Archive: People and Markets

2023 Was a Record Year for Archaeological Finds in the UK

The British Museum has launched the latest Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) Annual Report, showing a record high of 74,506 finds recorded by the public in 2023. See some of the highlights here.

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Die leuchtenden Augen stechen aus der Black Obsidian Oberfläche heraus.

New CIT Issue: Hunters by Night – Ocelot

Since 2020, CIT has been releasing its award-winning and successful Hunters by Night series. The fifth issue is now dedicated to the ocelot, with the nocturnal hunter’s eyes standing out almost hypnotically against the Black Obsidian surface.

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Osaka hosts Expo 2025 and Japan honors this event with the issuing of commemorative coins. Photo: Japan Mint. Background: Luca Florio / CC BY-SA 2.0.

Osaka 2025 World Expo Commemorated with Silver Coin

For Expo2025 Japan plans to issue five different coins. For one of these the Ministry of Finance has released the Design of a 1,000-Yen silver coin.

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Bernt Ahlström circa 1980. Photo: Family Archive.

Bernt Ahlström (1936-2019)

You will hardly find a dealer in the numismatic world who is completely unfamiliar with the name Bernt Ahlstrom. On the occasion of the sale of his numismatic library at Gut-Lynt, Arne Kirsch recounts the eventful life of the coin dealer and bon vivant.

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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.

The Suffering of Leiden – A Siege During the Dutch Revolt

The third part of the Beuth Collection that Künker offers in Auction 420 contains many historically interesting emergency and siege coins. They were issued by the Dutch towns besieged by Spain during the 80 Years' War. One of these towns was Leiden, which to this day commemorates the end of the siege every year with a festival.
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