Leuchtenberg 1552 3 pfennig
This specimen was part of lot 612 in Künker Auction 424 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €170 (about US$241 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · LEUCHTENBERG, LANDGRAFSCHAFT Georg III., 1531-1555. Dreier 1552, Erlangen. Münzmeister Anthonius Koburger. Bindenschild, zu den Seiten je eine Rosette, über dem Schild der Buchstabe L//Reichsapfel, darin Wertzahl 84, zu den Seiten die geteilte Jahreszahl 15 - 52. RR 2 Stück. Fast sehr schön. (Germany, landgraviate of Leuchtenberg, George III, 1531-55, three pfennig of 1552, Erlangen mint. Obverse: the arms of Leuchtenberg bracketed by two rosettes, a "L" above; reverse: an orb with the value dividing the date. Very rare, two pieces, about very fine.)"
The landgrave of Leuchtenberg was a considerable power in the Upper Palatinate in the Middle Ages but never succeeded in becoming a direct suffragan of the emperor. When the dynasty lapsed in 1646, the landgraviate was annexed to Bavaria, where it remains to this day. Only one other three pfennig exists, an undated issue of 1531-55 (KM MB23). We presume the "84" means 84 pieces to the thaler.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.79-0.81 g, silver or billon, 17 mm diameter; these specimens 0,69 g and 0,84 g (the second not shown).
Catalog reference: KM-MB41, Friedl 127.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 424: Münster, Osnabrück, and the Peace of Westphalia | The Fuggers, Leuchtenberg, and Passau | The Collection of a German Manufacturer and History Enthusiast, Part 3, e.g., Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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