Mexican mint marks
What do M°, D°, and Zs mean on Mexican coins? This article explains the history of the mint marks of México, Durango, and Zacatecas and shows how Ceca and Ensayador differ.
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Hong Kong Mint: Two years of coin minting and a second life in Osaka
The Hong Kong Mint only operated for two years. Its silver dollar was intended to compete with the familiar Mexican dollar in trade with China, but changing market conditions and insufficient production led to the project’s demise. Some of its technology and expertise lived on at the Japan Mint in Osaka from 1871 onwards.
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The penny from the steam engine: How the Soho Mint changed coinage
The Soho Mint was the world’s first steam-powered mint. In 1797, it minted the cartwheel penny. Its machinery had an impact far beyond Soho.
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Birmingham Mint – the coin factory behind pennies and gold rarities
British pennies and the golden Burgerspond both originate from the same mint: Heaton in Birmingham. This article explores how the private mint operated, what the “H” stands for, and what remained after the old operation closed.
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Gold, power, and New York’s fight for its own US mint
Californian gold, two cities and controversial minting plans: Why New York wanted to mint its own coins, what tasks the New York Assay Office took on from 1854 onwards and what remained of the decades-long location conflict.
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Oom Paul – the mint that minted the first Krugerrand
Oom Paul outlived the state mint at Church Square in Pretoria and struck the first Krugerrand in 1967. Even the farewell issue of 2024 did not mark its final use: at the opening of the South African Reserve Bank Museum in 2026, President Ramaphosa struck a coin on the old Berlin press.
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Pobjoy Mint – what remains after 58 years of coin minting
The Pobjoy Mint minted coins for more than 40 countries and territories from 1965 to 2023. A look back at 58 years of coin production, technical innovations, special gold coins, and the question of what remains after the mint’s closure.
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From purchase to collection: How we examine a rare gold coin
How do we truly assess a rare gold coin? Dirk Wasserthal, together with junior numismatist Cooper, demonstrates what matters regarding condition, rarity, grading, provenance, and market.
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Collectors, dealers and cultural heritage – adversaries or partners?
When do coins become cultural assets – and what responsibility do collectors and dealers bear? This article explains the German Cultural Heritage Protection Act (KGSG), provenance, ownership issues, and the role of the legal coin trade.
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Recovering stolen coins: From the wanted notice to their return
Stolen coins sometimes resurface years later. This article shows how police, INTERPOL, IAPN, Art Loss Register, NGC, PCGS, TheftCheck, and international investigations turn a loss report into a reliable hit.
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1933 Double Eagle: 445,500 minted, only one legally in private ownership
Eleven coins from a year that was never officially issued lay side by side in Pittsburgh on August 28, 2026. At the World’s Fair of Money, the US Mint displayed…
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When coin treasures disappear – spectacular numismatic thefts
What happens when famous gold coins and entire coin hoards are stolen? Seven cases show why far more than the pure metal value is at stake.
