Estimate: 2.000.000 CHFTHE FIRST 100 ESCUDOS EVER STRUCK.
Spain.
Philip III,
100 Escudos 1609,
Segovia.
Unique.314
Estimate: 100.000 CHFTHE FINEST PORTRAIT OF CLEOPATRA.
Roman Republic.
Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony,
Tetradrachm 36 BC,
Antioch on the Orontes.152
Estimate: 300.000 CHFRoman Empire.
Augustus,
Aureus circa 27 BC-15 CE,
Pergamon (?).153
Estimate: 500.000 CHFMexico.
Philip V,
8 Escudos 1729/7,
Mexico.
NGC MS65 (Top pop).300
Estimate: 500.000 CHFTHE FIRST GOLD SOVEREIGN IN HISTORY.
Great Britain.
Henry VII,
Gold Sovereign,
type I, Cross Fitchee, n. d. (1492),
Tower mint.231
Estimate: 100.000 CHFIslamic World.
Temp. 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan,
Solidus
AH 72-74.184
Estimate: 70.000 CHFItaly, Ferrara.
Alfonso I d'Este,
2 Ducats n. d.,
Ferrara.289
Estimate: 200.000 CHFTauric Chersonese.
Pantikapaion,
Gold Stater
circa 380-370 BC.72
Estimate: 3.000 CHFSarawak.
Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke,
50 Cents 1906,
Birmingham (Heaton).
NGC SP66 (Highest grade).1166
Estimate: 1.000 CHFUSA.
50 Cents 1795,
Philadelphia.1420

Archive: People and Markets

The “Great Kentucky Hoard” before the conservation and encapsulation.

The Great Kentucky Hoard of Pre-1865 US Gold Coinage

A cache of rare Civil War-era coins unearthed in Kentucky includes the finest-known 1863 Double Eagles as well as several interesting varieties and errors.

Read more

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.

Read more

Bulgaria Will Adopt the Euro in 2026

The euro area is expanding: On June 4, 2025, the European Central Bank confirmed that Bulgaria meets the requirements for joining the eurozone. This clears the way for the introduction of the euro on January 1, 2026 – provided that preparations can be completed in time.

Read more
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (in the centre) is the tallest building in Harare. Photo: Baynham Goredema from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0

Zimbabwe Issues Digital Gold Tokens for Investors

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe offers Gold-backed digital tokens for investment. The offer closed on 10 May 2023.

Read more

Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Only 138 out of the planned 1,000 pieces were minted. This makes the Lion Dance a highly contested collector’s coin!

100 Yuan Lion Dance 1995: One of the Rarest Chinese Coins of Our Age

From 13 to 15 May 2024, Heidelberger Münzhandlung will hold its 88th auction sale. Among the highlights are some of the rarest contemporary issues from China, including the 100-yuan Lion Dance coin of 1995. 1,000 specimens should have been minted – but in the end, only 138 were produced.
Sotheby’s, The One (2nd February 2024), lot 8: The 2nd May 1840 Penny Black Cover. Estimate: $1,500,000 – $2,500,000.

The First Piece of Mail Sent Using a Stamp to Be Offered at Sotheby’s

A Penny Black affixed to a Mulready envelope is among the most valuable items in Philately ever offered at auction. The earliest posted envelope using a prepaid stamp, dating to 1840, will be sold at Sotheby’s with an estimate of $1.5–2.5 million.
Search Search