The other day I almost threw out a jar of old coins, but then I read an article in Gazeta News that made me take a second look at every single penny. The story is about the famous 1943 one-cent coin struck in bronze — a minting error from World War II, when the US switched to making pennies out of zinc-coated steel to save copper.
A few bronze blanks were left over in the process and ended up being stamped with the 1943 date. Today about 20 examples are known, and one of them, kept by a Texas family for more than 60 years, was authenticated by PCGS at grade XF-40 and valued at US$235,000.
The coolest part is that you can test it at home: the ordinary steel penny sticks to a magnet, the bronze one doesn't; and the weight gives it away too — the rare penny weighs about 3.11 grams, versus 2.70 for the steel one. But experts warn that there are plenty of fakes, so don't clean or alter the coin before taking it to an authentication service.
Ever since, I've become a hunter of loose change. Who knows, maybe a fortune is hiding in my pocket?
Source: Gazeta Brazilian News
On October 7, 2026, the Bank of Russia put a commemorative silver coin into circulation: “Spaso-Preobrazhensky Mirozhsky Men’s Monastery, Pskov.” It belongs to the “Architectural Monuments of Russia” series. I looked through the catalog on the Bank of Russia website and noted the main specs.
The face value is 3 rubles, the metal is 925 silver, and the quality is proof. Weight 33.94 g, diameter 39 mm, thickness 3.30 mm. The mintage is small, only 3,000 pieces. It was struck at the St. Petersburg Mint.
The obverse has the embossed State Coat of Arms of Russia and the inscription “RUSSIAN FEDERATION” in Cyrillic. The reverse shows the monastery against trees and water, and the background is done with laser matting. I think this technique works well, because the background looks softer than the relief and the drawing comes alive.
The design was done by artists E. V. Kramskaya (obverse) and A. A. Brynza (reverse), and sculptors A. A. Dolgopolova and A. V. Gnidin. This is not the only new release this autumn. Before it came “Judicial System of Russia” (October 2) and “Golden Antelope” (September 22), and earlier still a silver coin for the 150th anniversary of sculptor S. D. Erzya (September 8).
For anyone collecting the architecture series, a mintage of three thousand is a reason not to wait. Details and photos can be found on the official Bank of Russia website.
Source: Bank of Russia
The Monnaie de Paris has just unveiled a new 2-euro commemorative coin, made in partnership with the French Navy to mark its 400th anniversary. I read the Presse-citron article on the subject, and several details caught my interest.
The design shows a sailor seen from behind, wearing a navy smock and a Navy cap, surrounded by ships, aircraft and a diver. The idea is to pay tribute to the sailors who protect the French at sea. The coin is struck in Belle Épreuve quality, the highest numismatic grade, and only 15,000 copies will be issued. It sells for 49 euros, against a face value of 2 euros.
The question everyone is asking: is it a future collectible? According to the article, not really. A limited mintage does not guarantee any gain in value. Some limited editions do rise in price, but it is mostly coins with a minting error that sell for several thousand euros.
The article also points out that each year, eurozone countries may issue up to two 2-euro commemorative coins. The Monnaie de Paris has already struck coins featuring the facade of Notre-Dame de Paris.
Personally, I think the theme is lovely, but I would keep my enthusiasm for the symbolic value rather than for speculation. 49 euros for 2 euros of face value makes you think.
Source: Presse-citron
I read a column published in InfoMoney in July 2026, signed by Mariana Campos and Bruno Pellizzari of the Sociedade Numismática Brasileira, and the subject caught my attention. The 2026 World Cup is hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and all three are issuing commemorative coins for the tournament. Mints in Europe, Asia and Africa are also launching themed pieces. Brazil, the most successful team in history and the only five-time champion, has no numismatic programme for this World Cup.
The text looks back at what the country has already done. In 1994, for the tetracampeonato, there were silver and gold pieces. In 2002, for the pentacampeonato, new commemorative coins came out. In 2010, for the World Cup in South Africa, a 5-real silver coin was issued. In 2014, for the World Cup in Brazil, a series of six cupronickel coins, one silver and one gold was released.
The column also recalls the 2016 Olympics: 17 circulating 1-real coins, 17 silver and 4 gold pieces for collectors. The 1-real coins were so popular that many people began looking for them in their change.
