Human faces, part 35: A girl gets herself a husband
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, we will witness how a confident Isabella of Castile takes her rightful place on the throne next to her husband.
The Thirty Years’ War – Part 15 (1635-1637)
Religion was of secondary importance in the Thirty Years’ War. It was all about power and money. Ursula Kampmann brings that era alive. Today, France is in the thick of the action.
Human faces, part 44: Flight to Varennes
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, Louis XVI tries to escape his death in vain.
Sicilian Mosaic Part 5: Syracuse
In 485, Gelon managed to gain control over the city of Syracuse. At that time, the city already looked back at decades of minting coins which featured Arethusa and a horse chariot. Why you will read here.
Cologne – the new Rome
Magnificent coins from Cologne show the city’s patron saints: the Three Magi and Saint Ursula with her companions. Rich in relics, Cologne became a new Rome. We are exploring how this wealth of saints came about using coins from the bank house Sal. Oppenheim collection.
Human Faces Part 18: A Fine Specimen of an Emperor
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 the reasons why the attempt to establish national economy in ancient Rome failed.
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.
Damnatio ad Bestias, or What Happened to Roman Counterfeiters
As part of Auction 231 comprising “Ancient Art”, Gorny & Mosch presents an object that is a splendid illustration of the history of Roman law. A Terra Sigillata bowl from the 2nd to the 3rd centuries A. D. depicts a damnatio ad bestias. This type of execution was likewise applied to counterfeiters of coins.
Blood money
Blodsklippingar or blood klippe is the Swedish numismatic term for coins that tell the story of one of the darkest periods of Swedish history: the drama of fraternal feud and a revolt, of great love and courageous women, of insanity, passion and lust for power… but see for yourself.
The Battle of Poltava
On February 4th, 2016, Auction House Künker will offer a gold medal, commemorating, what probably is, the most important military success of Peter the Great: his victory at the Battle of Poltava, which changed the course of the Great Nordic War.