Archive: People and Markets

Metcalf Lecturer 2023/4: Benjamin Hellings

The Archaeological Institute of America named Benjamin Hellings this year’s Metcalf Lecturer. He is Curator of Numismatics at the Yale University Art Gallery and Chair of the AIA Numismatics Interest Group.

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Many researchers were interested in the topic of the workshop. Photo: Alaa Aldin Al Chomari.

Provenanced Coin Finds Versus Rarities – The Importance of Coin Finds for Historical Statistics

Reporting coin finds is essential for the study of coinage. A Workshop in Jordan discussed the importance of coin finds for historical statistics and the experience of a group of Syrian archaeologists who turned to one of the most important groups of coin finders: children.

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How the Romans Made Counterfeits

Counterfeits have been around in ancient Roman times, too – usually, they were cast from a copper-tin alloy. Researchers at the University of Tübingen examined the counterfeiting process and reconstructed it experimentally. A video documents their experiment.

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Swissmint's latest collector coin is dedicated to Wind power. Background: Appolinary Kalashnikova via Unplash.

Swissmint Commemorates Wind Power

Following the issues on hydropower and solar energy, Swissmint completes its trilogy “Energy of the Future” with the new commemorative coin “Wind power.” As with its two predecessors, the silver coin glows in the dark.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Contemporary allegory on the Great Elector Frederick William of Brandenburg.

The Great Elector, Taxes and the Rise of Prussia

On 1 February 2024, the Künker auction house will hold its 400th auction sale. Among the 770 lots are very rare issues from the reign of Frederick William of Brandenburg-Prussia. They bear witness to the achievements of the Great Elector, who brought prosperity to a realm devastated by the Thirty Years’ War.
Friedrich III. auf seinem weißen Hengst bei der Verteidigung Kopenhagens 1659. Gemalt von Frederik Christian Lund, 1887. Bilder: Hintergrund: Wikimedia Commons / CC0. Münze: Auktion SINCONA 94 (22.-23. Oktober 2024), Nr. 1616.

Frederick III of Denmark and Eben Ezer

SINCONA’s Auctions 92 to 95 will take place from 21 to 25 October 2024. This article introduces one of the many rarities up for sale: a so-called “Ebenezer” coin from Denmark. The 4-Ducat piece is extremely rare and of great historical interest.
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