George Gustav of Pfalz-Veldenz
On February 4th, 2016, Künker Auction House, during its Berlin auction, will offer an extensive series of pre-1871 German rarities. Among them, there will be an extremely rare taler of the count of Veldenz.
The die cutting czarina
“Made by Maria” can be read in Russian on the reverse of a medal, which will be auctioned off on June 21st, 2016 at Künker. It is remarkable, that a woman created these dies, and the story gets even more interesting, knowing that this die cutter was a Russian czarina.
Medieval Sicily Part 8: Rome, acclaimed and plundered
Pope Gregory VII had to watch helplessly as Henry entered Rome and was crowned emperor. Admittedly, the Norman Robert Guiscard came to his aid, but that almost made things worse.
Human Faces Part 12: Augustus, Peacemaking Emperor or Mass Murderer?
Why is it that for centuries – or rather thousands of years – the head has served as the motif for the side of a coin? And why has this changed in the last 200 years? This chapter of the series ‘Human Faces’ looks at Augustus and his new image following the Civil War.
The Thirty Years’ War – Part 3
Both religion and power were the focal points of the Thirty Years’ War that shook the whole of Europe during the 17th century. Ursula Kampmann brings that era alive. Today you will read about Frederick’s fight for Bohemia and Ferdinand’s fight for the imperial crown.
The Thirty Years’ War – Part 8 (1626-1629)
Religion was of secondary importance in the Thirty Years’ War. It was all about power and money. Ursula Kampmann brings that era alive. Today you will read how the emperor had got the match sewn up – but gave it away in the end.
Human faces, part 39: The price of power
Possessing colonies with vast resources of silver, Spanish king Philip II could have helped his kingdom to enormous economic prosperity. But even the largest treasure of silver could not realise Philip’s power-hungry fantasy of proselytizing half of Europe.
Human faces, part 45: The birth of liberty
Why was the human head the motif on coins for centuries, no, for millennia? And why did that change in the last 200 years? Today we will talk about the aftermath of the French Revolution and the beginning of a reign of terror …
Of willows, palm trees and cedars – A brief numismatic dendrology
On June 23, 2016, Künker is going to auction off a so far unpublished willow tree coin. The reverse of the 10-ducat piece depicts a willow tree in a storm. But what did the minting authority, William V, wish to express here? And what do trees on coins signify anyway?
Numismatic Miniatures from the North: Part 1 – The Stolen Crowns of Strängnäs
Strängnäs, July 31, 2018. Thieves have run off with two crowns and an orb. These are unique relics of Swedish history that represent the nation’s conversion to Protestantism. Of course, we went to see them on our journey to the North.