Auction house Künker from Osnabrück will offer 1,077 lots with world coins and medals in Berlin on Jan. 30, 2020 before the beginning of the World Money Fair. The day starts with the Prof Dr. Rudolf Wiechert Collection o. a. featuring rarities from Brandenburg-Prussia. Coins and medals of the German States follow after. There are also numerous interesting pieces from the Holy Roman Empire on offer, many of them struck at the mints of Prague and Graz. The next section comprises of world coins.
The Prof Dr. Rudolf Wiechert Collection o. a. Including Coins from Brandenburg-Prussia
The Berlin auction starts with 139 selected gold and silver coins of the Hohenzollerns. They stem from the collection of well-known chemist Prof Dr. Rudolf Wiechert o. a. and have one thing in common: All of them are of exceptional quality. They cover the period from George William (1619–1640) to Frederick William III, under whose reign the Kingdom of Prussia merged into the German Empire in 1871. Even though there are numerous interesting pieces of all kings, the collection focuses on gold coins and – regarding the time of minting – on the coins of soldier king Frederick William and those of his son Frederick II.
At this point, we will only mention two of the many pieces: the lot of this section with the highest estimate of 75,000 euros – a quintuple ducat of George William I minted in 1627 in Königsberg – and an unpublished gold medal designed by J. Höhn glorifying Prussia supporting Sweden in its fight against Poland in the Battle of Warsaw in 1656.
Several Guinea ducats and two silver coins of Frederick II minted for the trade bear witness to the efforts of the Prussian kings to increase the income of their empire.
No. 1 – Brandenburg-Prussia. George William, 1619–1640. 5 ducats 1627, Königsberg. Second known specimen. Extremely fine. Estimate: 75,000 euros
No. 3 – Brandenburg-Prussia. Frederick William, 1640–1688. Gold medal of 5 ducats n.d. (1656) by J. Höhn commemorating Prussia supporting Sweden in the fight against Poland in the Battle of Warsaw. Unpublished with this weight. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 20,000 euros
No. 9 – Brandenburg-Prussia. Frederick William, 1640–1688. Guinea ducat 1683, Berlin. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 20,000 euros
No. 46 – Brandenburg-Prussia. Frederick II, 1740–1786. Double Friedrich d’or 1750, Berlin. Extremely rare. FDC. Estimate: 10,000 euros
No. 136 – Brandenburg-Prussia. Frederick II, 1740–1786. Piastre n.d. (1751/2), Aurich. Probably one of the best specimens. Very rare. FDC. Estimate: 10,000 euros
German States
From No. 140, a ducat of 1744 from Anhalt-Bernburg, to No. 614, an off-metal strike in gold of a bread token of 1816/8 from the Wuppertal district Elberfeld: Those interested in coins of the German States in outstanding quality will find what they are looking for at this auction. And those who would like to have a bit of history as a bonus will find an abundance of interesting pieces.
For example, let us take a look at a medal from Brandenburg in Franconia: In 1754, Charles William Frederick had a medal of 40 ducats struck on the occasion of the wedding of his son Christian Frederick Alexander and Frederica Caroline of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. This marriage was – as many others that were concluded for political reasons – rather unhappy. However, the consequence the husband drew after the death of his wife was rather unusual. Although the marriage had been childless, he did not marry again within his social class to conceive an heir to the throne. No, he ceded his rule to Prussia in exchange for a significant life annuity and enjoyed his remaining years with his lover in England.
Lot 195
No. 195 – Brandenburg in Franconia. Charles Wilhelm Frederick, 1729–1757. 40 ducats 1754 commemorating the wedding of his son Christian Frederick Alexander and Frederica Caroline of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. NGC MS62. Unique. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 60,000 euros
Lot 235
No. 235 – Archdiocese of Bremen. George, Duke of Brunswick, 1558–1566. Double taler 1562, Bremen. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 60,000 euros
No. 283 – Hamburg. Bankportugalöser of 10 ducats 1689 commemorating the major European financial centres of Amsterdam, Hamburg, Nuremberg and Venice. Very rare. FDC. Estimate: 40,000 euros
No. 415 – Diocese of Passau. Joseph Dominikus von Lamberg, 1723–1761. 5 ducats 1753 commemorating the 50-year jubilee of his first Mass. NGC MS61+. Very rare. Extremely fine / FDC. Estimate: 40,000 euros
Lot 484
No. 484 – Saxony. Frederick Augustus II, 1733–1763. 2 ducats 1740, Dresden. Unique. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 50,000 euros
No. 512 – Saxe-Gotha. Ernest the Pious, 1640–1675. Off-metal strike in gold of 5 ducats made with the dies of the reichstaler of 1650, Gotha, commemorating the death of his mother-in-law. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 50,000 euros
No. 563 – Westphalia. Hieronymus Napoleon, 1807–1813. 40 francs 1813. Original strike. Only very few specimens minted. About extremely fine. Estimate: 60,000 euros
No. 587 – Würzburg. Peter Philipp von Dernbach, 1675–1683. 5 ducats n.d. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 40,000 euros
Coins of the Holy Roman Empire
Another highlight of the auction are almost 90 lots of coins and medals of the Holy Roman Empire. From a rare bracteate of Ottokar II of Bohemia featuring an elephant to pieces of Emperor Franz Joseph – this series offers an abundance of interesting lots. Collectors from the Czech Republic and Styria will be particularly delighted because this series contains numerous coins made in the mints of Prague and Graz.
