Archive: People and Markets

Poetic Machines: Swissmint Honors Jean Tinguely

Steel, wheels, movement, order and chaos – Swiss artist Jean Tinguely was fascinated by the poetry of machines, which he captured in his kinetic machine sculptures. To mark what would have been his 100th birthday, Swissmint is honoring the exceptional artist with a silver coin.

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Foreign Coin Production Ends at the Royal Mint – The End of an Era or Another Step Closer to a Cashless Economy?

The Royal Mint has announced that it will no longer produce coins for other countries, ending a business model that it has operated for 700 years. Michael Alexander puts this development into perspective.

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A comic figure on a 2-euro coin? Slovenia honours caricaturist Miki Muster. Photo: Banka Slovenije

2-Euro Ticker: New 2-Euro Coins in June 2024

Much has happened in the 2-euro coin world in the past four weeks: new motifs for 2024 were announced and four coins were issued – however, there were some problems.

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The summit building of the Schilthorn with Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Photo: Background: Schilthornbahn via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0. Coin: Swissmint.

Third edition of the Swiss Cable Cars series: Schilthorn Cable Car

The third coin in the “Swiss Cable Cars” series puts the Schilthorn in focus. A tribute to a region full of history and significance in the Swiss Alps.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

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.
Bei genauer Betrachtung können Münzen besondere Merkmale aufweisen, die sich entweder gut oder schlecht auf ihren Wert auswirken. Diese zu erkennen und mit den richtigen Begriffen benennen zu können ist wichtig für jeden Münzsammler. Foto: Elly2001 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Planchet Error, Overstrike, Double-Strike, Etc.: Which Errors Affect the Price of a Coin? – Part 1

The price of a coin does not only depend on its rarity and grade. There are many things that can affect a specimen’s value in a positive or negative way. This overview will help you to understand common terms, to use them confidently and to understand them in their context.
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