Archive: People and Markets
“Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece” at the British Museum
Over centuries the Persian empire and the Greeks had many conflicts. But nevertheless they influenced each other in many ways, as coins and works of art document. A major exhibition at the British Museum explores the relationship between luxury and power in this time.
Congress in Frankfurt: International Experts Discuss Gold and Silver Trends
From 23 to 25 March 2025, Frankfurt will host the inaugural ZukunftsForum Edelmetalle. This new congress brings together renowned precious metals experts to discuss current market trends, as well as economic and geopolitical developments in the gold, silver, and platinum sectors.
Archive: Coins, Medals and more

Sisi and Franz: Commemorating the Dream Wedding that Was Actually a Nightmare
As part of the phaleristic auction 415 on 28 October 2024, Künker will be auctioning the set of gold medals that Emperor Franz Joseph presented to his father-in-law, Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria. It is the numismatic souvenir of a wedding that turned out to be a nightmare for his daughter – young Elisabeth, who is better known as Sissi or Sisi today.

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.
















Celebrating Wolfgang Hahn’s 80th Birthday
There are numismatists who are an integral part of the numismatic world. One of them is Wolfgang Hahn, who shaped the fate of the Department of Numismatics and Monetary History in Vienna from 1990 to 2010. On 12 March 2025, he celebrated his 80th birthday.
CIT: The Last Issue in the Real Heroes Series – Astronaut
With the last issue of the Real Heroes series, CIT pays tribute to the courage of astronauts. The focus is on an iconic scene that was implemented with technical perfection as a reflection in the visor of a spacesuit.