Archive: People and Markets

German Coins in 2026: Two New Series and a Familiar Face

The Federal Ministry of Finance has published the coin programme for 2026. Collectors can look forward to a total of twelve coin issues covering a wide thematic spectrum.

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Lithuania Effectively Abolishes One- and Two-Cent Coins – and Sparks a New Debate

Farewell to small change: another eurozone country is saying goodbye to the smallest cent coins. In Germany, the debate is also gaining momentum – whereas Austria remains relaxed and is observing developments.

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Ursula Kampmann: Die Briefe des Herrn von Schellenberg an Johann Jakob Rüeger. Ein entlarvendes Selbstzeugnis vom Niedergang eines gebildeten Reichsritters und Münzsammlers. Bd. I: Die Briefe. (Nomismata, 13.1), Habelt Verlag 2023. 576 S., 29 cm. ISBN 978-3-7749-4378-0. Preis: 89 €.

Collecting Coins Around 1600

In January 2024, the first volume of Ursula Kampmann’s three-part work on the letters of Hans von Schellenberg was published. The author presents one of the most insightful sources on collecting coins in the early modern period in its historical context.

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Have We Reached the Limit? 2-Euro Collectors Are Giving Up In the Face of a Myriad of Varieties

Collecting coins is a hobby that is not only educational but, at its best, should provide lasting pleasure. However, if you look at the relevant online forums, Facebook groups and Discord servers, you get the impression that more and more 2-euro collectors are no longer enjoying their hobby.

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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 contents of a piggy bank from the Deutsche Mark era – a case for the Bundesbank exchange counter? Photo: Wieschowski.

Marks and Pfennigs in Your Inheritance: What Should Heirs Do with Old DM Coins?

When dealing with inheritances, it’s common for heirs to come across coins from the Deutsche Mark era –often, these Pfennigs and Marks can feel overwhelming. However, heading straight to the Bundesbank, where nearly all DM coins can be exchanged indefinitely, isn’t always the best option.
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