of the Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump can now show their backing numismatically: following sneakers and trading cards, Trump has now launched a commemorative medal under the “Trump Coins” brand.