Archive: People and Markets

Al was mentor to many young people in numismatics. Image provided by Stephen Album Rare Coins.

Dr. Albert J. Beck (1935-2024)

Dr. Albert (“Al”) J. Beck passed on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Our friends from Stephen Album Rare Coins shared this obituary for their colleague with us.

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At the centre of the indictment against Richard Beale is the provenance of the second-most expensive ancient coin in the world, an EID MAR aureus. From Roma Numismatics XX (2020), Lot 463. Hammer price: 3,240,000 pounds.

Coin Dealer Richard Beale Pleads Guilty

Richard Beale has pleaded guilty to a number of charges. At a court hearing in New York in August 2023, the British coin dealer admitted, among other things, to falsifying the provenance of an EID MAR aureus.

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Federal agents, National Hellenic Museum conduct largest repatriation of ancient coins to Greece in recent HSI history. Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Customs Repatriation to Greece Raises Questions

U.S. Customs recently confiscated fifty-one ancient coins and repatriated them to the Greek Government. But was this act really covered by the MOU with Greece? Peter Tompa gives coin collectors some advises.

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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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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

The National Identity of Modern Ukraine on its Commemorative Coins

Due to tragic circumstances, all eyes are currently on Ukraine. Today, we’ll be discussing the national identity of the Ukrainian people. Using Ukraine’s commemorative coins, we’ll be looking at how the country sees itself, or rather, how it wants to be seen.

Joachimsthal and the Reformation

On 29 January 2025, Künker will auction a series of valuable Renaissance medals. They feature biblical topics and were minted in the region of Joachimsthal to spread the teachings of the Reformation. Johannes Mathesius, the author of Luther’s Table Talk, may have been at the origin of some of the motifs.
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