Archive: People and Markets

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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The exhibition “The Other Side of the Coin” will be on view until July 23, 2023.

50 Years of Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection: “The Other Side of the Coin”

50 years ago the Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection was created. Now, an anniversary exhibition in Athens presents 150 coins from the collection illustrating “The Other Side of the Coin”: coins as means of communication and objects of art.

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Between Tradition and the Demands of a New Economic World

The 32nd Mint Directors Conference took place in Cape Town from April 27th to 29th, 2025. It was the highlight of my numismatic journey through South Africa. In an international context, South Africa presented itself as a promising country of (numismatic) opportunities.

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Berkshire Coin Hoard. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

2022 Biggest Year for Treasure Finds in the UK

Earlier this year, the British Museum launched the latest Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) Annual Report. This showed that in 2022, over 50,000 archaeological finds were recorded, including 1,378 Treasure cases – the highest ever reported in a single year. See some of the highlights here.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Maria Theresa and Her Persecution of Jews

On 18 December 1744, Maria Theresa adopted a decree that expelled 40,000 Bohemian Jews from their homeland. A medal testifies to the fact that she had to revoke the decree due to financial and diplomatic pressure. The time of Jewish persecution was over for the time being – that is, until the genocide of the Jews in the 20th century.

Coloured Metal from Austria: Niobium Coins

In 2003, the Austrian Mint introduced a new metal with exciting characteristics to the world of coins: niobium. The beginning of a success story.
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