Scenes from the World Money Fair in Berlin

After three long years the World Money Fair in Berlin has resumed its regular schedule during the first week in February with a blockbuster event. The Fair, known for its showcasing of the world mints, manufacturers, and premier distribution companies, is a must-attend show for many of the world's great numismatic marketing firms. The United States Mint in in attendance, along with nearly every other significant world mint and production facility with the usual elaborate displays featuring the product lines these organizations plan to release in 2023. 

Scenes from the 2023 Berlin World Money Fair including (from top left): the Künker booth; large crowds browsing in the coin dealer areas; the Münze Deutschland booth; the Thieme manufacturing coin robot on display; the Emporium Hamburg booth; Dan Duncan (of U.S. Coins), Patrick Perez and John Feigenbaum at the Greysheet booth, the Monnaie de Paris booth; and a closeup of the limited edition Panda medal released by the Künker firm for the show.

The show is simply exquisite for its offerings to attendees. Firms like CIT exhibit products that defy the logic of what is possible to strike on a metal planchet. Known for their extraordinary prowess in pushing design and production to new limits, the firm displayed their newest release from the their Tiffany Art Metropolis collection -- the coin literally features a detailed map of London with incorporated blue Tiffany art glass for the river Thames.

There are many such offerings from numerous at the WMF, and even the most seasoned numismatist cannot help but be awed by the efforts being made in our industry to bring our hobby to the worldwide mainstream. Everyone here is infected by the enthusiasm of what is possible. As an American collector, you can be both encouraged and intimidated by the sheer scope of world market for modern coinage. 

The CIT MetrOpolis Collection, featuring the new London 2023 issue (right). Image courtesy of CIT Coin Invest AG.

In bringing together these exhibitors, hosting technical forums, and the like, the organizers of the WMF have done an amazing job and, hopefully inspired other show coordinators to do the same across the globe. If you missed this year's event, you can click here to learn more about it, and plan for a visit to Berlin in 2024. If you love coins and numismatics at any level, you won't be disappointed.