Cologne 1583 goldgulden Fr-760
This specimen was lot 4397 in Sincona sale 4 (Zürich, October 2011) where it sold for 1,800 CHF (about US$2,395 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHLAND Köln, Stadt Goldgulden 1583. Titel Rudolf II. Stadtwappen im Zentrum, die kleinen Wappen der vier rheinischen Kurfürsten in den Winkeln eines spitzen Vierpasses. Rv. Gekrönter Doppeladler mit Reichsapfel auf der Brust. Fast vorzüglich. (City of Cologne, gold gulden of 1583, in the name of emperor Rudolph II. Obverse: city arms in center; reverse: crowned double headed eagle with imperial orb on breast. Nice extremely fine)."
The archbishopric of Cologne, like Mainz and Trier, was an ecclesiastical state along the river Rhine whose ruler was one of the Electors of the Empire. This type was struck 1577, 1580-93, 1596-98 in small numbers by the city, not the archbishop.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.25 g, 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 3,26 g.
Catalog reference: Noss 214. Fr-760.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals & Banknotes: Auction 4, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2011.
- 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.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
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