Tag Archive for: History

Jere L. Bacharach (1938-2023)

Jere L. Bacharach, expert on Islamic numismatics, died in April 2023. The ANS remembers its long-time member of the Board of Trustees, and an invaluable scholar of the numismatic community and Middle Eastern studies.

As the King Lay Dying… – The Most Spectacular British Gold Coin of the Modern Era

In Part 4 of its extraordinary British Collection, SINCONA will be presenting several extremely rare patterns, some of which are the best-preserved specimens available on the market. In this article, we tell their story.

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.

The Most Beautiful Greek Coins Ever Made: Kimon’s Decadrachms

In its upcoming auction, Numismatica Genevensis will be presenting two specimens of the most beautiful coins of Greek numismatics – or even of all time, actually. These coins are two Syracusan decadrachms by Kimon, featuring an almost portrait-like image of Arethusa on the reverse.

Hesse, Elizabeth and the Reformation

The story of how much influence St. Elizabeth had even centuries after her death is quite a spectacular one to tell. With the help of the Loos Collection, which will be on sale at Künker in September, we will do just that: talking of a canonized landgravine, political intrigues, power-conscious women and the consequences of syphilis.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.