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.
Tag Archive for: History
From Pavia to the Sack of Rome – siege coins in Italy
Why was it that Renaissance rulers went to Italy to seek good fortune? Why was it that thousands of ducats and thaler were spent on mercenary soldiers? This article gives an insight into the war between Francis I of France and Charles V of Italy…
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…
Splendor of a dynasty – the five family roubles of Tsar Nicholas I (1825-1855)
King Louis’ I “historic thaler” made impression in Russia and left it’s marks. Tsar Nicholas I struck similar coins with his family on the reverse. How this happened and why there are five different types you can read here…
A Platinum Set from 1839 that Once Belonged to Great Prince Georgy Mikhailovich
Platinum coins rank among the great and most sought-after rarities of Russian numismatics. In their upcoming Berlin Auction, auction house Künker will offer a complete set of said rarities of exceptional condition, which once belonged to Georgy Mikhailovich, arguably the most famous collector of Russian coins.
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.
The Imperial Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called
On 4 October, 2014, auction house Künker will conduct its 10th sale of orders and decorations under #253 in Osnabrück. Part of the sale is a piece that breaks all records. The insignia of the Imperial Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called are estimated at 750,000 euros!
Bridges as a sign of the Russian-French friendship
On 1 February 2018, Künker will auction off a testimony to the French-Russian alliance of 1892 in its Berlin auction. It is a gold medal dedicated to the inauguration of the Trinity Bridge in Saint Petersburg. This bridge was built as a symbol of this alliance and it has the Pont Alexandre III in Paris as its counterpart.
Lake Baikal gold treasure
“Glorious Sea, the Sacred Baikal”, that is how the “Baikal hymn” written by Dimitrij Davydov starts. The lake is affectionately referred to as “Pearl of Siberia” since it is the world’s biggest freshwater reservoir. Lake Baikal is…
Prussian Spirit in Tsarist Russia
Peter III had ruled Russia for just six months. For this reason virtually all of his coins are rare. Künker will offer a very rare 10 rouble piece of that ruler in his sale 264 on June 25. It depicts Peter Prussian-style.
