BERLIN.- In a significant boost to the study of numismatic history, the German state of Hessen has donated a remarkable collection of 592 coin-forging tools, once used by the notorious 19th-century forger Carl Wilhelm Becker, to the Münzkabinett of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. The transfer, formalized during a ceremony on April 9, 2025, attended by Hessian Minister of Art and Culture Timon Gremmels, marks a new chapter for these artifacts, which offer a rare glimpse into the shadowy world of historical coin counterfeiting.

These tools, a highlight of the ongoing exhibition Lange Finger – Falsche Münzen: Die dunkle Seite der Numismatik (Sticky Fingers – Fake Coins: The Dark Side of Numismatics) at the Bode-Museum, will remain with the Münzkabinett even after the show closes on September 21, 2025. Originally held by the Römerkastell Saalburg museum in Bad Homburg, the collection includes 302 upper dies, 284 lower dies, eight punches, and one mold, all crafted by Becker (1772–1830), Germany’s most infamous forger of ancient coins during the Classicism era.

Hermann Parzinger, president of the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, expressed gratitude for the donation, saying, “This generous gift from Hessen enriches the Münzkabinett’s collection and is invaluable for research into forgeries. It underscores the strong partnerships we share with Germany’s states and the fruitful collaborations they enable.”

Hessian Minister Timon Gremmels highlighted the dual nature of Becker’s legacy: “His forgeries challenge us to protect the integrity of collections while recognizing fakes as part of history. By transferring these tools, we honor our responsibility to preserve cultural artifacts as carriers of history and identity. I’m grateful for the excellent cooperation with the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz and look forward to building more bridges for knowledge exchange across borders.”

Becker’s forgeries, created using ancient hammer-striking techniques with fixed lower and movable upper dies, were so convincing that they still occasionally slip undetected into modern auctions. His tools, first gifted by his daughter Elise Becker to the Saalburgmuseum in 1910, were sent to Berlin in 1911 as a long-term loan under Kaiser Wilhelm II’s orders. Packed into five crates weighing a hefty 322 kilograms, they arrived at the Münzkabinett, where a custom display cabinet was built to house them—a setup still in use today. With Hessen’s donation, these tools now officially belong to the Münzkabinett.

The donation complements the Münzkabinett’s 2023 acquisition of Becker’s diaries, which detail his methods, dealings as a trader, and connections with prominent collectors of his time. Together, these materials—over 1,000 items, including dies, diaries, forgeries, and test strikes—form a treasure trove for researchers. “The Münzkabinett is not just a museum but a research institute,” said Bernhard Weisser, its director. “This gift completes our archive on Becker, offering profound insights into the darker side of numismatics.”

The exhibition Lange Finger – Falsche Münzen explores the history of coin counterfeiting, with Becker’s tools as a centerpiece. Visitors can learn more about his craft and its implications until the show’s end in September 2025.