Antiquarianism and Numismatics
June 9, 2026
Interest in the origins of numismatics has surged worldwide in recent years. After all, numismatics stands at the beginning of many antiquarian sciences. Books on coins have been found in the libraries of all educated people since the 16th century. An exhibition curated by Bartosz Awianowicz is dedicated to them in Toruń.
The name Torun, also known as Thorn in Germany, has a special resonance among coin collectors. Not only were beautiful coins minted here, but Nicolaus Copernicus was also born here in 1473. He is, of course, best known for his astronomical research. But those interested in the history of money know that in the year 1522 he wrote a memorandum on coinage and circulation for the Prussian State Parliament. This is remarkable. In it, long before Sir Thomas Gresham—after whom Gresham’s Law is named—he describes how the law works.
From Coin Weekly