Vienna Battle, 1683 The Financial Panic of 1683 emerged from the Battle of Vienna on September 12 when the Ottoman Empire laid siege to the city for two months which was finally broken with the arrival of a force of 70,000 Polish, Austrians and Germans under the Polish-Lithuanian king Jan III Sobieski. The siege of Vienna […]

The first gold coin produced in the American Colonies is known as the 1787 Brasher Doubloon that was just sold at the Heritage auction for $4,582,500. Ancient coins are generally up substantially over the last 10 years with pieces that sold for $20,000 in 1994 bringing today $150,000 to $200,000. Money continues to move out of […]

This weekend, 20,000 people in the Turkish capital Ankara renewed their protests against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Democracy is really under the spotlight in Turkey. This appears to be a movement that is on the rise in Turkey.

An interesting study comparison of the education background of heads of state around the globe reveals our problem. Most of the educated people in government in the USA seem to be lawyers. In Europe, they tend to be not idealists. China has leaders schooled in economics and business. Very curious comparison.

QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong; Is there any exception to the Sovereign Debt Crisis? Has any government survived? Thanks HJ ANSWER: No. There is no exception whatsoever. Countries such as Spain were at the top of their game – the richest in the world. They borrowed against every ship because they could not wait for the money. […]

  Tiberius (14-37AD) Silver Denarius – the Tribute Penny The Financial Panic of 33AD provides one of the few detailed accounts of events recorded by the ancient historian Tacitus (56–117AD) whose primary focus appears to be moneylending. Of course, Tacitus did not personally experience the event of being born well after that event. Tiberius (14-37AD) […]

  By about 142 to 140 BC,  the Roman monetary system goes through a suspension of the minting of the Roman bronze As. Previously, the silver denarius was valued at 10 bronze As denoted by the “X” on the obverse behind the bust of Roma. The bronze As has declined in weight significantly from one […]