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What happens at the world’s biggest coin fair doesn’t stay there for long—especially when it shapes what collectors will be buying in the year ahead.
Fresh from Berlin’s World Money Fair, we’re bringing global coin trends and insights home to South African collectors for 2026.
The World Money Fair once again brought together collectors, mints and dealers from across the globe, and we were right in the middle of the action—scouting trends, spotting future favourites and bringing international collecting insights back home.
And one thing is clear: coin collecting is anything but old-fashioned.
Coins Are Getting Cooler (and Bolder)
Walking the exhibition halls feels like travelling through time. One moment you’re admiring coins inspired by ancient empires, the next you’re seeing ultra-modern releases with futuristic finishes and designs that barely look like coins at all.
Minting technology continues to evolve, with sharper detail, innovative textures and clever new security features pushing design boundaries. Yet despite all the innovation, collectors still come back to what matters most: a coin with a great story behind it.
The Big Buzz This Year?
Three themes kept popping up in conversations across the fair:
- Coins celebrating culture, history and storytelling
- Continued appetite for gold and silver as tangible investments
- Growing interest from younger and first-time collectors
Queues formed early each morning for new releases, and the energy across the halls showed that the collecting community is expanding rather than shrinking.
As CEO, Rael Demby noted while attending meetings and launches:
“You quickly realise how global collecting has become. South African collectors are plugged directly into international trends, and it’s exciting to see that enthusiasm growing at home.”
Another noticeable shift is how collectors are choosing coins that combine investment appeal with cultural meaning.
“More buyers want coins that tell stories—about history, heritage or global moments—not just pieces of precious metal,” Demby adds. “That’s shaping what collectors are looking for today.”
Why It Matters for Local Collectors
Events like the World Money Fair allow us to bring international insights back to local collectors. Many of the themes and releases we saw in Berlin will influence what collectors start looking for in South Africa throughout the year.
The message for 2026 is simple: collecting is becoming more connected, more creative and more accessible than ever before.
Looking Ahead
Coming home from Berlin, one thing is clear: collectors worldwide are optimistic and excited about what lies ahead—and many of the coins unveiled there will soon become the pieces everyone wants to own.
Which means the trends shaping tomorrow’s collections have already started—and we’re looking forward to helping South African collectors stay one step ahead as the next chapter in global coin collecting unfolds.
