Human faces, part 36: Charles V – Territories as far as the eye can see
For centuries, no, for millennia, human faces were the most popular choice for the decoration of a coin obverse. That the coin’s reverse can be just as fascinating will be shown in this episode of our series.
Sigismund III – King of Poland, King of Sweden
The early modern era was much more democratic that we are inclined to believe. The Polish chose a Swedish king, and the Swedes forced that Polish king to make great concessions. A unique coin which will be sold at Leipziger Münzhandlung on October 24, 2015, bears testimony to these events.
Sicilian Mosaic Part 1: Background
The history of Sicily is shaped by the geographical situation of the island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Many peoples went through the country. Their trading, their wars and their peaceful coexistence are reflected on the coins.
Sicilian Mosaic Part 9: The tyrant Dionys to seek
The war between Segesta and Selinunte did not come to an end with the Syracusan victory over Athens. Now, the Carthaginians got involved and the Syracusans made Dionysius their tyrant in order to save their city.
Numismatic Miniatures from the North: Part 3 – Treasure Island. The History
If you’re looking for the island where the most treasures have been found, you don’t need to sail to the Caribbean. Far from it. The highest concentration of treasure finds is in the North, more specifically on the island of Gotland, which used to be a central trading post in the Baltic Sea.
Human faces, part 24: The woman in charge of Zurich
Why is it that for centuries – or rather thousands of years – the head has served as the motif for the side of a coin? That whoever was holding the office of the abbess at the Fraumünster in Zurich in the Middle Ages was in an immensely powerful position is remembered on today’s coin.
How Malta Came under the British Flag
On March 12, 2015, the auction house Künker auctions off an unusually rare testimony of the Maltese history. The small silver ingot in the weight of 30 tari from 1800 is the last currency produced on Malta.
The Thirty Years’ War – Part 9 (1629-1630)
Religion was of secondary importance in the Thirty Years’ War. It was all about power and money. Ursula Kampmann brings that era alive. Today we look abroad: to Mantua and the Netherlands.
The Julius lösers
In London as many as 12 Julius löser, of several dates and weights, will be offered on October 30, 2015. These impressive coins tell of one of the most remarkable rulers of the 16th century and a numismatic success story.
This is how coins with polymer ring are made: a visit to the Karlsruhe Mint
On April 14, 2016, the 5 euro coins “Planet Earth” will be released. The number of orders exceeds the mintage. For all those who came away empty-handed we have a view inside the Karlsruhe Mint where a portion of the mintage was produced.