Modern Coins

Commemorative coins marking Expo 2020 Dubai

The UAE is witnessing numerous innovations to celebrate Expo 2020 Dubai, the first Expo to be held in the Middle East. New Zealand Mint has released commemorative gold and silver coins licensed by the Expo 2020 Dubai office, bearing the event's name and logo. These commemoratives include a 7-gram, 22mm diameter pure gold coin (9999 purity) priced at AED 2,679, as well as another coin…

Information is the amateur's weapon

As we've mentioned many times before, information is the most important weapon an amateur can possess. That's why I'm sometimes surprised to see amateurs who have access to these tools yet choose not to use them, preferring to rely on others. Take, for example, these two coins issued to commemorate the January 25th Revolution. They were issued using the technology of circulating currency and were never released in the form of…

Fakeness in the world of hobbies

Since its inception, "The Arab Collector" magazine has taken upon itself the task of warning enthusiasts about counterfeiting methods in the world of hobbies, such as stamps and medals, as well as in the field of coins, where a number of counterfeit pieces have proliferated, such as those that circulated for a time on Chinese websites, in addition to those that appear from time to time on eBay. Counterfeiting is like war; it's a back-and-forth affair, and we find…

Niue Island Editions“

It's delightful to find that those responsible for minting coins abroad actually possess a knack for marketing. Take, for example, the silver coin pictured in this post – the first issue from Niue, near Australia, in 2020. It features Her Majesty the Queen on the obverse, as usual, but the reverse is the reverse of a 1930 Australian penny (and this penny, for those who don't know, is considered one of the rarest coins...).

The process of re-minting coins

Some details about the re-strike process in coins: There has been much talk recently about re-strikes, particularly with the emergence of Egyptian coins from the NGC company, which seemed strange to many collectors. This article will not present all the theories, but rather focus on the known facts about re-strikes in numismatics in general.

The Mint Museum: A History of Egyptian Tales

Egypt celebrates a long history of producing coins since the Islamic conquest in 641 in Fustat, then the establishment of a fully-fledged mint in 1954, followed by the step of opening a museum for the historical coins that were circulated, in addition to the modern coins that Egypt now produces.

The story of the "Vego" coins“

We've often heard of children teasing each other for various reasons, and sometimes even children trying to provoke someone older or more important. All of this is quite normal and commonplace in our daily lives. But when we look back at history, we sometimes find that even major powers have followed the same path. And that's today's story…

Evaluating bronze coins and the difference in color shades and their impact on price due to the rarity factor

Evaluating bronze coins and the difference between color grades and their effect on price due to the scarcity factor, along with models from different countries, as well as Spaceman models and how to evaluate the color of Spaceman coins.

counterfeit gold bullion

A warning has been issued regarding the increasing supply of counterfeit gold bars imported from China. Most are made of copper plated with a relatively thick layer of gold. The bar, while encased in plastic, appears very convincing, but upon opening it, imperfections become apparent, revealing its forgery. Testing with a Sigma metal detector confirms the forgery beyond any doubt.

From the records of Egyptian currency documents

From the records of Egyptian currency documents, a letter dated November 12, 1924 – Subject: Design of the (new) half-millime coin for His Majesty King Fuad I. Your Excellency, with reference to the half-millime coin to be issued by the Mint in Birmingham at the request of the Egyptian government, I wish to inform Your Excellency that the minting dies are currently being prepared. Accordingly, enclosed for your information is a general design plan for these coins…

A coin story: The Russian beard tax

Peter the Great, the famous Tsar of Russia (1689-1725), worked diligently to transform his vast empire into a modern European state, modeled after France, the Netherlands, and England. He therefore devoted considerable effort to establishing great cities like Saint Petersburg and founded modern industries such as shipbuilding. He also encouraged trade routes with the West. Upon his return from one of his European voyages, he issued a surprising decree requiring all Russian citizens to wear robes…

When the genius of the forger truly shines through...

Imagine this story, my friend: Some time ago, someone presented this coin to the American Numismatic Society for authentication. It was in excellent condition, and it's known that this date without the mint letter is common (worth approximately 350$ at 65 degrees), while with the mint letter S is very valuable (3600$ at the same degree!). Naturally, the assessors examined the letter and the surrounding area…

Currency of Mesopotamia

A 2019 Austrian gold coin worth 100 euros. From Mesopotamia since time immemorial, gold has held a special allure for those who behold it. The Magic of Gold series explores the mysterious nature of gold in ancient cultures. No other metal possesses the same symbolic meaning as gold, and no other tangible material has been so closely associated with abstract concepts…

A detailed explanation of the Blaxeley effect in metal parts and how it occurs!

Is there bullying in the hobby?

This video isn't aimed at investors or competitive enthusiasts; it's primarily for hobbyists who enjoy collecting coins, stamps, and similar items in general. The video's topic is: Is there bullying in the hobby? We're not referring to the arguments that might occur between hobbyists, but rather... do we collect what we truly love, or do we collect what others collect? For example, in the field of coins...

How can you tell if a (fake) coin is made of lead?

This is a method that often leads to arguments between appraisers at major exhibitions and owners of fake pieces who mistakenly believe they possess a treasure. After carefully examining the piece, the appraiser calmly takes a piece of paper and uses its edge to write the word "FAKE" in English! Recently, appraisal companies have reprimanded employees who engage in this practice, but some still do! The piece is from the American Numismatic Society collection – …

The Central Bank issues a new commemorative silver coin to mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Sultan's Armed Forces Museum.

On the occasion of the Blessed Renaissance Day, and in cooperation with the Sultan's Armed Forces General Staff, the Central Bank of Oman is pleased to issue a commemorative silver coin marking the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Sultan's Armed Forces Museum. This commemorative coin is legal tender at its face value and can be purchased from the Central Bank of Oman. The table below details its features…

Egyptian publication for the war period

# Arabic Readings in Foreign Newspapers: What was the Egyptian currency issue during the First World War? The American magazine The Numismatist published an article in its October 1919 issue entitled "An Egyptian Issue of the War Period," which featured a 5-millime coin of Sultan Hussein Kamel dated 1916. The coin's description indicated that the obverse bore the name of Sultan Hussein Kamel and included the date…

Sometimes it is the ear, not the eye, that detects that the item is fake!

Here, dear hobbyist, is a simple video of two pieces from the American Numismatic Society's collection. Both pieces are fake; the first is cast (and of course, there are never any genuine cast pieces except for ancient coins), and the second is minted like the real ones – listen to the difference between them.

Among the fine counterfeit pieces are those made using the electrolysis technique.

It is usually made from two halves that are then glued together and the gap is filled with a light metal… The most important feature that distinguishes it is the presence of traces of the welding line between the two halves… Don’t be fooled and think it is a mint experiment or a mistake!