Archive: People and Markets
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.
Data Breach During Sale of 2-Euro Coin in Cyprus: How to Avoid Server Crashes
Cyprus wanted to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its EU membership with a 2-euro coin – but the party turned into a fiasco. Even before the start of sales, the server crashed; at times, customers could see the data of other buyers, and to this day, it is unclear whether the central bank will make another attempt to sell the coins.
Archive: Coins, Medals and more

A Numismatic Journey Through the Principality of Monaco
On the visit of Albert II and Charlène of Monaco to Germany: The small country on the Mediterranean has more to offer than casinos, car races and film stars – it can look back on a long numismatic tradition.

The Gnadenpfennig – An Object Between Decoration, Medal, and Coin
Gnadenpfennigs are an extremely rare category of numismatic objects. Künker is proud to offer nine lots in auction 418 on 29 January 2025 that are, or are likely to be, gnadenpfennigs. We explain the purpose of these issues and when they were created.











The Fascinating World of Insects and Minting Errors: The Misaligned Stag Beetle
A year ago, the paint on coins from the “Fascinating World of Insects” series began to flake off. Now, new anomalies have surfaced—ones that experts find only partially explainable.
NGC introduces New High-Security Hologram with QR Codes
NGC is introducing a new high-security hologram as part of its efforts to combat counterfeiting of certifications. Among the hologram enhancements are a QR code and a numerical security code that are unique to the specific encapsulated collectible, making it extremely difficult for counterfeiters to replicate or tamper with the NGC holder.