Archive: People and Markets

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.

Researchers Analyse the Myth About the Massive Illicit Trade in Antiquities

An extensive new study shows that the scale of the illicit trade in antiquities is much smaller than activists claim. The study demonstrates how these false numbers came about, and how we actually should deal with the problem of the illicit trade in antiquities.

The special coins honor projects, associations and prominent figures, and draw attention to issues that are important for Switzerland.

Swiss Linguistic Diversity Gold Coin

The latest Swiss gold coin “Swiss Language Diversity” honors cultural diversity and multilingualism as the very essence of Switzerland.

Theft at the Stockholm Royal Coin Cabinet

An audit at the Royal Coin Cabinet in Stockholm showed that a transferred 2.6 million euros worth of objects are missing. Now a former employee has to answer for theft.

Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Siege plan of the city of Frankfurt based on the original by Conrad Faber von Creuznach, 1552.

Two Cityscapes on Coins From Frankfurt am Main and The Artwork That Inspired Them

Many engravers used contemporary media to make their work easier. Their coin designs were often based on well-known engravings. This is illustrated by two pieces from the Loos Collection, which will be auctioned by Künker in September 2023.

What People Used to Pay With in South Africa

Coins are only the most recent of the many means of payment used in South Africa. And yet, there is much to be told about the country’s numismatic past. We tell the story of South African means of payment from glass beads to the rand.
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