Hohenzollern 1852-A 1/2 gulden
This specimen was lot 4137 in Künker sale 353 (Osnabrück, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €140 (about US$195 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRANDENBURG-PREUSSEN, PREUSSEN, KÖNIGREICH, Friedrich Wilhelm IV. 1840-1861. 1/2 Gulden 1852, A. Prägung für Hohenzollern. Fast vorzüglich. Erworben im Juli 1971. (Germany, kingdom of Prussia, Frederick William IV, 1840-61, half gulden of 1852, struck for Hohenzollern, about extremely fine.)"
The Hohenzollerns started out in southwest Germany. A junior branch wandered off and became the Margraves of Brandenburg and eventually kings of Prussia and emperors of Germany. The senior branch abdicated in favor of the Berlin branch after the revolutions of 1848. This is part of the last issue of coinage for the state.
Recorded mintage: 53,000, somewhat scarce.
Specification: 5.30 g, 0.900 fine silver, this specimen 5,28 g.
Catalog reference: KM 4, AKS 21; J. 22; Olding 351.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 353: Die Sammlung Axel Tesmer, Teil 2: Prägungen der Könige von Preussen von der Kroning 1701 bis zum Ende der Monarchie. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
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