This is how coins with polymer ring are made: a visit to the Karlsruhe Mint

On April 14, 2016, the 5 euro coins “Planet Earth” will be released. The number of orders exceeds the mintage. For all those who came away empty-handed we have a view inside the Karlsruhe Mint where a portion of the mintage was produced.

Human faces, part 28: Fight for Sicily

Why was the human head the motif on coins for centuries, no, for millennia? And why did that change in the last 200 years? Find out why the Houses of Anjou and Aragón fought for Sicily and how Ferdinand of Aragón cleverly used coins for propagandistic purposes in this episode.

Numismatic miniatures from the North: Part 2 – Why cashless could work in Sweden

Sweden is different. The mentality of its inhabitants is characterized by an incredible willingness to act rationally at the expense of one’s personal comfort. And as to what is rational, people are quite ready to let themselves be influenced. Here are some thoughts on why the concept of the cashless society might actually work in Sweden.

Human faces, part 29: The Doge, powerless ruler over a mighty empire

That reality and depictions of reality are two different things is a lesson we already learnt in the episode on Constantine the Great. On this coin, the image of the Doge in his pompous attire belies a reality in which he hardly holds any power anymore.

Numismatic Miniatures from the North: Part 3 – Treasure Island. The History

If you’re looking for the island where the most treasures have been found, you don’t need to sail to the Caribbean. Far from it. The highest concentration of treasure finds is in the North, more specifically on the island of Gotland, which used to be a central trading post in the Baltic Sea.

Human faces, part 30: The Hercules of Ferrara

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 today’s episode, we’ll tell you the story of an Italian prince who admired Hercules so much that he named his son after him.

Numismatic miniatures from the North: Part 4 – Treasure Island. Treasures, treasures and even more treasures

More than 700 treasure cases with around 180,000 coins have been discovered on the island of Gotland. The trader-peasants buried the earnings from their adventurous travels in the ground, where they were found by their descendants.

Human faces, part 31: The Condottieri, winners in every war

From dishwasher to millionaire, or: from mercenary to Duke of Milan. Francesco Sforza did the impossible and founded one of the most influential families in Renaissance Italy.

40 Years Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung

Many coin collectors never forget, who was the one, who sold the very first coin to them. Perhaps you as well will remember your own collecting past, while reading the history of 40 years of Gorny & Mosch…

Human faces, part 32: Murder in Milan

After the brutal murder of the Duke of Milan, only one question is on the mind of Milan’s aristocracy: who will follow in his office? The seven-year-old son? Quite surprisingly, the succession is settled peacefully. Peaceful, but not uneventful, thanks to the dowager duchess…