backe - search results

The Getty museum is being sued, because it allegedly communicated with the owner of antiques they wanted to buy. Phoenix Ancient Art consider themselves ousted as middleman and claim 77 million dollars for breach of contract. But was there ever a contract?

The Quit Rent Ceremony, where London pays rent for two properties to the respective British monarch, has been documented since 1211. The currency is still the same as 800 years ago: knives, horseshoes and nails.

A turtle in Thailand had to have surgery because it was dragging its leg behind, swimming. The doctors found something wildly unexpected in her stomach: 5 kilograms of coins. The animal had swallowed 915 coins.

In a concerted action, the U.S. American Secret Service seized fake U.S. banknotes worth $30 million in Lima, Peru. Controlled by the mafia, this is where many of the world’s most-talented counterfeiters are working.

Venezuela is currently stricken by an energy crisis and food shortages. Although the people are forced to pay with wads of money already, President Maduro withdrew the highest denomination banknote worth 100 bolívar - only to declare it still valid again.

In the summer of 2016, children discovered a gold treasure worth 250,000 euros while playing. Only days before the official period would have expired, the owner unexpectedly came forward.

In March 2015 Leston Lawrence gained a questionable fame when he was accused of having smuggled gold blanks out of the Royal Canadian Mint by concealing them in his rectum. A court has now adjudged him guilty.

In times of a flailing economy, Egypt’s creative class is designing new banknotes. A popular motif is the bust of Nefertiti. That the identification with an artwork that has not actually been stored in the country for 100 years is so strong must apparently be credited to Zahi Hawass.

Finally, the EU survey on the public consultation on rules on the import of cultural goods can also be accessed in all European languages. Please do not hesitate to fill it in. It’s your democratic right as a collector and dealer! The consultation is open until January 23, 2017.

Utilizing a sovereign coin to express one’s not so sovereign opinion is a venerable tradition. Reinterpreting coin motifs by engraving can be highly creative. This is how Shaun Hughes creates modern art.