Bavaria 1752 maximilian d'or Fr-242
This specimen was lot 3493 in Künker sale 294 (Osnabrück, Germany, July 2017), where it sold for €1,100 (about US$1,483 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BAYERN, HERZOGTUM, SEIT 1623 KURFÜRSTENTUM, Maximilian III. Joseph, 1745-1777. Max d'or 1752, München. GOLD. Kl. Schrötlingsfehler, sehr schön. (Germany, electorate of Bavaria, Maximilian III Joseph, 1745-77, max d'or of 1752, Munich mint. Gold, edge defect, very fine.)"
The mid eighteenth century saw a vogue for self-titled gold coins inspired by the French louis d'or, such as the christian d'or of Denmark, the freidrichs d'or of Prussia and this maximilian d'or of Bavaria. In Bavaria, the carolin d'or superseded the maximilian d'or in 1726 but was minted only until 1737 along with half and double carolin d'or. A maximilian d'or was ten thalers. An imperial decree of 1736 banned the carolin d'or by reason of the low fineness of gold. In 1747, the elector resumed the issue of the maximilian d'or at the old standard. This type was also struck 1751 and 1767 and is rather expensive.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.65 g, 0.900 fine gold, this specimen 6.50 g.
Catalog reference: KM 495 (formerly KM 219), Fr-242; Hahn 315.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Katalog 294: Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871 | Russische Münzen und Medaillen, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2017.
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