Articles of the week

Obverse of: Ousanas I, circa 325-345. Chrysos. Leu Auction 14 (2023), lot 279.

An Introduction to Axumite Coinage

With the collection of Dr. Stephan Coffman, a highly significant ensemble of coins from the great ancient African kingdom of Axum is sold at Leu Numismatik. Learn more about the history of Axum and the often disregarded Axumite Coinage in this detailed article.

At the end of third century AD, Carausius and Allectus successively ruled Britain, and parts of the Continental coast, as rebel emperors for a period of ten years. A new book, published by Spink Books, aims to tell the incredible story of these two rebel emperors. Learn more about them and their rich coinage in this article.

Rebel Emperors of Britannia: Carausius and Allectus

At the end of the third century AD, Carausius and Allectus successively ruled Britain, and parts of the Continental coast, as rebel emperors for a period of ten years. A new book, published by Spink Books, aims to tell the incredible story of these two rebel emperors. Learn more about them and their rich coinage in this article.

Siege plan of the city of Frankfurt based on the original by Conrad Faber von Creuznach, 1552.

Two Cityscapes on Coins From Frankfurt am Main and The Artwork That Inspired Them

Many engravers used contemporary media to make their work easier. Their coin designs were often based on well-known engravings. This is illustrated by two pieces from the Loos Collection, which will be auctioned by Künker in September 2023.

The Augustean Denarius Find From Brohl-Lützing Offered at Auction

In the current auction of Solidus, the treasure find of Brohl-Lützing is on offer. The hoard of 18 denarii contains rare coinage from Pompeius to Augustus and thus takes us right into the highly exciting era of the Roman civil wars.

Napoleon III, painting by Alexandre Cabanel, around 1865. It was the favourite portrait of Empress Eugénie because it was the most accurate depiction of him.

French History in Coins – Part 3: A New Napoleon

Under Emperor Napoleon III, France experienced an economic upswing. The Paris cityscape was completely revamped, just as coin designs. The gold rush in the US thrust Europe’s silver money into a crisis. The answer came from France.

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.

Horace Vernet, Barrikadenkampf in der Rue Soufflot, Paris, 25. Juni 1848 (Juniaufstand).

French History in Coins – Part 2: From the Second Republic to the Second Empire

In the 19th century, people in France suffered from hunger and poverty. There were uprisings and a revolution. But the first president of the new republic was a nephew of Napoleon and completely took after the old emperor.

Jean Duplessis-Bertaux, The Storming of the Tuleries on 10 August 1792, 1793.

French History in Coins – Part 1: Kings, Consuls and Emperors

The French Revolution also revolutionised the country’s monetary system. Join us on our voyage through the monetary history of modern France. We will start with the First Republic and one of the most famous French coins out there.

A map of the Duchy of Jülich-Berg by Willem and Joan Blaeu, 1645 and the reverse of the newly discovered denomination of a 6 Albus light of 1640.

A Discovery From Jülich-Berg

New coin varieties are not so uncommon, but a new denomination really is. Joachim Stollhoff has found a 6 Albus light of the Duchy of Jülich-Berg minted in 1640. The coin will be offered in the forthcoming auction of Münzen & Medaillen GmbH.

Maria Theresa and Her Persecution of Jews

On 18 December 1744, Maria Theresa adopted a decree that expelled 40,000 Bohemian Jews from their homeland. A medal testifies to the fact that she had to revoke the decree due to financial and diplomatic pressure. The time of Jewish persecution was over for the time being – that is, until the genocide of the Jews in the 20th century.