154Prussia. Frederick William IV, 1840–1861.
Gold medal in the weight of 50 ducats
commemorating the publication of the second volume
of Alexander von Humboldt’s *Kosmos*.
NGC MS 65 PL.
From the estate of Emperor William I.
Estimate: 40.000 Euro

166Prussia. Frederick William IV, 1840–1861.
Gold medal in the weight of 50 ducats commemorating
the unveiling of the equestrian statue of
Frederick the Great on Unter den Linden in Berlin in 1851.
NGC MS 63 PL.
From the estate of Emperor William I.
Estimate: 25.000 Euro

191Prussia. William I, 1861–1888.
General’s Medal in the weight of 120 ducats, 1871,
commemorating the victory over France.
A magnificent specimen.
From the estate of Emperor William I.
Estimate: 75.000 Euro

297Russia. Nicholas I, 1825–1855. Family ruble.
1 1/2 rubles (10 zlotys), 1835, St. Petersburg.
NGC MS 64 (Top Pop).
Only 36 examples struck.
A cabinet piece from polished dies.
From the estate of King Frederick William IV.
Estimate: 250.000 Euro

1098Holland. Province.
5 ducats, 1681.
Struck with the dies of a guilder.
NGC PF 64 Cameo.
Proof.
Estimate: 40.000 Euro

1192HRE. Ferdinand II, 1592–1618–1637.
5 ducats, 1634, Vienna.
Extremely rare.
Extremely fine-uncirculated.
Estimate: 10.000 Euro

1266HRE. Vienna.
Salvator Medal in the weight of 12 ducats,
n. d.(around 1840).
NGC PF 61 CAMEO.
Proof.
Estimate: 15.000 Euro

1334City of Regensburg.
5 ducats, n. d. (1708–1710),
with the title of Joseph I. NGC MS 64.
Extremely rare. According to mint records,
only 7 copies struck.
A magnificent piece.
Estimate: 25.000 Euro

1602German New Guinea.
10 New Guinea Marks, 1895 A.
NGC MS 65.
A magnificent piece.
Estimate: 50.000 Euro

2757Saxony.
John Frederick the Magnanimous and
Maurice, 1541–1547.
Trinity Medal, 1544.
A masterpiece of German medal art. Magnificent,
excellent craftsmanship.
Estimate: 75.000 Euro
Archive: People and Markets

Medieval Coin Hoard Found in the Black Forest

We owe the discovery of one of the most extensive medieval coin hoards of recent decades to the diligence of a citizen of the Glotteral Valley. The discovery is said to be the largest coin hoard found in South Baden in 75 years.

One of the discovered coins, Breisach type. Photo: State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments of the Stuttgart Regional Council.

One of the discovered coins, Breisach type. Photo: State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments of the Stuttgart Regional Council.

At the request of an employee of the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (LAD, State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments) at the Regierungspräsidium (Regional Council) in Stuttgart, this citizen, who is very interested in archaeology, observed the work that was carried out at the beginning of May 2024 to lay a pipeline near a local swimming pool. He noticed “small metal plates” during the excavation. When inspecting the pipeline trench, further discoveries were made and immediately reported to the LAD. Together with a representative of the authority, the site was inspected on the very same day and the finds (about 1000 coins) recovered. At the same time, three LAD-certified detectorists searched the site on behalf of the LAD. Even the sometimes adverse conditions – rain covered the excavation site in knee-deep mud – could not discourage them. Their perseverance was rewarded with the discovery of another about 600 coins.

The Glottertal coin hoard. Photo: State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments of the Stuttgart Regional Council.

The Glottertal coin hoard. Photo: State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments of the Stuttgart Regional Council.

After the coins were somewhat clean, a first identification attempt was made: “They are mainly coins from the mints of Breisach, Zofingen and Freiburg, minted in the period around 1320. In addition, there are some coins from Basel, St. Gallen, Zurich, Laufenburg and Colmar,” says Andreas Haasis-Berner, archaeologist at the LAD.

Coins of the Zofingen type. Photo: State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments of the Stuttgart Regional Council.

Coins of the Zofingen type. Photo: State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments of the Stuttgart Regional Council.

Commenting on the significance of the find, he said: “The analysis of this coin hoard will provide information on coin circulation in Breisgau, the activities of the mints, on the silver trade but also on mining in the Glottertal valley.” Asked if the treasure was valuable at the time, the archaeologist replied: “You could have bought about 150 sheep with these coins.”

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