Numismatists call a special thaler struck in Zurich in 1660 “Waserthaler”. Its name refers to Heinrich Waser, mayor of Zurich who was thought to have betrayed his hometown. This was not true. We will tell you the full story.

Macedonia, 90 BC

Feb 22nd, 2016

Who and what was Aesillas who was placing his name so prominently on Macedonian coins. The search for him leads us to the means the Romans used to conquer Asia Minor.

Nuremberg, after 1612

Jan 7th, 2016

Where did the meat come from which was consumed in medieval Nuremberg? A little medal guides us to the Fleischerbrücke of Nuremberg, which each of the Hungarian cattle had to cross in order to reach the slaughterhouse.

Rome, 1268

Nov 17th, 2015 6m 10s

Charles of Anjou, Conradin and Rome, capital of the world, those three are the main characters of our story which is about the bloody end of the Staufer and the conquest of Sicily.

Austria, 1931

Oct 6th, 2015 5m 11s

Why does the eagle of the Austrian coat of arms hold hammer and sickle in his talons? Does he want to declare his love to Communism? This podcast goes further into this matter and will find a completely different reason.

Lydia, c.550 B. C.

Sep 7th, 2015

The legendary wealth of king Kroesus is still known today. This may be based on the fact that his coins circulated even centuries after his death. After all, he was the first to introduce a bimetallic currency system.

Philippopolis, AD 218

Aug 10th, 2015

Do you know how athletes were honored during the era of the Roman Empire? This podcast deals with price crowns, trophy money and professionals who made big money due to their talent.

Syracuse, after 500 BC

Jul 13th, 2015

Do you know, what is the obverse of the coins from Syracuse? The winning quadriga or beautiful Arethusa? In order to answer the question we have to talk about the pantheon of Syracuse.

Frankfurt am Main, 1843

Jun 29th, 2015

19th century Germany was bothered by many different currencies. Nevertheless, in the end these currencies were brought together. This podcast will tell you how.

Melle, 818

Jun 15th, 2015

Silver was incredibly precious in the early Middle Ages due to the fact that it was extremely expensive to get out of the earth. How this was done, we will see in Melle, the only preserved silver mine of the medieval epoch.

Rome, AD 37-41

Jun 2nd, 2015

Agrippa was no Roman Emperor. Nevertheless we are finding his portrait on a coin. Who was this man? And why had his grandson him pictured on coins.

Ticinum–Pavia, AD 295

May 18th, 2015

How do you reign an empire without being equipped with telephone and internet? Share the work! Like Diocletian did. He created the tetrarchy and ruled the Roman empire very successfully with a little help of his colleagues.

Venice, AD 1471

May 5th, 2015

What do you prefer as head of state? An absolute ruler or a pure figurehead? Sometimes this discussion is mirrored in coinage: Venice made just one coin featuring the portrait of a doge. We are telling you its story.

Bars

Apr 17th, 2015

Long before man paid with coins he used standardized objects as money. Merchants preferred metal: gold, silver, copper, bronze all over the world through the ages.

Brandenburg, 1150

Apr 6th, 2015

Do you know, which role played a German margrave in the Middle Ages? Here you will find out. The Margrave of Brandenburg has turned his function into a coin picture.

Sybaris, 510 BC

Mar 23rd, 2015

They were notorious for their sumptuary way of life, those Sybarites, whose city was destroyed in 510 BC. But they should have been known for being a member of the probably first monetary union in history.

Rome, 1527

Mar 9th, 2015

The heyday of Rome ended in 1527. 24,000 lansquenets looted the Eternal City to get their pending pay. The Pope disbursed 400,000 ducats ransom money. More about this story you will find here.

Rome, AD 215

Feb 23rd, 2015

Do you know, what Asklepios the Greek god of healing has to do with a football? Nothing at all. Nevertheless you will find a ball next to his foot on coins. The reason for it you will get to know in this podcast.

Jülich, 1610

Feb 11th, 2015

What do you need for waging a war. Very simple. Money, money and more money. But what’s to do if you run out of it? Very simple. You can batter your silverware to pieces as it was done to pay the soldiers in Jülich in 1610.

Asia Minor, 336 BC

Jan 26th, 2015 3m 56s

Head or tail – this question is answered by tossing a coin. The head, the portrait has become a synonym for the coin’s obverse. But since when? And who was the first to use his portrait on coins?

United States of America, 1908

Jan 12th, 2015 3m 38s

It’s an American legend the Saint-Gaudens double eagle. A president and an artist formed a plot to enforce it against the mint’s wishes. It became a success in the end, because the artist died sufficiently early.

Erfurt, 1150

Dec 16th, 2014 4m 55s

The Conflict of Investitures was not only a matter of clerical authority, but also of money. The Pope demanded the rich benefice of Heidenheim of Bishop Heinrich of Cologne. How he managed to receive it, you will get to know in this podcast.

Ravenna, AD 425

Dec 1st, 2014 4m 5s

She was a stunner this Galla Placidia. Daughter of an emperor, hostage and widow of a Gothic king, widow of an emperor, mother and regent of an emperor and always in the middle of politics.

Asia, Africa, Oceania, ca. 2000 BC to AD 1960

Nov 17th, 2014 4m 34s

Long before the first man on earth thought about striking a coin, cowries were used for payment. And at least in 1960 AD in some parts of the world cowries were still accepted as money.

Akragas, 406 BC

Nov 5th, 2014 6m 17s

In 406 a Carthaginian army was laying siege to Akragas. Mercenaries were standing on the other side of the wall. They were well paid, but at some point the politicians of Akragas ran out of money. What happened then, you will be told here.