Research Articles
N.B. If you have any suggestions about any articles
you would like in this area, please email us: enquiry@spink.com
 The
Coinage of Alexander the Great
Alexander III, son of Philip II, king of Macedonia and Olympias, was born
in Pella in 356 B.C. One of the greatest conquerors in history, he dominated
much of what was then the civilized world, driven by an endless ambition.
After Philip’s death, in 336 B.C., the Macedonian state had reached
hegemony over Greece, but yet the great enemy of the Greeks, Persia, remained
strong and dangerous in the East. With the death of the Persian king Artaxerxes
III in 338 B.C., and the succession of a much weaker Darius II in 336
B.C., the opportunity was ready for the young king to begin his incredible
triumphal march of conquest. In the following thirteen years, through
memorable campaigns, he fought, pacified and then unified a wide area
stretching across... click here
to read the full article
Introduction to Coin Collecting
If you are thinking about becoming a coin collector and have 15 minutes
to spare, these pages are for you. It answers the question Why
collect? Although every coin tells a story and a nation’s
coinage tells its history, there is far more to coins. They are an art
form, a portrait gallery of past rulers and key to opening doors of discovery
ranging from engineering to politics. The What
to collect? section explores the different approaches you can
make to collecting and features some real collector profiles. The How
much is a coin worth? pages look at the main factors that determine
a coin’s value, while the Finding
out more section points you in the right direction if you want
to learn more and meet existing collectors. Finally the Q&A
pages cover everything from financial aspects to displaying and storing
a collection. Click
here for the full story.
  Coins
of Olympia
The sanctuary of Olympia, dedicated primarily to Olympian Zeus, King of
the Gods, and Hera, his consort, was a complex of temples and treasuries,
including the twelve metre-high ivory and gold statue of Zeus which numbered
among the wonders of the world. At the peak of its wealth and influence
in the fifth century BC, the prestige of Olympia was demonstrated by the
rich gifts laid on the temple altars by visiting dignitaries and foreign
kings. Such pilgrimages took place in particular every four years, when
the religious and political significance of the site reached its zenith
at the Olympic Games, held to honour Zeus. Click
here to read the full article.
The Legend of Troy and The Trojan War
 The
story of Troy and the Trojan War is a well-known legend. According to
tradition, the conflict began after Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy,
was given Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, by Aphrodite.
Helen, the half-mortal daughter of Zeus, was already married to Menelaus,
the brother of Agamemnon and the King of Sparta... click
here to read the full article
| The Numismatic Circular During World War II
|
The 1940s were difficult times, with the United Kingdom facing
a turning point in its history as the Battle of Britain commenced.
This article takes an in-depth look at the wartime Circulars from
which Mr. Marshall built up his collection.
Click here to read
the full article |
|
The Numismatic Circular 50 years ago:
1. "SALUTE TO A PENNY" (from the June Numismatic Circular,
1954)
Click here to read the full
article
2. Nazi War Badges of 1939-45: Part I (Army) (from the
March Numismatic Circular, 1954)
Click here to read the full
article
Stamp Boxes
With the advent of the first stamp, the penny black, it was inevitable that
something in which to keep them safely and easily available should follow.
Stamp boxes arrived in the 1860’s, and like stamps their production
has never stopped with old and new still to be found, as also are forgeries.
They came in all manner of shapes, sizes and materials: wood, brass,
silver plate, papier mache, ivory, silver and gold to name a few, and
many took on a novelty form such as coal scuttles, books, wheelbarrows,
desks, letterboxes and many other guises and combinations. Britain led
the world in their design and the world followed suit.
Today collecting stamp boxes has become a very popular hobby for philatelists
and non philatelists alike, with boxes ranging from a couple of pounds
for a humble holiday souvenir box, to tens of thousands for lavish boxes
by the likes of Fabergé (see illustration above).
Kings and Queens of Great Britain
and their Coinage
 Please
click here to read a short
illustrated numismatic history of the Kings
and Queens of Great Britain, from the time of
William the Conqueror through to the present day.
Numismatic Reminiscences of the Last Sixty Years
This is a revised script of a talk given in 1948 by a distinguished alumnus
of Spink, Mr. Leonard Forrer. He describes his numismatic experiences
from his first joining Spink in 1888, throughout the rest of his career.
Please click
here to read the full article.
Research Articles from John Hayward
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