Christians fight against Christians with the assistance of the Turks
It is an unspectacular coin, that testimony of the culminating conflict between France and Spain, between Francis I and Charles V. …
Entries by Ursula Kampmann
The Holy Year on coins and medals
Do you know what the Church understands by a ‘Holy Year’? Initially, it was created as a special attraction for the pilgrims coming to Rome who were promised a plenary indulgence. Today, every Pope has his own year. In this regard, we show you coins from five centuries…
Human faces, part 48: Simón Bolívar, South America’s heroic freedom fighter
Why was the human head the motif on coins for centuries, no, for millennia? And why did that change in the last 200 years? In this episode: Why Bolivia is called Bolivia.
The Battle of Lepanto
The famous battle of Lepanto, the great victory of Christianity over the Turks, has been celebrated as one of the major events of world history, even though it did not change the course of history. Find more information on its significance and its representation on a Papal bronze medal…
Coin Grading Made Easy
A lot of coin collectors are insecure when it comes to judging the condition of a coin. This article offers an introduction to this high art…
Schaffhausen and Russia
On June 20, 2012 in Schaffhausen an exhibition was opened in occasion of 25 years Sturzenegger Foundation. In these years the numismatic department too has received many important acquisitions as for instance this jefímok on a Schaffhausen taler from the Tobler collection.
Peter the Great as his nation’s barber
During the cultural revolution Peter the Great brought Russia, not only institutions were put in the crosshairs but the country’s population as well. The beard had to go – literally speaking…
Introduction ‘The People of Zurich and their Money’ Part 2
Our occasional series ‘The People of Zurich and their Money’ will present one exciting chapter of Swiss numismatics and economic history at a time. The introduction provides an initial overview in two parts. This second section takes us from the Thirty Years War all the way to the present day.
The Design of the Circulation Euro Coins: Spain – 1, 2 and 5 Cent – Santiago de Compostela
The euro coins are a splendid means for all countries in the eurozone to convey their own self-conception. What does the pilgrimage to St. James mean to Spain? And what role did the Way of St. James play for European Christians of medieval times? Here you get the backdrop of the design of the Spanish 1, 2 and 5 cent coins.
The Design of the Circulation Euro Coins: Spain – 1 Cent – 10, 20 and 50 Cent – Miguel de Cervantes
The euro coins are a splendid means for all countries in the eurozone to convey their own self-conception. Choosing Miguel de Cervantes, writer of Don Quixote as depiction of a coin is a masterstroke allowing the former global power Spain to give the best account of itself.
