Archive: People and Markets
The Cape Mint: The Oldest Private Mint in South Africa
Did you think the South African Mint was the only mint in South Africa? That’s not true. In the heart of Cape Town, a small private mint fulfills all customer needs. I was privileged to visit the Cape Mint and met people there who take great pride in their work.
Dr. Albert J. Beck (1935-2024)
Dr. Albert (“Al”) J. Beck passed on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Our friends from Stephen Album Rare Coins shared this obituary for their colleague with us.
Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Planchet Error, Overstrike, Double-Strike, Etc.: Which Errors Affect the Price of a Coin? – Part 1
The price of a coin does not only depend on its rarity and grade. There are many things that can affect a specimen’s value in a positive or negative way. This overview will help you to understand common terms, to use them confidently and to understand them in their context.

Why Neuchâtel Is Not Part of France Today
It was a close call – Louis XIV would certainly have swallowed up Neuchâtel in today’s Switzerland if it had not been for Marie de Nemours’ fierce insistence on her rights. We explain the political situation and introduce you to the princess and her coinage. All the pieces shown come from the Bürki Collection and will be on offer in SINCONA’s Auction 95 on 24 October 2024.










A New Member to Join the SINCONA Team: Michael Otto
The SINCONA team is excited to welcome a new member. As of 1 January 2025, Michael Otto is working at the SINCONA Group’s headquarters in Zurich. He is looking forward to taking over the position as Head of Numismatics.
The Royal Coin Cabinet in Stockholm is going to be closed and stripped down
The Swedish national museum of economy is going to be closed down. This entails the relocation of the Royal Coin Cabinet and its notable library. At this point, no one knows where, when or how the coins and books will be available again. Harald Nilsson reports.