Archive: People and Markets

Euro Counterfeits: Fraudsters Increasingly Target Commemorative Coins

The number of counterfeit euro coins surged dramatically in 2023, with €2 coins—particularly commemorative issues—being the primary targets. Counterfeiters are employing increasingly sophisticated techniques, while investigators are analysing new varieties to track down illegal minting operations.

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Bowing to a Croatian Basketball Legend

In 1993, Dražen Petrović, one of the world’s most famous basketball players, died aged only 29 years. With his ambition, hard work, reliability, and modesty, the “Mozart of Basketball” continues to inspire many of his fans to this day.

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Course: Coins and the Sacred in Roman and Early Modern Times

In November, a numismatics course will take place in Rome, focusing on religion and religious power on coins. German and Dutch students can count on support with their travel costs.

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Es gibt viele Neuerungen bei der Swissmint. Was genau, erfahren Sie in diesem Artikel. Fotos: Swissmint.

There’s a Lot Going on at Swissmint!

A new website, a new online shop, a new layout for its customer magazine – these are just some of the innovations Swissmint has in store for us. The mint has changed profoundly over the past two years. Ursula Kampmann explains how.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Karl Ludwig von Bruck, the mastermind behind the Vienna Coinage Treaty. We chose not to depict Emperor Franz Josef I at this point, who is shown on the coins, but the liberal politician Karl Ludwig von Bruck. Born into the family of a bookbinder in Elberfeld (now Wuppertal, Germany), he worked his way up from a merchant’s position to become Austria’s finance minister. He could almost be described as a beacon of hope for Austrian economic policy. It was tragic – and not just for him personally – that Franz Josef “ungraciously” dismissed him in April 1860 on false suspicions. The then 61-year-old took his own life. This deprived Austria of an imaginative politician who might have prevented its economic marginalization by Prussia.

A War Fought with Unusual Weapons: How Prussia Used Finance and Politics to Force the Habsburg Hereditary Lands Out of the German Confederation

On 26 March 2024, the Künker auction house will offer the Tursky Collection with coins of Emperor Franz Joseph I. We use specimens from this collection to tell the story of how Prussia used its economic sway to become the sole hegemonic power in Germany.

The Eve of the Battle of Philippi: An Aureus Featuring the Portrait of Brutus

On 9 December 2024, Numismatica Genevensis will be auctioning an extremely rare aureus featuring a portrait of Brutus. The coin, estimated at CHF 750,000, was minted to pay the soldiers who fought for Brutus in the final battle at Philippi.
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