It is an opinion column, so the tone is one of regret. I agree that it would be a shame to lose the chance, because coins like these bring the general public closer to numismatics. It remains to be seen whether the Brazilian mint will change course in future competitions.
Source: InfoMoney
The United States Mint has started taking orders for the 2026 Semiquincentennial Proof Set, another major release tied to America's 250th anniversary, according to CoinNews. The 10-coin set is struck at the San Francisco Mint, carries the S mint mark on every coin, and is limited to 480,000 sets.
Nine of the ten coins bear the dual date 1776 ~ 2026. The set includes the Emerging Liberty dime, which brings Liberty back to the denomination for the first time since 1945, and the Enduring Liberty half dollar, which replaces John F. Kennedy with the Statue of Liberty. That makes 2026 the first year since 1963 that the regular half dollar does not carry Kennedy's portrait. Five Semiquincentennial quarters honor the Mayflower Compact, the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Gettysburg Address. A Jefferson nickel, a Lincoln cent and a Native American dollar complete the group.
The cent is the interesting one for collectors. Regular circulating production has ended, so only a small number of 2026 Mint products contain the denomination, and this set is one of them. CoinNews notes that this scarcity has already produced secondary-market premiums on earlier 2026 sets, driven largely by their 1776 ~ 2026 Lincoln cents.
For storage, the coins come in two protective lenses, one holding the five quarters and one holding the other five coins, together with a certificate of authenticity. Personally, I find the end of the cent and the end of Kennedy on the half dollar a neat bit of numismatic history to keep in a proof set.
Source: CoinNews
According to a notice from the People's Bank of China, a set of "2026 Auspicious Culture Gold and Silver Commemorative Coins" will be issued starting May 10, 2026. The notice is dated April 29. The set has six coins, three gold and three silver. All are legal tender of the People's Republic of China, with 99.9% purity, and they are proof coins.
First, the gold coins. The 5-gram ruyi-shaped gold coin has a face value of 80 yuan and a maximum mintage of 10,000. Its reverse shows a mother and baby deer with auspicious flowers. The 3-gram heart-shaped gold coin has a face value of 50 yuan and a maximum mintage of 20,000, and its reverse shows a wild goose. The 20-gram round coin with a square hole has a face value of 300 yuan and a diameter of 30 millimeters, but its maximum mintage is only 2,000. Its reverse shows bats, peaches and cloud patterns.
Now the silver coins. The 30-gram ruyi-shaped silver coin has a mintage of 20,000, and its reverse shows fish and scroll patterns. The 30-gram heart-shaped silver coin has a face value of 10 yuan and a maximum mintage of 40,000, and its reverse shows a cat and a heart motif. The 30-gram round silver coin with a square hole has a diameter of 40 millimeters and a mintage of 20,000, and its reverse shows fish and water patterns. All six obverses use the word "auspicious" in a designed form, paired with traditional decorative motifs.
The coins were minted by Shanghai Mint Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Guobao Mint Co., Ltd., and are distributed exclusively by China Gold Coin Group Co., Ltd. They can be purchased through the China Gold Coin website or the "China Gold Coin" WeChat account.
I find the shapes interesting: ruyi, heart and round with a square hole side by side feel traditional without being stiff. Judging by the mintage figures, the 20-gram square-hole gold coin, with only 2,000 pieces, will probably be the most sought after.
Source: Xinhua News (reprinting the People's Bank of China notice)
On 9 February 2026, the 2026 Numismatic Collection of the Italian Republic was presented in the Sala Ciampi of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The issue is by the MEF, and the production by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato. I read the report from the agency AGI, and there are several interesting novelties.
The most curious one for 2-euro collectors: the first 2-euro coins in Reverse Proof finish arrive, with a mirror-like design and a sandblasted background. They are dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Carlo Collodi, the father of Pinocchio, and the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Then there is gold: a 100-euro coin dedicated to Ferrari, the first gold coin of that value, and the 20- and 50-euro coins for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The collection also includes a coin for the conductor Riccardo Muti, one for the 80th anniversary of the Republic and of women's first vote, one dedicated to Algida's Cornetto ice cream, and a one-kilogram silver piece with the Colosseum.
The presentation was attended by Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti and the chairman and CEO of the IPZS, Paolo Perrone. The minister described the coins as a communication tool, showing a country that is alive and aware of its roots.
The article does not give mintages and prices, so for those you need to check the IPZS website. Personally, I especially like the idea of putting together Pinocchio, an ice cream and a Ferrari: it says quite a lot about Italy.
