In Part II of our special collaboration with the National Army Museum, Senior Specialist Robert Wilde-Evans and Senior Historian Matilda Greig continue their journey through the legacy of the Napoleonic Wars.

From the privilege of handling these remarkable pieces of history to the role of museums and auction houses in preserving them, Robert and Matilda explore how we continue to honour and remember the people behind the medals. 

A reminder of why these stories continue to matter more than two centuries later.

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Find out more about the NAM:

Facebook @NationalArmyMuseum
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Website www.nam.ac.uk

Our Medals department is back for our summer roundtable!

Enjoy this exclusive preview of our upcoming Live Auction as our specialists take us through the remarkable stories behind the highlight lots. Bring our catalogue to life in the most special way possible, we hope you enjoy this roundtable. 

What can money tell us about a nation's story?

As America marks its 250th anniversary, Greg Edmund, Head of Numismatics, and Ellie Robbins, Banknotes Specialist, trace the history of the United States through the coins and banknotes that witnessed its rise. From the earliest American coinage and Continental Currency to the symbolism of Lady Liberty, discover how currency became a record of revolution, ambition and identity.

To accompany this episode, we're also proud to present our Celebrating America 250 auction, bringing together an exceptional selection of American coins, banknotes and historical treasures.

🎧 Subscribe for more stories from the world of history, art and collectibles.

Comic books are more than entertainment—they are modern mythology, capturing the hopes, fears and imaginations of generations.

In this episode of Spink Insider, Nik Von Uexkull, Head of Auctions, is joined by Tom Dumas, Comic Book Specialist at Ewbank's Auctions to discuss the evolution of comics from a niche hobby into one of the defining storytelling mediums of our time.

From Batman and the psychology of heroes and villains to comic book grading, collecting and the growing auction market, this conversation explores why these remarkable works on paper continue to inspire readers, collectors and filmmakers alike.

Whether you're passionate about comics, cinema or collecting, there's something here for every enthusiast.

In this episode, Spink China’s Head of Numismatics (Asia) Elaine Fung along with Dr. Yu Tong and Professor Alex Fang take a deep dive into the rigorous and exquisite world of Qing Dynasty Cash Coins. We discussed the thousand years old ancient philosophy behind its design to the meticulous start from hand engraved models all the way to mass production as well as other lesser known uses of cash coins in the palace and with the common people at the time. 

We also focused on a numismatic titan – Dr. Werner Burger, who spent over 40 years honing on a single craft and thus managed to build a comprehensive collection of Qing Cash that contains thousands of varieties and pieces. With a unique insight, he used his expertise on western taxonomy to dissect every part of the official Qing Dynasty palace documents, which in turn created an unprecedented comprehensive study on Qing Dynasty cash coins. Dr. Tong and Professor Fang told us their first hand insight from working with this collection, and their astonishment when seeing rarities come to life in their hands. 

We not only tried to introduce Qing cash to a wider audience. The conversation more importantly was a candid discussion on the purpose of collecting, whether it is just to compile and complete, to reach for the stars to get a better return in the future or truly to preserve each piece’s tangible history.

211 years ago, on a field south of Brussels, a battle was fought that would change the course of European history.

To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, we are proud to announce a new collaboration between Spink and the National Army Museum. 

In this special two-part series, Senior Specialist Robert Wilde-Evans and Senior Historian Matilda Greig explore the story of the Napoleonic Wars through some of the most extraordinary objects, medals and artefacts in the NAM's collection - from Wellington's campaign cloak and a lock of Napoleon's hair to the medals earned by the soldiers who lived through the conflict. 

History is more than a record of the past - it survives in the objects that witnessed it. 

Find out more about the NAM:

Facebook @NationalArmyMuseum

Instagram @NAM_London

YouTube @NationalArmyMuseumUK

Website www.nam.ac.uk

Long derided as the root of all evil, money has never been far from controversy, whether simply depicting gaudy, blasphemous or tyrannical symbolism, portraying villainous characters, or facilitating fraud, conquest or even piracy. Coins, banknotes, and bonds have often provoked fits of public distaste, scandal, or outright frenzy. 

Join Axel Kendrick, Head of Ancient Coins, and Tim Robson, Senior Specialist, as they delve into the murky underworld of numismatics throughout history, from Caligula and his sisters to the Abolition of Slavery.

From the earliest days of the FIFA World Cup to some of the most infamous moments in modern football history, sporting objects always leave something behind. 

In this episode, we step inside the world of sports memorabilia with special guest David Convery from Budds, exploring how moments in sport are transformed into collectable history.

What makes something “match-worn” so significant? Why do collectors place such value on the physical traces of the game? And how do certain objects come to define entire eras of sporting memory?

From early international tournaments to iconic World Cup moments that still resonate today, this conversation looks at the emotional and historical weight carried by the objects that survive the game.

Find out how sport becomes legacy, and how legacy becomes collectable🏆⚽

In this episode of the Spink Insider Podcast, Giuseppe Razza and Fernando Martínezexplore the remarkable world of Albanian postal history and hidden stories carried across one of Europe’s most complex frontiers.

Far beyond stamps as objects, this conversation examines what postal history can reveal about empires, conflict, economics, and power. Through rare and extraordinary material, we trace Albania’s position between East and West and discuss how letters, covers, and forgotten postal routes can sometimes preserve details that official history has overlooked.

From unique discoveries and legendary rarities to the personalities behind decades of research, this is a fascinating discussion about history told through paper, ink, and survival across dangerous borders.

At the Restoration court of Charles II, few figures were more talked about than Frances Stuart. Celebrated for her beauty and closely watched by the King and his circle, she navigated a world where visibility brought both opportunity and risk.

In 1667, following the Peace of Breda, her image was used for something quite unexpected. On a medal by Jan Rottiers, Frances appears as Britannia—an enduring symbol of Britain’s identity. As Samuel Pepys noted at the time, her likeness was unmistakable.

From there, the image moved onto coinage, placing Britannia and France, into everyday circulation. Over time, the connection to the woman herself was lost, and the figure became timeless.

In this episode, we look at the story behind Britannia: the court, the image, and the woman at its centre.