Archive: People and Markets

The coin shows two emperor penguins standing on the ice showcased in an extraordinary inverted relief.

Pobjoy Mints the World’s First Inverted 50 Pence Coin

Pobjoy Mint celebrates World Penguin Day with the world’s first inverted 50 pence coin. It features two emperor penguins.

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Hideo Futahashi (†2024)

We have only now learned that Hideo Futahashi has passed away. Mr. Futahashi was a key figure for Europeans looking to gain a foothold in the Japanese coin market. He was one of those open-minded Japanese who loved introducing European coin enthusiasts to the beauty of his country.

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In 2022, Tokyo citizens handed in to police record ¥4 billon of lost cash. Image by David Mark from Pixabay.

Tokyo Sets New Record for Lost Cash Handed In

If you loose your cash let’s hope it happens in Tokyo. Then chances are good you get it back. Maybe in no other city in the world people hand in so much lost cash to police. There are good reasons why they do it.

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Hidden Coins Indicate the Destruction of a City

In the 4th century, the Jews revolted one last time against Roman rule. Now, for the first time, there is archaeological evidence of the destruction of the city of Lod during the suppression of the revolt – a hoard of coins recently found by Israeli archaeologists in the ruins of a building.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

The Heidelberg Tun and Early Modern Winemaking

The most well-known symbol of the city of Heidelberg actually began as a sort of treasury: the Heidelberg Tun was built to accommodate the Palatinate’s tax revenue generated from winemaking. And then a Calvinist propagandist turned it into a tourist attraction. This is reflected in a medal that Künker will be auctioning on 29 September 2023.

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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