Archive: People and Markets

Gilded silver plate, Iran or Afghanistan, probably Parthian or Early Sasanian, probably 2nd–3rd century. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

“Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece” at the British Museum

Over centuries the Persian empire and the Greeks had many conflicts. But nevertheless they influenced each other in many ways, as coins and works of art document. A major exhibition at the British Museum explores the relationship between luxury and power in this time.

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Beautiful Stockholm. Image: Brorsson – CC BY-SA 3.0.

Register Now for the 30th Annual ICOMON Conference

The Economy Museum in Stockholm will host this year’s conference of the International Committee for Money and Banking Museums (ICOMON) on 25-28 September 2024. The registration is now open and the preliminary program is available online.

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Die Basilika von Aquileia gehört zum UNESCO Weltkulturerbe Foto: KW

Aquileia: A Centre of the Late Roman Empire

Under the Tetrarchs, Rome lost its position as the main residence of the emperor. Other sites with a more favourable strategic location took over this role. One of them was Aquileia. Those who visit the city today will find traces of Roman civilisation everywhere. Join Ursula Kampmann on her numismatic discovery tour!

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Das Minerva Magazin stellt Veröffentlichungen mit Juli-August Ausgabe ein. Foto: Annie Spratt.

Minerva Magazine Ceased Publishing

The archaeological journal Minerva, founded in 1990, will discontinue its service with its last issue in July/August 2023. The reason for this, it says, are the lingering effects of the pandemic and increased costs. The last issue can be downloaded for free.

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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.
Christian IV. 4 Speciedaler 1624, Kopenhagen. From Auction Künker 408 (18.-19. June 2024), No. 14. Background: Christian IV of Denmark and Norway. Bust at Rosenborg Castle / Copenhagen. Photo: UK.

400 Years Ago – The Founding of Kongsberg

On 2 May 1624, Christian IV of Denmark and Norway founded the mining town of Kongsberg. A series of coins to be offered in the upcoming Künker sale tells us of the hopes that the ruler placed in the silver from these mines.
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