Archive: People and Markets

Single-figure plaque, mid-sixteenth to seventeenth century, cast copper alloy, Dallas Museum of Art. Photo: Daderot via Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain.

Benin Bronzes Lawsuit Against Smithsonian

Shall all Benin bronzes be repatriated? The Restitution Study Group says no. They argue for the rights of descendants of slaves trafficked by the Benin Kingdom as you can learn from this interview by Kate Fitz Gibbon.

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The coin hoard, pot and lid. Credit: Gareth Beale.

Coin Hoard Gives Fascinating Insight Into Life Before the Glencoe Massacre

Hidden underneath a stone fireplace of a house in Glencoe, Scotland, a pot with silver coins was recently discovered. They were minted in the years shortly before the infamous Glencoe massacre of 1692. Was the person who buried these coins among the victims of the treacherous clan slaughter in the Highlands?

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Spectacular Coin Hoard Discovered in the Province of Utrecht

A hoard of 404 coins has been unearthed in the province of Utrecht. It is probably the first find on the European mainland to include both Roman and British Celtic coins. The coin find underlines the importance of the Lower Germanic Limes for the Roman invasions of Britain.

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Crowds of visitors at the Sberatel. Photo: BS.

Sberatel: The Place to Meet Czech Collectors

On 8 and 9 September 2023, the Sberatel took place in Prague. It calls itself the largest coin show in Central and Eastern Europe – and this is no exaggeration. Ursula Kampmann was there.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

The National Identity of Modern Ukraine on its Commemorative Coins

Due to tragic circumstances, all eyes are currently on Ukraine. Today, we’ll be discussing the national identity of the Ukrainian people. Using Ukraine’s commemorative coins, we’ll be looking at how the country sees itself, or rather, how it wants to be seen.
Napoleon III, painting by Alexandre Cabanel, around 1865. It was the favourite portrait of Empress Eugénie because it was the most accurate depiction of him.

French History in Coins – Part 3: A New Napoleon

Under Emperor Napoleon III, France experienced an economic upswing. The Paris cityscape was completely revamped, just as coin designs. The gold rush in the US thrust Europe’s silver money into a crisis. The answer came from France.
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