Archive: People and Markets
PNG Advisory: No, You Don’t Have A $124 Million Penny
Recent online stories about pennies allegedly worth $124 million and billion-dollar 1976 Bicentennial quarter dollars are either false or grossly misleading, advises the Professional Numismatists Guild.
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

Bulgaria, Prince Ferdinand I and the Railroad
One of the highlights of Künker’s auction 395 is a spectacular gold medal with a weight of 110 ductats. It was the personal property of Prince Ferdinand I. of Bulgaria. This medal takes us back into a period when Bulgaria modernized its economy. And the railroad system played a major role in this.

25 Francs in Gold: Swissmint’s New Gold Coin
Since 2022, Swissmint has been issuing 25-franc gold coins. The latest release is a tribute to the history of Swiss gold coinage, combining elements of the first 20-franc piece and the enigmatic 1955 issue, which never entered circulation. And Swissmint also has some interesting plans for the future, as Ursula Kampmann discovered.
Certified Collectibles Group to Acquire James Spence Authentication
Certified Collectibles Group acquires the leading autograph authentication firm James Spence Authentication.
NGC Promotes Ben Wengel to Senior Vice President of World Coin Grading
NGC promoted Ben Wengel to Senior Vice President of World Coin Grading. The expert for coin counterfeit detection has worked for NGC since his time as a university student.