Hesse 1917-A 3 mark
This specimen was lot 3450 in Sincona sale 39 (Zürich, May 2017), where it sold for 4,500 CHF (about US$5,397 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Hessen, Grossherzogtum, Ernst Ludwig, 1892-1918 3 Mark 1917 A. Berlin Regierungsjubiläum. Sehr selten. Polierte Platte. FDC. (grand duchy of Hesse, Ernest Louis, 1892-1918, three mark of 1917, Berlin mint, on the anniversary of his reign. Very rare. Choice Proof.)"
This type, struck in the peak year of World War One, is one of the rarest of the Wilhelmine Empire. Germany was beginning to lose and the Allied blockade was causing severe distress among the civilian population. Silver was hoarded and very little was available for minting.
Recorded mintage: 1,333 proofs.
Specification: 16.67 g, 0.900 fine silver, lettered edge, this specimen 16.66 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-475, J. 77, KM 376.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Jürg Richter, Auction 39, World coins and medals, coins and medals from Switzerland, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2017.
Link to:
- Wurttemberg 1916-F 3 mark
- 1917-A pfennig
- 1917-D pfennig
- 1917-J pfennig
- 1917 10 pfennig, zinc
- 1917-A 10 pfennig
- 1917-D ½ mark
- Saxony 1917-E 3 mark, Frederick the Wise, 400th anniversary of the Reformation
- Bavaria 1918-D 3 mark
- Coins and currency dated 1917
- return to coins of Hesse