Brandenburg 1638-DK ducat Fr-2183
This specimen was lot 1474 in Künker Auction 425 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €22,000 (about US$31,152 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · BRANDENBURG, KURFÜRSTENTUM Georg Wilhelm, 1619-1640. Dukat 1638 DK, Königsberg. Brustbild r. in Kurornat//Kurhut über vierfeldigem Wappen mit Mittelschild, zu den Seiten die geteilte Jahreszahl 16 - 38 und die geteilte Signatur D - K (David Koch, Münzmeister in Königsberg, 1627 - ca. 1650), am Ende der Rückseitenumschrift das Wardeinzeichen "Kreuz über Herz" (Ernst Pfahler, Wardein in Königsberg 1619-1646). GOLD. Sehr selten, besonders in dieser Erhaltung. Prachtexemplar. Fast Stempelglanz. (Germany, electorate of Brandenburg, George William, 1619-40, ducat of 1638, Königsberg mint. Obverse: capped bust right in electoral robe; reverse: hatted quartered arms with an escutcheon dividing the date, signature below. Very scarce, especially in this quality, cabinet example, about uncirculated.)"
This type was struck 1632-40 while the elector was hiding from the Thirty Years War in Königsberg. His subjects, left to the mercies of the pillaging armies, were likely not grateful. The very similar Fr-2184, also struck in 1638, features more quarterings in the reverse arms.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3,46 g.
Catalog reference: KM 148, Fr-2183; Marienb. 1530; Olding 8 a.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 425: Gold coins from the Medieval and Modern Times, from the Mohr family collection, e.g. | Silver coins, e.g. highlights of medallic art | German coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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