Archive: People and Markets

Between Tradition and the Demands of a New Economic World

The 32nd Mint Directors Conference took place in Cape Town from April 27th to 29th, 2025. It was the highlight of my numismatic journey through South Africa. In an international context, South Africa presented itself as a promising country of (numismatic) opportunities.

ANA World’s Fair of Money 2024: Waiting for the Election

The world’s largest coin show once again attracted collectors and dealers from around the globe. But for US numismatists, the show certainly was not business as usual – the eyes of the industry are on Washington.

Dr. Ruth Pliego. Photo: ANS

Ruth Pliego Receives the 2023 Huntington Award

The Trustees of the American Numismatic Society (ANS) have named Dr. Ruth Pliego as the recipient of the 2023 Archer M. Huntington Medal Award for Excellence in Numismatic Scholarship. If you are interested in Visigothic coins, be sure to watch the lecture the honoree gave on this occasion.

The 100-euro gold coin 150th Birthday of Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić. Image: Croatian Mint.

Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić: The Woman Who Gave Croatia Its Fairy Tales

Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić is one of the authors that every Croatian is familiar with because they grew up listening to her fairy tales. Now the Croatian National Bank is issuing two collector coins to commemorate the 150th birthday of Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić.

Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Background: Doktent via Wikicommons / CC BY-SA 4.0.

Regensburg: Where the Emperor and the Empire Met

Only a few German cities issued as magnificent early modern coins as Regensburg. And there is a good reason for this – gold and heavy silver coins in particular were in high demand in this city. Not for trading purposes but for representation. After all, the Perpetual Diet of the Holy Roman Empire sat in Regensburg. Read here how it worked and what role coins played in this event.
Image detail from “The last viaduct before entering the Trieste railway station”, image: SLUB Dresden. Public Domain Mark 1.0. PPN 337170053. In front: Double vereinstaler 1857. From Auction Künker 308, No. 471.

A Commemorative Coin Celebrating the Completion of Austria’s Southern Railway

Commemorative coins were issued far less frequently in the 19th century than today. The fact that Emperor Franz Joseph dedicated a commemorative coin to the Austrian Southern Railway is therefore testimony to the outstanding importance of this line. In auction 408, Künker is offering two of only 1,644 specimens minted.
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