Greece 1851 drachma
This specimen was lot 24224 in Heritage sale 3020 (Long Beach, September 2012), where it sold for $14,687.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Othon Drachma 1851, MS65 NGC, a superb and fully original piece with aged silvery-gray patina and flashy underlying mint luster. The design features are exceptionally well-struck with no adjustment marks or other flaws. Extremely rare in this stunning quality and very possibly the finest known - certainly the finest we have seen." This type was struck 1851 only along with a half 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: 4.03 g, 0.900 fine silver, .129 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM 35.
- 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]Tucker, Warren, and Cris Bierrenbach, Heritage Signature Auction 3020: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
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