Archive: People and Markets
Petition Crown Realizes More than $1 Million, Setting Record
For the second time this year, an example of England’s Petition Crown certified by NGC has realized a record price. The piece from the Geoffrey Cope Collection broke the $1 million barrier.
Zimbabwe’s New Currency: Is the ZiG Doomed to Fail From the Start?
Zimbabwe has introduced a new currency that is supposed to win the trust of Zimbabweans as it is backed by gold. Michael Alexander explains the background and presents the new banknotes.
Archive: Coins, Medals and more

A Medal Made by Dürer as the Official Gift of the City of Nuremberg for Charles V
On 29 January 2025, auction house Künker will be auctioning an object of major art-historical importance in Berlin: the very Albrecht Dürer himself had been commissioned by the Nuremberg City Council to create the dies for medals that were to be officially handed to Charles V during his entry into the city in 1521.

The Gnadenpfennig – An Object Between Decoration, Medal, and Coin
Gnadenpfennigs are an extremely rare category of numismatic objects. Künker is proud to offer nine lots in auction 418 on 29 January 2025 that are, or are likely to be, gnadenpfennigs. We explain the purpose of these issues and when they were created.










Coin Dealer Italo Vecchi Charged with Grand Larceny
Coin dealer Italo Vecchi has been indicted in Manhattan for first-degree grand larceny as well as other felonies. The charges are related to the trial against Richard Beale and the forged provenance of what used to be the world’s most expensive ancient coin.
The Black Lizard from Brusnik Island in Ultra-High Relief
Croatia is home to a lizard species that would have impressed even Darvin himself: the autochthonous black lizard, found only on the island of Brusnik. On 14 March 2024, Croatia issued three collector coins in its honour. Now the fourth, a two-ounce silver version in ultra-high relief, has been released.