The Most Expensive: Coins from the Ernestine Duchies
In 1485, the House of Wettin split into two branches: the Ernestines and the Albertines. Unlike the Albertines, the Ernestines introduced primogeniture comparatively late, which is why their dominion, which is mainly located in today’s Thuringia, disintegrated into numerous tiny duchies. The Ernestines also lost their position in the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire to the up-and-coming Albertines. Even inside the German Empire that was founded in 1871, there were still several Ernestine duchies.
Today, we present the 10 Ernestine coins and medals that realised the highest results at auction. We will limit our list to Ernestine duchies in Germany and exclude the European monarchs from this dynasty. After all, the Ernestines’ marriage policies during the 19th century were so successful that we would otherwise have to include Belgian, British, Portuguese and Bulgarian coins!
As always, only the most expensive specimen of every coin type is accounted for in our list.
Top 10: 50,000 euros.
Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Ernest Augustus Konstantin, under the guardianship of Frederick III of Gotha. 1752 ducat, Eisenach. Extremely rare. “Probably the only specimen known on the market. Extremely fine +. From Leipziger Münzhandlung Höhn auction 93 (2019) No. 4480
Top 9: 53,800 euros.
Ernestine Electorate of Saxony. Frederick III the Wise. 1513 medal of 3 ducats, commemorating his becoming imperial governor-general (Generalstatthalter). One of only two pieces known. Extremely fine. “Ultra-rare jewel of Renaissance German art”. From Stack & Kroisos Collections auction (2008), No. 2760.
Top 8: 55,000 euros.
German Empire. Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen. George II. 20 marks D 1872. Very rare, especially in this quality. Proof. From Künker auction 276 (2016), No. 6200.
Top 7: 70,000 euros.
Duchy of Saxe-Gotha. Ernest the Pious. 5 ducats 1650, Gotha. Off-metal strike of the reichstaler. Commemorating the death of his mother-in-law Elizabeth. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. From Künker auction 331 (2020), No. 512.
Top 6: 75,000 euros
Ernestine Electorate of Saxony. Frederick III the Wise, joint issue with Albert and John. Taler n.d. (1486-1500), Annaberg or Wittenberg. First “klappmützentaler”. Very rare. Very fine. From Künker auction 358 (2022), No. 182.
Top 5: 80,000 euros.
Duchy of Saxe-(New)-Weimar. Wilhelm. 1662 taler. Commemorating the setting up of a foundation on the occasion of completing the church at Wilhelmsburg castle. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. From Leipziger Münzhandlung Höhn auction 93 (2019) No. 4347
Top 4: 83,100 euros.
Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg. Frederick William III. 10 ducats 1672. Off-metal strike from the dies of the double taler. “Probably unique“. Extremely fine. From Numismatica Genevensis SA auction 8 (2014), No. 323.
Top 3: 93,200 euros.
Duchy of Saxe-Jena. Bernhard. 5 ducats 1673, Eisleben. Minted with the dies of the reichstaler. MS63 NGC. “Likely the sole representative in private hands.” Ex King Umberto II of Italy Collection. (Hans Schulman New York auction, November 1967, No. 532.). From Heritage Signature Auction – Dallas #3096 (2021), No. 30267.
Top 2: 130,000 euros.
Ernestine Electorate of Saxony. Frederick III the Wise, joint issue with George and John. Broad triple guldengroschen n.d. (1500-1507), Annaberg. “Klappmützentaler”. Extremely rare. “Probably the only known specimen on the market”. Very fine-extremely fine. From Künker auction 316 (2019), No. 378.
Top 1: 135,000 euros.
German Empire. Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Ernest II. 20 marks E 1872. The rarest gold coin of the German Empire. FDC. From Grün auction 74 (2018), No. 2306.
Outside the competition. Hammer price: 62,000 euros.
Bonus: An Ernestine as the Duke of Franconia. Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar as Duke of Franconia. 1634 taler, Würzburg. Extremely rare, extremely fine. In the Thirty Years’ War, the conquered bishoprics of Bamberg and Würzburg were granted in fief as the Duchy of Franconia to Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar in his capacity as a general fighting for Gustav II Adolf of Sweden. The Duchy only lasted a year. From Meister und Sonntag auction 4 (2006), No. 2010.
Last update: 4 December 2023
