Bavaria 1877-D 2 mark
This specimen was lot 31494 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $1,110. The catalog description[1] noted, "German States: Bavaria. Ludwig II 2 Mark 1877-D MS64+ NGC, Munich mint, A near-gem piece with blazing mint cartwheel luster paired with a bright argent tone. An exceptional specimen." This type was struck 1876-77, 1880 and 1883. Tho less costly than other Wilhelmine two mark, it is still expensive in nice condition. The victory of the Germans in the Franco-Prussian war resulted in the foundation of the German Empire. One of the results of unification was the termination of separate coinages for each of the independent states, including Bavaria. No more thalers were struck after 1871. Bavaria continued to issue coins using the united empire standard in the denominations of two, five, ten and twenty mark until 1918 when the empire collapsed at the end of World War One. The old thalers continued to circulate as three mark pieces. King Ludwig II ruled until 1886, when he was deposed in favor of his brother, Otto. Disliked for his extravagance and his homosexuality, he died soon after under very mysterious circumstances.
Recorded mintage: 1,511,500.
Specification: 11.11 g, 0.900 fine silver, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: J. 41, KM 903.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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