British Pobjoy Mint releases 2017 Titanium Blue Whale
On behalf of the South Georgia and The Sandwich Islands Government, Pobjoy Mint releases the 2017 issue of the Blue Whale made of blue titanium and featuring a new effigy design of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Mennica Polska
The Mint of Poland is one of the few cases in which a state-owned enterprise has been successfully converted into a private company. At present, the Mennica Polska is a stock company, of which the Polish state no longer holds any shares.
The rise and fall of a private mint: the Birmingham Mint
It is not a law of nature that the production of coins must be in the hands of the state. The private Birmingham Mint was the world’s leading supplier of small change in the 19th cent. It went bankrupt, when, in 2001, the Royal Mint cancelled a secret contract.
The End of the Danish Mint
In 2016 the Royal Danish Mint was closed without any detailed public debate. This meant the end of a tradition dating back more than a millennium. Does the fate of the Danish Mint serve as an example for the fact that national mints have outlived their usefulness for cost reasons?
The Privatisation Disaster of the German Bundesdruckerei
The privatisation of state-owned companies may unburden a state. Mind you, may, but does not have to. Because when a privatisation is implemented as ill-considered as in the case of the German Federal Printing Office, significant damage to the taxpayers can be done.
A Quasi Unregulated Market?
In this article, Daniel Sheffer wonders whether there is need for legal regulations in order to guarantee a fair competition between state-owned monopoly holders and private enterprises.
Why Germany has Five State-Owned Mints
Many a coin collector is wondering why France and Great Britain own one mint, while Germany has five state-owned mints at its disposal. Why Germany does so and why it will probable continue to have them for a while, is summarised in this article.
Swissmint starts the numismatic Reformation year
The tradition of minting commemorative coins on occasion of the Reformation-jubilees has existed for centuries. 2017 more coins will be issued. The Swissmint has now lead off. Ursula Kampmann went to the opening ceremony of the Swiss Reformation year in Zurich.
Welcome to Iran! Part 11: Persepolis! At last!
If ever there was a reason why I wanted to travel Iran, it was Persepolis, the capital of the Persians with its incredible Apadana. Finally the day has come. We are going to see the city of cities!
Stockholm’s Royal Coin Cabinet is relocated to the Swedish History Museum
On 12 January 2017 we reported on the current closing of Sweden’s Royal Coin Cabinet. Now the director informs us that the cabinet is relocated to the Swedish History Museum. It will certainly reopen presumably in spring 2019. Please read the director’s letter.