Mainz (1399-02) goldgulden Fr-1617
The first specimen was lot 3739 in Künker sale 264 (Osnabrück, June 2015), where it sold for €550 (about US$711 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ERZBISTUM Johann II. von Nassau, 1397-1419. Goldgulden o. J. (1399-1402), Bingen. GOLD. Attraktives, sehr schönes Exemplar. (Germany, archbishopric of Mainz, John II of Nassau, 1397-1419, undated gold gulden, Bingen mint. Attractive very fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 2189 in Künker sale 404 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €1,900 (about US$2,493 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DAS ERZBISTUM MAINZ. ERZBISCHOF JOHANN II. VON NASSAU, 1397-1419. Die Münzstätte Höchst. Goldgulden o. J. (1399-1402), Höchst. IOhIS ARE - PVS MAGVT’ Johannes der Täufer mit erhobener Rechten und Kreuzstab steht v. v., zwischen seinen Füßen Tatzenkreuz//+ mOnETA OPIDI • In hOIESTEn Der Wappenschild von Nassau, umgeben von vier Wappenschilden (Mainz, Trier, Pfalz/Bayern, Köln) in Vierpass, innen an den Spitzen kleine Rosetten, außen in den Winkeln je eine Kugel. GOLD. Prachtexemplar. Feine Goldtönung, vorzüglich +. Exemplar der Auktion Leipziger Münzhandlung, Heidrun Höhn 101, Leipzig 2023, Nr. 1299. (Germany, archbishopric of Mainz, John II of Nassau, 1397-1419, undated goldgulden, circa 1399-1402, Höchst mint. Obverse: John the Baptist with raised right hand and cross stands facing, a cross between his feet; reverse: The arms of Nassau, surrounded by four shields (Mainz, Trier, Palatinate/Bavaria, Cologne) in quatrefoils, small rosettes on the inside at the tips, a ball on each corner on the outside. Cabinet example, fine gold toning, choice extremely fine.)"
The archbishops of Mainz were prolific issuers of gold coins in the late middle ages but output dropped in the late fifteenth century, never to recover. This type comes without dates. Johann issued five goldgulden: Fr-1615 (archbishop enthroned/arms in trilobe reverse), Fr-1616 (St. John/arms reverse), Fr-1617 (shown here), Fr-1618 (St. Peter standing), Fr-1619 (St. Peter under a canopy) and Fr-1620 (St. Martin enthroned).
Recorded mintage: unknown but common.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, the first specimen 3.43 g. The second specimen is 3,48 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-1617; Slg. Walther 99. The second specimen is Fr-1617; Felke 631; Schlegel 19; Slg. Pick I (Auktion Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 405) 142 leicht var.; Slg. Walther - (vgl. 99, dort aus der Münzstätte Bingen).
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 264, Gold coins | Russian Coins and Medals | German Coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2015.
- [2]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 404: Coins and Medals of the City of Mainz - The Prof. Dr. Eckhart Pick Collection, Part II, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2024.
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