Archive: People and Markets
These Are Japan’s New Banknotes
In April 2023, the Bank of Japan has presented the first specimens of the new banknotes, which will enter circulation in 2024. The 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen denominations will feature new motifs and new security features.
Your Tax Dollars at Work
Is the State Department funding a crusade against private ownership of cultural goods in the U.S.? Peter Tompa explains how taxpayer money was used to justify cultural property Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) or “emergency import restrictions.”
Archive: Coins, Medals and more

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.

Coin-Embedded Tableware as Part of European Dining Culture
In European castles and treasure chambers, we often come across magnificent coin-embedded vessels. These items represent wealth and knowledge. Although their roots can be traced back to the Renaissance, it was not until the bourgeoisie of the 19th century that they came into their own.











A Holey Dollar Returns to Toruń – An Update on the Torún Coin Theft
The Australian Federal Police have announced that they have helped return a Holey Dollar from the Toruń theft to the city’s regional museum. Here is the latest news on the theft of at least 194 coins, which is currently being tried in court.
The Difference Between Stamps and Coins: Not as Trivial as You’d Think!
There are times when uninformed people buy anything as long as the object in question might retain its value. Disillusionment strikes when the market situation changes. The realisation that there isn’t a market for every collectible ruined many a collecting field in the past. Ursula Kampmann urges caution.