Professional Articles
Oh Dear, I Think I’m Becoming a God! Numismatic Testaments to the Consecration of Roman Emperors

Professional Articles

20 articles
17. October 2024
Oh Dear, I Think I’m Becoming a God! Numismatic Testaments to the Consecration of Roman Emperors

On 31 October 2024, Künker will auction off part 9 of the Dr. W.R. Collection. It presents Roman coins from the period between the civil war of 68/9 and the end of the Severan dynasty. The diverse material illustrates the numismatic traces of the consecration of Roman emperors.

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10. October 2024
Sisi and Franz: Commemorating the Dream Wedding that Was Actually a Nightmare

As part of the phaleristic auction 415 on 28 October 2024, we will be auctioning the set of gold medals that Emperor Franz Joseph presented to his father-in-law, Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria. It is the numismatic souvenir of a wedding that turned out to be a nightmare for his daughter – young Elisabeth, who is better known as Sissi or Sisi today.

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10. October 2024
Clémentine d’Orléans: Extraordinary Woman and Coin Collector

Few women have left such a decisive mark on the history of 19th-century Europe as Cleméntine d’Orléans, and yet it was not until 2007 that her life was honored with a biography. We are delighted to be able to offer a coin collection that once belonged to this woman.

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10. October 2024
Carl Theodor in Bavaria: The Old Nobility Takes Up a New Role

In the context of Künker’s phaleristic sale at the end of October, the Osnabrück auction house will present orders from the estate of Carl Theodor Duke in Bavaria. Carl Theodor is one of the most interesting figures of Bavarian history. In contrast to his famous sister Sisi, he managed to live a fulfilled and self-determined life – as an eye specialist.

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01. September 2024
Die Löser – Ein silberner Hymnus auf die Welfenherrscher
The essay is only in German language available.
Löser sind Mehrfachtaler, die von den Welfenfürsten geprägt wurden. Sie konnten in Ausnahmefällen den Wert von 25 Talern haben und dann ein Gewicht von nahezu 724 g erreichen (vgl. Balan 1993, 117; Mehl 2015). Üblicher, aber auch recht selten waren Löser mit einem Durchmesser von 10 mm und einem Gewicht von 465 g (Duve 1966, 36 [Herzog Julius]; ebd. 66 [Friedrich Ulrich]). Häufiger wurden Fraktionen davon geprägt: 9, 5, 4, 3, 2½, 2, 1½, 1¼ Taler. Alle Löser hatten denselben Feingehalt wie die Reichstaler, waren demnach 14 Lot 4 Grän fein, das sind 889/1000 (Bahrfeldt 1912, 250).
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400 Years Ago – The Founding of Kongsberg
On 2 May 1624, Christian IV of Denmark and Norway founded the mining town of Kongsberg. A series of coins to be offered in upcoming Summer Auction Sale tells us of the hopes that the ruler placed in the silver from these mines.
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A Commemorative Coin Celebrating the Completion of Austria’s Southern Railway
Commemorative coins were issued far less frequently in the 19th century than today. The fact that Emperor Franz Josef dedicated a commemorative coin to the Austrian Southern Railway is therefore testimony to the outstanding importance of this line. In our SUmmer Auction Sale 408, we are offering two of only 1,644 specimens minted.
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Charles I of Austria-Hungary: A Hapless Emperor Who Was Beatified
In the context of our Summer Auction Sales, we will offer the only gold coin of the last Austro-Hungarian Emperor that is available on the market. Johannes Nollé tells the story of this coin and its commissioner, who died in Madeira aged only 35.
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For Railroad Fans: The Suram Pass
Railroad history is linked to numismatics in many ways. Fascinating large-scale projects were often celebrated with medals and commemorative coins. Our example takes us to Georgia, where a tunnel has reduced the gradient of the Transcaucasus Railway since 1890. A medal that will be offered in our Summer Auction Sale on 18 June 2024 commemorates the opening of the Suram Tunnel.
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The Olympic Games That Are No Longer Recognized
In 1906, the IOC and the country of Greece invited athletes from all over the world to the Olympic Games in Athens. The Games had a lasting impact on the ceremonies surrounding the sporting showdown, even though the IOC no longer recognizes these Olympics today. A winner’s medal from the Games will be auctioned off in our Summer Auction Sales.
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A War Fought with Unusual Weapons: How Prussia Used Finance and Politics to Force the Habsburg Hereditary Lands Out of the German Confederation
On 26 March 2024, we will offer the Tursky Collection with coins of Emperor Franz Josef I. We use specimens from this collection to tell the story of how Prussia used its economic sway to become the sole hegemonic power in Germany.
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Regensburg: Where the Emperor and the Empire Met
Only a few German cities issued as magnificent early modern coins as Regensburg. And there is a good reason for this – gold and heavy silver coins in particular were in high demand in this city. Not for trading purposes but for representation. After all, the Perpetual Diet of the Holy Roman Empire sat in Regensburg. We explain how it worked and what role coins played in this event.
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04. February 2024
Coins and Medals of the Popes: Representatives of the Catholic Church

Since the 16th century, people throughout Europe have collected coins and medals of the popes. Papal issues were often intended to be collectibles rather than a means of payment. We give a little introduction to this fascinating field of collection.

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23. January 2024
The Great Elector, Taxes and the Rise of Prussia

On 1 February 2024, we will hold our 400th auction sale. Among the 770 lots are very rare issues from the reign of Frederick William of Brandenburg-Prussia. They bear witness to the achievements of the Great Elector, who brought prosperity to a realm devastated by the Thirty Years’ War.

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10. January 2024
The Borki Train Disaster
On 29 October 1888, the Russian imperial train derailed near the village of Borki. 23 people lost their lives. The tsar’s family survived. A medal commemorates the event. It will be offered in the context of our Berlin Auction Sale on 1 February 2024.
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09. January 2024
Why Are There So Many Coins Depicting Saint George?
Saint George is one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages and the early modern period. He is venerated by both Catholic and Orthodox Christians, the Druze and even Muslims. What do we know about this saint? Did he even exist? And why are there so many coins depicting him?
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01. October 2023
Empire
In auction 397, we will auctioning a necklace and bracelet made from ancient coins, said to have been commissioned by the great general Napoleon Bonaparte for his younger sister Pauline. That would make sense: In Napoleon’s time, people loved anything that was reminiscent of antiquity.
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01. October 2023
Bulgaria, Prince Ferdinand I and the Railway
Every 3rd of March, Bulgaria celebrates its bank holidays. On this day, Bulgarians remember that after the “April Uprising” of 1876, they became an autonomous principality through the Treaty of Berlin of 1878.
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07. September 2023
Two Cityscapes on Coins from Frankfurt am Main and the Artwork that inspired them
Many engravers used contemporary media to make their work easier. Their coin designs were often based on well-known copper engravings. We will illustrate this by looking at two pieces from the Loos Collection, which will be auctioned in September 2023.
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31. August 2023
The Lodewijk S. Beuth Collection: Coins of the Netherlands
We haven’t seen a comparable collection of Dutch coins on the market for almost half a century! On 27 and 28 September 2023, we will be auctioning the first part of this collection in collaboration with Laurens Schulman B.V.: 1,189 lots with a total estimate of more than 2 million euros.
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