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.
Archive: Coins, Medals and more

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 Do Gaming Counters Have to Do with Numismatics?
On 5 July 2025, Künker will offer a complete set of trictrac pieces at its auction 425. The ensemble is of great cultural and historical value. This prompts us to ask why gaming counters are part of the numismatic field – and what insights they can offer into the numismatic daily life of the early modern period.










Joachim Stollhoff (18.7.1948-2.11.2024)
Claire Franklin-Werz also wrote an extensive obituary for her long-time friend and mentor Joachim Stollhoff.
ICOMON Annual Conference 2024 – Call for Papers
ICOMON is looking for presentations for their annual conference 2024, which will be held in Stockholm. One topic that will be particularly in focus is Cross-Organization Collaborations. Abstracts can be submitted until 31 January 2024.