The Most Expensive: Hohenzollern Coins and Medals
From the margraviate to the empire, from Franconia to Brandenburg and Königsberg: this time, we present in our record section the most expensive coins and medals from the territories ruled by the House of Hohenzollern.
Update: The sale of the Axel Tesmer collection of Prussian coins in the Künker auctions 348 and 353 has stirred up our record list of the most expensive Hohenzollern coins. On this occasion we have now updated our list.
01German Empire. Kingdom of Prussia. William I, 10 Marks 1878 B. Very fine. Extremely rare. From Höhn auction 43 (2004), Lot 3716.
02Brandenburg. Elector Joachim II. Ducat, 1560, Berlin. “Only known specimen in private hands.” Almost extremely fine. “This ducat is of great numismatic importance to Brandenburg-Prussia. It is the first ducat as well as the first gold coin of Mark Brandenburg featuring the portrait of a ruler. Thus, the 1560 ducat is one of the rarest coins of Brandenburg-Prussia.” From Künker auction 300 (2018), Lot 8.
03Brandenburg-Prussia. Elector Frederick William, the Great Elector. 5 ducats, n.d. (about 1650), Berlin. “Extremely rare. Unique”. Extremely fine. From Künker auction 221 (2012), Lot 8169.
04Brandenburg. Elector George William. Thick quadruple taler, 1628. Königsberg. VF – EF. From Künker auction 348 (2021), Lot 2586.
05_image02341Brandenburg. Elector Joachim I. Taler, 1521. Frankfurt an der Oder. The first Brandenburg taler. Double strike, very fine +. From Künker auction 348 (2021), Lot 2341.
06Kingdom of Prussia. Frederick William III. Ducat, 1803. From the yields of the Fürstenzeche mine at Goldkronach (Upper Franconia). “Extremely rare. 2nd known and only specimen on the market. Gem. FDC.” From Künker auction 213 (2012), Lot 5035.
07Brandenburg-Franconia. Margrave George Frederick. 10 ducats, 1598, Königsberg. Issued as administrator of the Duchy of Prussia. Extremely rare. About extremely fine. “According to our file, the issue has never appeared on the market.” From Peus Nachf. auction 425 (2019), Lot 1659.
08Brandenburg. Elector Joachim II. Portugaleser of 10 ducats, 1570. Extremely rare. Very fine. Specimen from Adolph Hess AG auction 253, Lucerne 1983, No. 351 (formerly from the ducal coin cabinet of Gotha). From Künker auction 300 (2018), Lot 7.
09_image03264Kingdom of Prussia, Frederick William I. 2 talers, 1719. IGN, Berlin. “Of the utmost rarity. Only specimen on the market.” EF+. From Künker auction 353 (2021), Lot 3264.
10Brandenburg. Elector John George. Portugaleser of 10 ducats, 1584. Berlin. “Unique and of the greatest numismatic importance.” EF. From Künker auction 47 (1999), Lot 4001.
