Archive: People and Markets

Eisleben, Germany: Church Treasure Recovered After Almost 400 Years

What a find: last year, a hoard of 864 coins was discovered in a sandstone figure in a church in Eisleben, Germany. The coins were hidden there during the Thirty Years’ War and provide a rare insight into the currency in circulation at that time. A coin expert from the region tells us more about it.

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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.

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Will the International Coin Market Be Affected by the New US Tariff Policy?

America’s tariff regime is dominating the headlines. Yesterday morning (CET), when Ursula Kampmann wrote this article, many countries were under the threat of high punitive tariffs. As of yesterday evening (CET), this is no longer the case. But it is still interesting to consider what would happen in the coin market if punitive tariffs were imposed.

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Last-minute veto: the European Commission brought a halt to the minting of coins of 10, 20 and 50 cents due to the design of the European stars on the French obverse. Photo: MDP

French Error Coin: The Monnaie de Paris Coin Mishap

The French mint Monnaie de Paris had planned to introduce a new design for coins of 10, 20 and 50 cents in 2024, but a mishap with serious consequences occurred – and while the extent of the financial loss that ensued is still unknown, it is clear that it caused great damage to the mint´s image.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Important Collection of Islamic Glass Weights at Numismatica Genevensis SA

Islamic glass weights are fascinating due to their resemblance to coins and their still disputed function. Numismatica Genevensis is able to offer an entire collection in museum quality in its upcoming Islamic auction.
Wurde dieser Aureus aus geplündertem rhodischem Gold geprägt? Fotos: Hintergrund: Ymakris, CC-BY 4.0. Münze: Auktion Künker 416 (29./30. Oktober), Nr. 1809.

Gold from Rhodes for the Battle for Rome

On 30 October 2024, Künker will be auctioning an aureus minted by Caesar’s assassins in 42 BC. The extremely rare piece is estimated at 100,000 euros. We tell the story of a coin that takes us back to the heart of the Roman civil war.
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