Source: AGI
The National Bank of Poland has issued another silver collector’s coin in its series on the history of Polish money. According to Super Express, reported on July 21, 2026, the 20 złoty coin dated 2026 is based on the pre-war złoty.
The coin is made of 925 silver, weighs 28.28 g, and has a diameter of 38.61 mm. The mintage is at most 10,000 pieces, and the issue price is 550 złoty. It can be bought at the NBP’s regional branches and at the online shop Kolekcjoner.
The obverse shows the white eagle from the front of the 1929 1 złoty coin. The background is the ornamental portal above the entrance to the main hall of Bank Polski SA on Bielańska Street in Warsaw. At the bottom are the modern coat of arms, the inscription RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA, the year 2026, and the denomination.
I like this approach to the series, because it is about money itself rather than an anniversary. Putting the eagle from the old złoty next to the bank building is a good idea for the obverse.
The article does not name the designer or give details of the reverse, so those are worth checking on the NBP website. A price of 550 złoty for a 20 złoty face value shows that this is purely a collector’s coin.
Source: Super Express
A rare gold coin from Curaçao was auctioned in the United States for $390,400, or a little over 336,000 euros, according to the Dutch broadcaster NOS. Never before has so much been paid for a coin from the former Dutch colony. The auction house Stack's Bowers Galleries had expected at least $100,000.
The piece is a 180 reales coin, the currency of Curaçao until 1828, dating from around 1815. According to the auction house, only one example is known. It was originally a Brazilian gold johannes worth 12,800 reis, named after the Portuguese king João V, who introduced the coin in 1722.
What makes it special are the so-called kloppen, or countermarks. On Curaçao, authenticity marks were stamped by another government, after which the coin was valid there. That was practical, since the island was an important transit route for trade with South America. Such marks are normally seen only on 6,400-reis coins, but according to the auction house this is the only one with an original value of 12,800 reis. The assayer's marks are clearly visible in the king's portrait on the obverse.
What I find most appealing is the story behind it. The johannes's success was also its downfall: it was often counterfeited and lost value. When the public could have their coins tested in 1819, 15,858 of the 26,906 pieces turned out to be substandard and were confiscated. Many others were melted down for their gold, which is why this one example became unique.
Source: NOS
In 2026, Münze Deutschland announced a world first that makes me curious as a collector: the AuVerIn relief signature. It links a real coin with digital content, and the first coin with this signature is the 100-euro gold coin "Die Judenbuche" from the series "Masterpieces of German Literature", released in June 2026.
What is special is that the coding is not a stuck-on chip but is built directly into the relief of the coin. A free app can unlock additional content with it, such as certificates of authenticity and background information. At the same time, the signature is meant to serve as a forgery-proof feature that proves the coin is genuine.
I find the notes on data protection remarkable. According to Münze Deutschland, there is no need for a login or user profile, and there is no tracking. Once loaded, the certificates and information are even available offline, for example in airplane mode.
The coin itself was approved by the cabinet in December 2025 for release in 2026. Orders could be placed in a window from 18 March to 8 April. According to a post from 1 July, it should have reached customers since mid-June.
Whether digital extras will catch on with coins remains to be seen. But as protection against forgery and proof of origin, I find the idea quite convincing.
Source: Münze Deutschland
I came across news that the US Mint has issued a $1 commemorative coin featuring Steve Jobs. The official name is "American Innovation $1 Coin 2026 Rolls and Bags - California," and it is the third coin in the series issued in 2026.
The series was announced in 2018 and is meant to honor American innovation and pioneering efforts. It covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five US territories, one at a time. For the California issue, Jobs was chosen as the figure.
The design shows a young Jobs sitting in the hills of northern California, surrounded by oak trees, with the words "Let's make something wonderful" engraved on it. It feels very much like today's America that the founder of a tech company ends up on a coin.
The article also explained how to buy them. You can choose a roll of 25 coins or a bag of 100, and pick either the Denver or the Philadelphia mint. A roll costs $61 ($2.44 per coin) and a bag costs $154.50 (about $1.55 per coin). The face value is $1, so some people may find it a bit expensive.
Personally, this is the kind of series where I want to collect the mint-mark differences between Denver and Philadelphia. I'm also curious about the designs for the upcoming states as the series goes on.
Source: Mac OTAKARA
