Birds of Paradise in the German Empire
16 March 2026
Birds of Paradise in the German Empire
Arguably the most fine and wanted commemorative coin of the German Empire features a bird of paradise. This motif was chosen for reasons that went beyond mere aesthetics.
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Kumaragupta and the Rhinoceros
3 March 2026
Kumaragupta and the Rhinoceros
While Rome struggled in the West, Gupta culture flourished in northern India. Their coins rival Rome’s. Here is a coin of Kumaragupta, the rhino slayer.
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750,000 CHF for the First Sovereign
3 February 2026
750,000 CHF for the First Sovereign
A royal edict of October 28, 1489, introduced the sovereign, a new English gold coin. A premier first-generation example has just sold at auction for 750,000 CHF.
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Kill the profiteers!
3 February 2026
Kill the profiteers!
In the 19th century, the German Peasants' War was seen as purely religious, while communists stressed its economic causes—an interpretation now considered correct.
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Asklepios plays soccer
22 January 2026
Asklepios plays soccer
Since Caracalla, Asclepius regularly appears with a small ball at his feet. The article explains why this object can be seen there and what we can conclude about Caracalla's personality from this.
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Allez Hop!
20 January 2026
Allez Hop!
Switzerland’s first colored commemorative coin, dedicated to a circus, was a major success and also attracted strong interest from artists.
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The Centén of 1609: The Most Expensive European Coin
20 January 2026
The Centén of 1609: The Most Expensive European Coin
On November 24, 2025, the 1609 centén of 100 Escudos set a record in Geneva, selling for 2.3 million CHF and becoming the most expensive modern European coin.
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Fountain competition in Braunschweig
15 January 2026
Fountain competition in Braunschweig
A medal from 1691 commemorates the fact that the rulers of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Brunswick-Lüneburg fought for supremacy.
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Assassination in the sacred sphere: the Pazzi conspiracy
16 December 2025
Assassination in the sacred sphere: the Pazzi conspiracy
Political assassins have always used sacred spaces to carry out their attacks. Immersed in prayer, the faithful are easy targets. A remarkable Renaissance medal tells the story of an assassination.
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