But there are also some spectacular pieces of the Mediatized Houses. And at this point we are not thinking of the relatively frequently seen Salzburg gold multiples, but of coins of the noble families of the Dietrichstein, the Eggenbergs, the Esterházys, the Lobkowiczs, the Paars, the Windisch-Graetzs and, of course, the counts of Schlik (Slikové).
The section Holy Roman Empire ends with an interesting series of Vienna “Salvator” medals.
No. 624 – HRE. Maximilian II, 1564–1576. Gulden taler (60 kreuzer) 1564, Prague. Extremely rare. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 20,000 euros
No. 645 – HRE. Ferdinand II, 1592–1618–1637. Ducat 1624, Prague. Very rare. Minor traces of trial at the rim, reworked. Very fine. Estimate: 20,000 euros
No. 650 – HRE. Frederick of the Palatinate (Winter King), 1619–1621. 10 ducats 1620, Prague. Very rare. Very fine +. Estimate: 25,000 euros
No. 737 – Salzburg. Johann Ernst von Thun und Hohenstein, 1687–1709. 12 ducats 1687. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 70,000 euros
No. 750 – Schlik (Slikové). Henry IV, 1612–1650. Ducat 1630, Nuremberg. Very rare. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 20,000 euros
World Coins
Section World Coins and Medals only comprises less than 300 lots, but all of them are extremely interesting. Experts will find rarities from many countries, pieces that simply are not commonplace. Especially among the French lots, there are outstanding pieces, for example, an early silver medal minted under Charles VII commemorating the expulsion of the English from France in 1455.
The small series of 5 Guineas comprising pieces of James II to George II is likely to arouse great interest as well.
Whatever you are collecting, a glance at the offer is definitely worth it – even merely for the joy of seeing so many rarities in outstanding condition.
No. 783 – France. Charles VII, 1422–1461. Silver medal n.d. (1455), unsigned, commemorating the expulsion of the English. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 50,000 euros
Lot 811
No. 811 – France. Napoleon I, 1804–1814, 1815. Gold medal 1807 commemorating the victories of the year. Extremely rare. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 75,000 euros
No. 833 – Great Britain. James II, 1685–1688. 5 Guineas 1686, London. Very rare. Almost FDC. Estimate: 50,000 euros
No. 928 – Portugal. Fernando I, 1367–1383. Dobra Pé Terra n.d., Lisbon. PCGS MS63. Extremely fine. Estimate: 50,000 euros
No. 935 – Russia. Peter II, 1727–1730. 2 roubles 1727, Moscow, Red Mint. Very rare. Very fine +. Estimate: 80,000 euros
No. 980 – Sweden. Gustav Vasa, 1521–1560. Daler 1534, Stockholm. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 50,000 euros
No. 1012 – Hungary / Transylvania. Achatius Barcsai, 1658–1660. Ducat 1659, Klausenburg. Very rare. Estimate: 20,000 euros
Numismatic Literature
If you like to live with books, this auction provides you with the opportunity of purchasing some rare new flatmates. Auction 331 comprises three bibliophile treasures, among them is the second volume of an extraordinary work that is not only connected to the Habsburgs but also to the Black Forest.
Father Marquard Herrgott, who lived at the imperial Court of Vienna as diplomatic representative of the Estates of Breisgau, published a four-volume work, which, for the first time ever, systematically recorded the seals, coins, pictures and funeral monuments connected to the House of Habsburg. At the time it was published, Emperor Charles VI was so amazed by it that he appointed the author imperial historiographer.
No. 1050 – Marquart Herrgott, Nummotheca Principum Austriae. Estimate: 5,000 euros
Orders and Decorations
Auction 331 ends with 25 outstanding orders and decorations. There are rarities from the Grand Duchy of Baden, Russia, and Sweden.
No. 1068 – Russian Empire. Imperial and Royal Order of the White Eagle. Set of orders. 2 pieces II. Estimate: 40,000 euros
All catalogues can be ordered at Künker, Nobbenburger Straße 4a, 49076 Osnabrück; phone: +49 541 / 96 202 0; fax: +49 541 / 96 202 22; or via email: service@kuenker.de. You can also access the auction catalogue online at www.kuenker.de.
The viewing will take place from Jan. 2 to Jan. 25, 2020 – only by prior appointment – in Osnabrück.
On the following days, the coins can be viewed at the Estrel Hotel, Berlin:
Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020: 3 pm to 6 pm,
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020: 10 am to 6 pm,
Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020: 10 am to 6 pm.
The post Kuenker Brings Rarities to World Money Fair appeared first on Numismatic News.
