There is a small kingdom located in the remote corners of the Balkans. It is an age-old kingdom that was founded a long time ago, at some pointduring the Byzantine Empire. The Kingdom of Bermania is ruled by Alanus I who, with a gentle hand, promotes both humor and numismatics.

Alanus I, for reasons of necessity - with only a few coin collectors living in the secluded valley, in the remote corners of the Balkans, and withKing Alanus not levying taxes and hence depending on his bread-and-butter job as a numismatist... - has retreated to a place near the city of New York.That is why the famous meetings of Be.G.O.N., the Bermanian Guild of Numismatists, where in the past more than one certainty of traditionalnumismatics have crumbled into dust, are often held alongside the New York International Numismatic Convention.

In 2015, as every year, the Bermanic people and a couple of invited guests gathered to listen to the royal speech and to receive a largitio thatstood in the tradition of Roman-Byzantine customs. In Bermania, the largitio traditionally consists of baklava that, thankfully, is not thrown intothe crowd but presented by the crown prince neatly on a plate.

Thisyear's speech of His Royal Highness addressed a hitherto unknown manuscript of the author Marc Twain in which he reported on the trip to Bermaniathat he undertook to get some breeding pairs of the American opossum to the then Bermanian King. On his trip he realized that the opossums foundapproval not as an asset to the European zoos but were rather acquired by the distinguished zoo directors to make their gorgeous beards look evenprettier. Please note: he who has an opossum in his beard will not run short of original topics of conversation at any party!

Mark Twain likewise crossed the native city of the former citizen of Bermania, Munich. The Royal academic elaborating on this stop can certainlybe taken as an homage to Ursula Monacensis Burgcomitissa, as Ursula Kampmann was welcomed into the Kingdom of Bermania by King Alanus in his 41styear of reign.

In a long and elaborate swearing-in ceremony Ursula Kampmann was proclaimed Burgravine of Munich. Shetook an oath to rule wisely and justly in the name of Bermania.

In his non-royal everyday life His Majesty Alanus I is a coin dealer with a passion for selling coins that tell a story. His website is linkedhere.

As a coin dealer he has written several books, including "Papal Coins"" and "Papal Numismatic History", which can be bought directly from him -with a royal dedication, if requested.

To read the complete article, see:
The Kingdom of Bermania (www.coinsweekly.com/en/News/4?&id=3219)