File:Cologne c1349 florin obv H3029-30071.jpg

This specimen was lot 30071 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $11,162.50. The catalog description^[1] noted, "A Phenomenal Imitative Florin of Cologne Cologne-Archbishopric. Wilhelm von Gennep (1349-62) gold Florin ND, Fr-781, MS62 NGC. WILh • A | REPVS •, Florentine lily / • S • IOHA | ИИES B ? (Eagle), St. John standing, facing, cloaked in a mantle with right hand raised and a scepter in the left. A glittering jewel with a near fully-struck portrait of St. John. Despite evidence of light die rust and some small deposits on the obverse, this is a truly exceptional specimen of a very scarce type. Wilhelm was the second Archbishop of Cologne to order the imitation of Florentine florins after Walram von Jülich. The imitative issues continued under two succeeding archbishops, ending in 1368 with the introduction of the goldgulden. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate' Partnership of Eric P Newman / B.G. Johnson."