Archive: People and Markets
CIT’s Lily Pad – Dragonfly
A dragonfly on a lily pad: CIT and B. H. Mayer use state-of-the-art minting technology to capture nature’s beauty in an awe-inspiring way.
Euro Counterfeits: Fraudsters Increasingly Target Commemorative Coins
The number of counterfeit euro coins surged dramatically in 2023, with €2 coins—particularly commemorative issues—being the primary targets. Counterfeiters are employing increasingly sophisticated techniques, while investigators are analysing new varieties to track down illegal minting operations.
Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Gustav III: A Conservative Revolutionary
On 20 June 2023, Künker will auction off medals that the Swedish King Gustav III himself gave as a present to the young Peter Frederick Augustus of Oldenburg. These medals are a testament to the policies of the king who was shot dead at a masked ball in 1792.

The Great Elector, Taxes and the Rise of Prussia
On 1 February 2024, the Künker auction house will hold its 400th auction sale. Among the 770 lots are very rare issues from the reign of Frederick William of Brandenburg-Prussia. They bear witness to the achievements of the Great Elector, who brought prosperity to a realm devastated by the Thirty Years’ War.
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.
CIT’s Daydreamer – Adventure
CIT’s “Daydreamer” coins pull aside the curtain between worlds. In 2022, a man looked to the future, in the second issue a little boy looks to the past. The love of escaping the world in a daydream with state-of-the-art smartminting® technology.