Denmark (15)63 3 mark Dav-8228
This specimen was lot 4948 in Künker sale 441 (Osnabrück, March 2026), where it sold for €1,100 (about US$1,513 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DÄNEMARK, KÖNIGREICH Frederik II., 1559-1588. Speciedaler (3 Mark) 1563, Kopenhagen. Münzmeister Poul Fechtel. Gekröntes Wappen auf Kreuz//Wert und Jahr in vier Zeilen. Hübsche Patina, sehr schön. Exemplar der Sammlung Münzen und Medaillen aus adeligem Privatbesitz. Dieser Speciedaler 1563 wurde für die private Rechnung des Reichsrats Lauge Brahe geprägt, der dazu am 1. September 1562 die Genehmigung erhalten hatte. (kingdom of Denmark, Frederick II, 1559-88, speciedaler or three mark of 1563, Copenhagen mint. Obverse: crowned arms over a cross; reverse: value and date in four lines. Handsome patina, very fine. This 1563 speciedaler was minted on the private account of the Imperial Councilor Lauge Brahe, who had received authorization to do so on September 1, 1562.)"
Numista states the dies were also used to strike gold pieces of ten ducat weight. This is the first coin we have seen with an abbreviated date in Roman numerals. The accompanying one mark had the date in conventional Arabic numerals.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 29.03 g, 0.937 fine silver, 38-39 mm diameter, this specimen 28,94 g.
Catalog reference: Hede 8 B; Dav-8228; Schou 5; Sieg 21.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1484-1600, Frankfurt: Numismatischer Verlag, 1977.
- Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed., Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.* Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Frühjahrs-Auktion 441: Orders and Decorations from the Estate of Wilhelm, Duke of Bavaria (1752–1837), among others | Coins and Medals from the Middle Ages and Modern times, particularly Denmark, Habsburg, Norway, and Saxony, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2026.
Links: