A Unique Set: The Gold Off-Metal Strikes of Bavarian “Geschichtstalers”

There are probably no other 19th-century coins that have shaped our modern coinage as significantly as these: King Ludwig I of Bavaria created the first ever series of commemorative coins in the modern sense of the term. In 1902, Philipp von Ferrary commissioned the Bavarian State Mint to produce gold off-metal strikes of these coins. Numismatica Genevensis will be offering seven of these unique pieces at its auction this autumn.

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A Bonaparte on Holland’s Coins

On 27 September 2022, Künker will auction off the collection of the Verschoor brothers. It contains what’s probably one of the most important collections of coins from the Kingdom of Holland. Read about the fate of the short-lived kingdom and the numerous problems King Lodewijk had to deal with when introducing his new coins.

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A Fals From Kilwa Kisiwani

It is often the small, inconspicuous coins that tell fascinating stories: for example, a fals from the ruined city of Kilwa Kisiwani in present-day Tanzania. Follow Claire Franklin on her adventurous research.

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Gate Tokens: Relics of Nuremberg’s History

Only on rare occasions can we link a numismatic object to a specific person. Regarding Nuremberg gate tokens, this is possible. We know whose hands touched them. Three of these tokens are on offer at Künker’s Fall Auction Sales. We tell their story.

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Portugalesers: A Close Look at Brandenburg’s Gold Showpieces

Brandenburg’s portugalesers are among the greatest gold rarities of the Holy Roman Empire. Künker is able to offer as much as two of these rare pieces in auction 369. We take a close look at what these coins can tell us.

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On National Heroes and Nationally-Owned Enterprises

In 1975, Venezuela nationalized its oil industry – an important step in the long and eventful relationship between the country and its oil supplies. A gold coin commemorates the event. It is one of the rarest pieces of Venezuelan numismatics.

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An Unwilling Victor: Maurice of Saxony and the Schmalkaldic League

On 20 June 2022, the auction house Künker will be auctioning the first part of the Dr. Walter Kemlein Collection “Saxonia in Nummis”. It includes a double taler depicting the leaders of the Schmalkaldic League, among them Maurice of Saxony, who would have preferred not to be seen in this context.

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From Lira to Euro. Italy’s History in Coins – Part 9: Forza Italia

Italy’s governments tend to survive for rather short amounts of time. The political system had been surprisingly solid – until it collapsed completely due to a corruption scandal. A man who was to guide Italy into the eurozone made use of this situation in 1994: Silvio Berlusconi.

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Swiss Money for Swiss Citizens

Today, only Swiss coins circulate in Switzerland. But this has only been the case for less than a century. A very rare Swiss 5 franc piece from 1928, which will be auctioned by the Rapp auction house on 6 May 2022, testifies to this shift in monetary policy.

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From Lira to Euro. Italy’s History in Coins – Part 8: The Mezzogiorno

After the Second World War, Italy experienced an economic boom – mainly thinks to the workers from South Italy who slaved away in the north for little money. To this day, the country has not overcome the gap between the rich north and the poor south.

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