Cologne (1371-1414) goldgulden Fr-791
The first specimen was lot 4016 in Goldberg sale 41 (Beverly Hills, May 2007), where it sold for $1,495. The catalog description[1] noted, "Cologne (Archbishopric). Goldgulden, ND. Friedrich II of Saarwerden, 1371-1414. Obv. St. John. Leg: MONETA BVINSIS Reverse: Coat of arms: Mainz/ Trier sides; quartered shield, Cologne and Saarwerden. Leg: FRIDIC- VCARP -VSCOL. NGC graded MS-63. This is not a rare type, but the coin normally is available in Very Fine grade. Here is a far superior example." The second specimen was lot 685 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €700 (about US$886 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"ALLEMAGNE, COLOGNE, Archevêché, Friedrich von Saarwerden (1371-1414), AV florin d'or, s.d. (1409), Bonn. D/ Ecu écartelé de Cologne-Saarwerden dans un trilobe anglé, entouré des écussons de Mayence, Trèves et d'une rosette. R/ MONETA- BVNSIS Saint Jean-Baptiste deb. de f. Aigle bicéphale en haut à g. Légère faiblesse de frappe. Quelques taches. Très Beau à Superbe. (Germany, archbishopric of Cologne, Frederick of Saarwerden, 1371-1414, undated gold florin, circa 1409, Bonn mint. Obverse: quartered arms of Cologne and Saarwerden in an angled trilobe, surrounded by the arms of Mainz, Trier and a rosette; reverse: St. John the Baptist facing, a double headed eagle above. Slightly weakly struck, some stains, very fine to extremely fine.)"
Both the city and the archbishop of Cologne (or Koln) issued gold ducats and it takes a keen eye to tell them apart.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW, the first specimen 3.50 grams, 22.59 mm diameter. The second specimen is 3,47 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-791; Saurma-2682/1411. The second specimen is Noss 254a; Felke 797; Fr-791.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- 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]Goldberg, Ira, and Larry Goldberg, Goldberg Sale 41: the Pre-Long Beach Sale, Beverly Hills: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2007.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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