Archive: People and Markets

Detail des rekonstruierten römischen Verteidigungsrings um Alesia. Foto: KW.

A Visit to Alesia

Alesia is part of France’s national heritage; it is where Vercingetorix lost the decisive battle against Caesar. Time and again, French politicians have been inspired by this defeat. It fuelled their will to resist and motivated France to cooperate with victorious powers. This also affected the place itself, which Ursula Kampmann visited.

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This medal from 2008 commemorates Wacks’ 70th birthday and the 40th anniversary of the Jewish-American Hall of Fame.

Jewish-American Hall of Fame Medal Series Ends after 54 Years

All good things must come to an end, even the longest-running medal series in the United States: Mel Wacks, Director of the Jewish-American Hall of Fame, has announced that the series about important Jewish Americans will not be continued.

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View of the exhibition. © Ruedi Habegger, Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig.

Major Exhibition on the Iberians in Basel

A major exhibition on the Iberian peoples is currently on display at the Antikenmuseum Basel. In cooperation with the Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya, over 260 important exhibits from the European Iron Age are on display.

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Bernt Ahlström circa 1980. Photo: Family Archive.

Bernt Ahlström (1936-2019)

You will hardly find a dealer in the numismatic world who is completely unfamiliar with the name Bernt Ahlstrom. On the occasion of the sale of his numismatic library at Gut-Lynt, Arne Kirsch recounts the eventful life of the coin dealer and bon vivant.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

The Bending Willow Tree

On 29 January 2025, Künker is going to auction off a unique willow tree coin. The reverse of the 10-ducat piece depicts a willow tree in a storm. But what is the message that William V, the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel on whose behalf the coin was created, wanted to convey with this issue?
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.
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