Greece 1851 1/2 drachma
This specimen was lot 73534 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $3,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "GREECE. 1/2 Drachma, 1851. Athens Mint. Otto. PCGS AU-55. A beautifully toned and nearly unhandled specimen, this glorious example delivers much beautiful luster and charming details throughout. A fully presentable and wholesome example that is certain to please." This type was struck in 1851 and 1855 along with a drachma and five drachmai, both rare. It may be a product of the Vienna mint.
Wikipedia comments,
"Otto (1815-67) was a Bavarian prince who ruled as King of Greece from the establishment of the monarchy on 27 May 1832, under the Convention of London, until he was deposed on 23 October 1862. The second son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended the newly created throne of Greece at age 17. His government was initially run by a three-man regency council made up of Bavarian court officials. Upon reaching his majority, Otto removed the regents when they proved unpopular with the people, and he ruled as an absolute monarch. Eventually his subjects' demands for a constitution proved overwhelming, and in the face of an armed (but bloodless) insurrection, Otto granted a constitution in 1843."
Recorded mintage: unknown but rare.
Specification: 2.23 g, 0.900 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-34.
- Jean-Paul Divo, Modern Greek Coins, 1828-1968. Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman NV, 1968.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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