Archive: People and Markets
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.
Giant’s Causeway: A Natural Wonder at Risk – Because of Coins?
One of Britain’s most iconic natural landmarks is under threat – because tourists are decorating the famous basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway with coins. What may seem like a well-meaning gesture is now causing increasing damage to the geologically unique rock formation.
Archive: Coins, Medals and more

French History in Coins – Part 2: From the Second Republic to the Second Empire
In the 19th century, people in France suffered from hunger and poverty. There were uprisings and a revolution. But the first president of the new republic was a nephew of Napoleon and completely took after the old emperor.

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.










Directory of Circulating Coins – 4th Edition is Now Available
The fourth edition of the Directory of Circulating Coins has been published. Five years after the last edition, the useful reference book for current circulation coins is now up to date again.
The Royal Coin Cabinet in Stockholm is going to be closed and stripped down
The Swedish national museum of economy is going to be closed down. This entails the relocation of the Royal Coin Cabinet and its notable library. At this point, no one knows where, when or how the coins and books will be available again. Harald Nilsson reports.