Celtic Coins
The Celts, whose name goes back to the Greek historian Herodotus (Gr. keltoi = “the brave”), once lived throughout northern Europe, although there was never a Celtic “state formation”, but rather (at most) occasional “alliances of convenience” between the individual tribes. Immerse yourself in the imagery of one of the oldest European cultures with a special collection of antique Celtic coins, and experience the rich symbolism of the Celts.
Greek Coins
Ancient Greece set the course for the development of European civilisation. In addition to the development of Attic democracy, monumental buildings (Acropolis), important historical works (Herodotus) and major sporting events (Olympics) that have had an impact right up to modern times are among the cultural achievements of the “classical period” (ca. 500-363/323 BC). Bring a piece of the cradle of Europe home with a collection of coins from antiquity.
Roman Coins
For more than 500 years, the Roman Empire dominated much of the known ancient world, also shaping the economy, art and culture of Europe for centuries to come. The Romans also laid the foundation for many later developments in coinage and money. Experience the exciting time of the Punic Wars, Caesar’s conquest of Gaul or the burning of Rome under Emperor Nero -- in the empire’s coinage.
Byzantine Coins
Experience the coinage and eventful history of the Eastern Roman Empire from the 5th to the 15th century with a collection of Byzantine coins. The Roman Empire did not fall until the late Middle Ages -- at least in Eastern Europe. With the division of the Imperium Romanum after the death of Emperor Theodosius I in 395, the “Byzantine Empire” arose in the eastern part, named after its capital. The term actually originates from modern historical research. The empire’s contemporaries always understood and referred to themselves as “Romans” and never as “Byzantines”.
Migration Period
Expertise is called for here: Become an expert on coins of the Vandals, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Suebi and Lombards, and experience the time of the “barbarian Invasions” and the beginning of the European Middle Ages in coin design and writing.
Medieval Coins
In this collecting area you will discover 1,000 years of European history -- from the earliest coinage of the Germanic successor states to the Roman Empire in the Migration Period, to the coins of Emperor Maximilian I.
Crusaders
Hardly any other events had such a social and cultural impact on the world of the Middle Ages between the 11th and 13th centuries as the Crusades, and the associated formation of Christian states in Palestine and the Mediterranean. Enter an eventful epoch and experience the medieval cultural exchange between Orient and Occident.
German Coins and Medals
Learn more about the varied history of German coins from the Middle Ages to the introduction of the imperial currency in 1871. Coinage in the territory of the German Empire from the end of the Middle Ages (15th century) to the introduction of the imperial currency in 1871 is certainly one of the most diverse and varied numismatic collecting areas of all.
Habsburg Hereditary Lands - Austria
European Coins and Medals
The modern era of numismatics began in Europe around the year 1500 in the Habsburg lands. With the minting of the Tyrolean guildergroschen in 1486, the first large silver coin worth a Rhenish gold guilder, Archduke Sigismund der Münzreiche (1439-1490) provided the template for the most successful coin type of the next 400 years. Start an exciting journey through the (coin) history of the European continent in its coin and medal images.
Russian Coins and Medals
The history of Russian coins is still comparatively young. The development of Russian coins cannot be directly traced back to antique or medieval models. And yet, in an astonishingly short period of time, it unfolded a wealth and splendour which, with its impressive coin and medal designs as well as large-format gold and silver coinage, is able to quickly cast a spell over collectors.
Coins of the Middle East
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of oriental coinage. With a little practice in the often well-illustrated literature, collectors can quickly achieve success in this coin world of strange signs and high levels of organisation. The history of Arab coinage begins with the imitation of Byzantine and Sasanian types, since the conquerors of the territories previously ruled by Byzantium did not create any coinage of their own until the time of Mohammed. In addition to the sometimes quite free interpretation of their models, the ruling caliph was also depicted on the Arab coinage.
Coins and Medals from Overseas
Bring a piece of the big wide world home in your coinage, and experience the exciting coinage history of Latin America, South Africa, or India.
Chinese Coins
With more than one billion inhabitants, China is now the most populous country on the planet, with a history stretching back over 2,000 years. There is evidence of the use of money in China as early as the Neolithic period, albeit at that time in the form of cowrie shells (“primitive money”). This was followed by a phase of “implement money” with bronze means of payment in the form of knives (“Bu”) or spades (“Dao”).
German Coins after 1871
The eventful history of Germany in the 20th century has produced a multitude of coin types, as well as emergency-, commemorative- and substitute coinage. It represents a varied and, due to the broad literature base, easily accessible field for the collector. With the constitution of the German Empire of 16 April 1871, the responsibility for the imperial currency was also transferred from the individual federal states to the imperial government. This finally made it possible to carry out the long-needed reforms, to create a uniform system of weights, measures and coins in the form of the Imperial Mint.
Orders and Decorations
Discover the world of orders -- from ancient to modern times -- and start your collection of civilian or military decorations today. As early as ancient Greece, orders and decorations were awarded for military merit in the form of small metal discs or crescents. The Romans adopted this custom for their army and named this type of award phalera, in imitation of the Greek tá fálára. The term for the scientific study of orders, “phaleristics”, is also derived from this Latin word.
Scales and Weights
Experience the fascinating world of scales and weights in a time that did not yet know a uniform system of weights, measures and coins.
