The National Bank of Kazakhstan has begun the issue of newly minted coins that include text in the Latin alphabet, which the country officially began transitioning to in 2017. The new coins are part of a presidential decree initiated by the former president, Nazarbaev, who announced in April 2017 that all national publications, documents, correspondences […]
United Kingdom: Penny and two-pence pieces gain reprieve from chancellor
The question arose once again this month about whether the two smallest coin denominations should be discontinued in the United Kingdom. This was today put to rest at least for the foreseeable future by British Finance Minister Philip Hammond. The announcement, made during the Verdict of the Pyx ceremony in London, where he reiterated plans […]
Estonia unveils 2020 €2 commemorative design in celebration of Tartu Peace Treaty centenary anniversary
The Bank of Estonia unveiled (2nd May) the winning design for next year’s commemorative €2 coin which is scheduled to be issued in celebration of the centenary anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty. Signed on the 2nd February 1920, the treaty formally recognised Estonian independence, which was won after the Baltic nation fought a war […]
Abdication of Emperor Akihito takes place, marking official end of the Heisei Era
At 5:00 p.m. local time yesterday, His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Akihito of Japan, proclaimed his time as the emperor was coming to its conclusion. In a prepared statement, which he read from the Matsu no Ma State Room of the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, the official home of the Japanese Head of State, Akihito thanked […]
India: New 20-rupee banknote issue joins current and second “Mahatma” series
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced (26th April) they will shortly issue the new ₹20 denomination banknotes (U.S. $.029) which will be part of the current and second Mahatma Gandhi series that was first begun in 2017. This particular denomination will be issued including the signature of Shri Shaktikanta Das, governor of the […]
If cryptocurrencies become one of the most common forms of exchange, will banks form around them?
An article by Larry D. Wall, the executive director of the Center for Financial Innovation and Stability at the Atlanta Fed, examines a probable future in which cryptocurrency plays such a critical role in the global financial system that it becomes as influential to markets as standard forms of currency. The primary question that he tackles […]
Niue: Gaming enthusiasts celebrate the 35th anniversary of Tetris with new colourful silver coin
The government and treasury of Niue have released (15th April) new collector coins which celebrate the original release of an electronic game which took the gaming world by storm: Tetris. First completed as a viable electronic game on the 6th June 1984, Tetris was originally designed and programmed by Alexey Pajitnov, a Soviet computer specialist […]
Romania: Centenary anniversary observed with new silver Proof coin honouring completion of the Great Union
The Banca National a’ Romaniei has issued (22nd April) new collector coins which mark the centenary anniversary of a chapter in Romanian history referred to as the “completion of the Great Union.” Following the conclusion of the fighting in Europe and the official end of the Great War in 1919, a “Great Union” was created. […]
Australia: Centenary anniversary of repatriation of World War I soldiers remembered on new two-dollar coin
The Royal Australian Mint has released new commemorative coins on the 8th April marking the centenary of repatriation for Australian soldiers and nurses after the First World War. Following the conclusion of the First World War, transporting or repatriating the dominion and colonial soldiers from the empire back to their respective homes was paramount, and […]
Is it time to re-think the secondary coin market?
We ask a leading expert and industry leader about this very subject: Richard Lobel, owner/director of Coincraft London. As a leading voice in the field of the coin world’s secondary market, I had an opportunity to ask Richard Lobel, owner/director of Coincraft in London, what he believed the shape of the secondary market is currently […]
