Denmark 1837-FF 2 frederiks d'or
The first specimen was lot 1110 in Sincona sale 38 (Zürich, May 2017), where it sold for 2,000 CHF (about US$2,399 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Friedrich VI. 1808-1839 2 Friedrich dor 1837. Altona Sehr schön. (kingdom of Denmark, Frederick VI, 1808-39, double fredericks d'or, Altona mint, Very fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 6019 in Künker sale 336 (Osnabrück, Germany, March 2020), where it sold for €3,200 (about US$4,188 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"DÄNEMARK, KÖNIGREICH, Frederik VI. 1808-1839. 2 Frederik d'or 1837, Altona. Feingold. Fast vorzüglich. (kingdom of Denmark, Frederick VI, 1808-39, double frederick d'or of 1837, Altona mint. about extremely fine.)"
This coin is from a series begun in 1828 during the reign of Frederick VI. This type was struck 1836-39. Since 1513, the kings of Denmark have alternated between the names Frederick and Christian; when Fredericks VI and VII ruled, this coin was called a frederiks d'or; when Christians VIII and IX ruled, it was called a christians d'or. It was the same size and weight as a Prussian friedrichs d'or (KM 371, KM 398, KM 415, KM 442) and a Saxon gold five thalers (KM 1054, KM 1102, KM 1113, KM 1123, KM 1143). All the Danish issues are rare today. In 1874, Danish coinage underwent a decimal reform and Denmark joined the Scandinavian Monetary Union. The christians d'or was superseded by the twenty kroner.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.28 g, 0.896 fine gold, .382 troy oz AGW, the first specimen 13.27 g, the second specimen 11.90 g.
Catalog reference: Hede 5 A, Schl. 33, Fr-288, KM 713.1.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Jürg Richter, Auction 38, Gold Coins and Medals, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2017.
- [2]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 336: Gold coins from all over the World|German Coins after 1871. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2020.
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