Labubu — that odd little elf with a serrated-tooth grin, fluffy suit and mischievous stare — feels like the sort of character that stepped straight out of a picture book and into Instagram. But Labubu’s rise from art-school sketch to global collectible explains a lot about why some of these dolls now command eye-watering prices: it’s a mix of story, design, scarcity, celebrity, brand strategy and pure collector psychology. Where Labubu came from Labubu began as a creation of Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, who introduced the character as part of his picture-book series The Monsters. The original artworks leaned on a blend of children’s imagination and Northern/folk storybook influences — which is why Labubu looks both adorable and a little uncanny. The small-scale toy incarnations appeared in 2015, and the character found a much wider audience when the Chinese collectible-toy retailer Pop Mart began producing and marketing Labubu figures in commercial runs.  The design that hook...

The term “Alfonso coin” in the Philippines usually refers to the Spanish-era coins struck with the portrait or name of King Alfonso XII (reigned 1874–1885) or his successor Alfonso XIII (born 1886; reigned nominally from birth, coins appear in the 1880s–1890s). These are colonial-issue coins minted for circulation in the Philippine Islands while they were still under Spanish sovereignty. They include copper, silver and gold denominations — centimos/centavos, 20-centimos/50-centavos, 1 peso (Un Peso) and rarer gold pieces. They’re prized by collectors today because they sit at the crossroads of Spanish, Philippine and world monetary history.  Which Alfonso coins are most familiar? A few types collectors encounter most often: Alfonso XII 10/20/50 centimos (1880s) — silver and copper fractional denominations struck in Manila and other Spanish mints.  Alfonso XIII 1 Peso (1897 “Un Peso”) — the last Spanish-era one-peso struck for the Philippines and an historically important piece...

For Filipino collectors and numismatics enthusiasts, old coins are more than just relics of the past—they are pieces of history that carry stories, culture, and national identity. Among the many coins that have circulated in the Philippines, one particular old 1-peso coin shocked both hobbyists and investors when it sold for an astonishing amount in a recent numismatic auction. What seemed like an ordinary silver coin turned out to be a prized treasure worth a small fortune. The coin in question was a 1906-S One Peso Coin, often regarded as the “King of Philippine Coins.” Minted during the American colonial period, the coin was part of a series produced in San Francisco. It featured the iconic image of a standing woman striking an anvil, with Mount Mayon looming in the background—a design celebrated for its artistry and symbol of the nation’s resilience. On the reverse, it bore the American eagle and shield, representing the historical ties between the Philippines and the United States...

In the tight-knit, obsessive world of Nishikigoi (koi) collectors, a single fish can become a symbol — of pedigree, of skillful breeding, and of how far someone will go for a perfect pattern. S Legend (often written “S-Legend”) is one such fish: a Kōhaku (red-and-white) koi that set the record for the highest publicly reported price ever paid for a single koi, and whose short time in the spotlight added a mournful coda when it later died. S Legend was bred by the Sakai Fish Farm family in Hiroshima, Japan — one of the most respected names in high-end koi breeding. The breeder most closely associated with S Legend is Kentaro Sakai, whose operation is known for producing show-quality specimens and refining bloodlines for decades. S Legend embodied the qualities collectors prize in a Kōhaku: an exceptionally clean, bright white body; vivid, well-defined red (hi) patterns; strong body shape and size; and overall balance and presence that made her stand out even among top-tier koi.  The...

When it comes to the “most expensive goldfish,” the story quickly becomes confusing — because, strictly speaking, there’s no well-documented instance of a goldfish (Carassius auratus) selling for millions of dollars in the way some reports claim. Much of the information floating around is actually about koi carp, which are related to goldfish but are a completely different species. Here's a deeper dive into what’s going on. The Myth of the $1.8 Million Goldfish Many sources online claim that the most expensive goldfish was sold at auction for $1.8 million, naming it “Goldie.”  However, if you dig into reputable news outlets, auction records, and scientific / breeding literature, there’s no credible proof that a goldfish (in the classic pet-store sense) has ever fetched that kind of money. What Actually Sold for $1.8 Million: A Koi Carp The fish that did sell for $1.8 million is not a goldfish — it’s a Kōhaku koi carp named S Legend.  This record-setting koi was bred by Sakai F...

Philippine banknotes are more than paper money — they are tiny time capsules. Between Spanish-era treasury notes, wartime emergency issues, and modern commemoratives printed in tiny numbers, several Filipino bills have left circulation and found new life at specialist auctions, sometimes selling for sums that surprise even experienced collectors. Below I’ll walk through why particular Philippine bills attract high prices at auction, and give real-world examples of auction results and estimates so you can see how much these notes can be worth. What makes a Philippine banknote valuable? Collectors price notes according to a mix of factors: Rarity — limited print runs, discovery notes, misprints, or notes from short-lived issuing authorities. Historical importance — notes issued during major transitions (Spanish colonial period, First Philippine Republic, U.S. territorial issues, WWII emergency currency). Condition (grade) — notes graded as Extremely Fine (EF), About Uncirculated (AU), or...

The 1928 Kweichow (Guìzhōu) Auto Dollar is one of the most romantic — and collectible — provincial Chinese silver coins of the Republican era. Struck in Year 17 of the Republic (1928), it was commissioned locally in Guizhou province and famously features an automobile on the obverse — a deliberate celebration of the new roads and the governor Zhou Xicheng’s car. Its unusual subject, attractive design, modest original mintage, and historical context have made it a favorite of collectors for nearly a century.  Physical description & variants The coin is a one-yuan silver piece, about 39 mm in diameter and weighing roughly 25.8 g (approximately seven mace and two candareens by Chinese old weight standards). The obverse shows an automobile driving on a road with blades of grass near the curb (those blades are one of the variety markers), and the reverse carries Chinese legends with a central rosette. Small die- and design-variations exist (for example differences in the number of b...

The China 1932 Plain Edge Pattern Silver Dollar is one of the modern world’s most dramatic numismatic surprises — a striking Sun Yat-sen bust obverse paired with a two-masted junk on the reverse, struck as an experimental “Gold Standard” pattern in 1932 and never officially issued. What makes this piece unforgettable is not only the design and the story behind it, but its extreme rarity and the eye-popping prices it has realized at auction in recent years.  Short history & design In the early 1930s China briefly explored a Gold Standard coinage program. The 1932 pattern dollar (often cataloged as a pattern or experimental 1 yuan) was produced in a handful of variants — including reeded, smooth (plain) and an unusual “cherry-blossom” edge — and was struck at the Philadelphia Mint using dies engraved by American artists. The obverse carries a portrait of Sun Yat-sen; the reverse shows a junk (traditional Chinese sailing ship) with birds and a rising sun — a composition that has e...

The China YR16 (1927) Chang Tso-lin silver dollar is one of the most dramatic and desirable pieces in the field of modern Chinese numismatics. Struck in the chaotic years of the Republic of China, the coin carries the portrait of Zhang (Chang) Zuolin — a powerful Manchurian warlord who dominated northeastern China until his assassination in 1928 — and it now commands auction prices that surprise even seasoned collectors. Below I explain what the coin is, why it’s rare, and what drives its value today. A short history and what the coin looks like YR16 means “Year 16 of the Republic,” i.e., 1927. The design is a portrait-type commemorative or pattern-style issue that shows Chang Tso-lin on the obverse; the reverse typically bears denomination and legend elements in the style of other Republic-era “dollars” (often called yuan). These pieces are linked to the political instability of the 1920s: minting, distribution, and documentation were inconsistent, and many pattern and presentation pi...

The numismatic world turned a little quieter — and a lot richer — in August 2024 when a famously elusive coin, the 1906-S Philippine One Peso (KM-168), graded MS63 by PCGS, sold for $156,000 in a Heritage Auctions sale. That result didn’t just reflect a single enthusiastic bidder: it shattered expectations for business-strike examples of the 1906 San Francisco-mint peso and reaffirmed this coin’s status as the “king” of U.S.-Philippine coinage.  Why this particular coin matters The 1906-S peso sits at the top of the U.S. Philippines series in both mystique and market value. Produced at the San Francisco Mint late in the series (the U.S. Mint struck Philippine silver pesos for circulation between 1903 and 1906), the 1906-S is scarce in collectible, problem-free condition. Surviving examples are few and many survivors show issues that earn them “details” grades from the major services, which leaves truly attractive, numerically graded mint-state pieces in extraordinarily high demand....

Collecting old coins is more than just a hobby — it’s a way of holding history in the palm of your hand. Among the most fascinating pieces for numismatists and historians alike are the Spanish era coins from the 1800s. These coins tell stories of colonial power, trade, revolution, and the evolving identities of nations once under Spanish rule. Whether found in Europe, the Americas, or Asia, Spanish coins from this period remain prized for their beauty, rarity, and historical significance. A Legacy of Empire and Transition By the 1800s, Spain was a global empire in decline, yet its influence reached across continents — from Latin America to the Philippines. The coins minted during this century reflect both the lingering might of Spain and the changing tides of independence sweeping through its colonies. During the early 1800s, Spanish coins often bore the portraits of monarchs such as King Charles IV (1788–1808) and King Ferdinand VII (1808–1833). These coins were typically crafted from...

Have you found an old coin somewhere and found yourself fascinated by it that you have tickled your urge to collect old coins? Well, this might not be just a hobby after all ;-) Coins are more than just pocket change — they are silent witnesses to history. In the Philippines, certain rare coins have become highly sought-after treasures among collectors and numismatists (coin enthusiasts). These coins not only represent significant chapters of the nation’s past but also carry remarkable monetary value today. Remember that these monetary values are rated as of this writing, last quarter of 2025 ;-) 1. The 1971 One Peso Coin – The “Magsaysay Error Coin” One of the most famous rare coins in the Philippines is the 1971 One Peso coin featuring President Ramon Magsaysay. What makes it special is the error in minting — some versions were struck with “PILIPINO” instead of “PILIPINAS”, and others had misaligned edges or double strikes. 💰 Current estimated value: ₱1,000 to ₱10,000, dependin...

What could you possibly find digging rocks and soil and mud? With the help of a priest and local firefighters, a medieval stockpile brimming with silver ingots, gold rings and more than a handful of silver coins was recently discovered in a Polish cornfield by an archaeologist. "Lord, may you help your servant Maria," it was written or rather engraved in a Gold Ring, writings is in Cyrillic inscription. The nearly 900-year-old hoard, found in Słuszków, a village in west-central Poland, held a one-of-a-kind treasure. That ring may have belonged to a princess; the coin stash was certainly fit for one. "The newfound hoard consists of over 6,600 items — silver coins and silver clumbs (tiny ingots) … wrapped in three linen pouches, packed in a basket and then put in the ceramic vessel," Adam Kędzierski, an archaeologist at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology at the Polish Academy of Sciences, told Live Science in an email. Kędzierski said he wouldn't hav...