Mainz (1461-62) groschen

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Künker sale 404, lot 2232

This specimen was lot 2232 in Künker sale 404 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €5,500 (about US$7,217 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"DAS ERZBISTUM MAINZ. ERZBISCHOF ADOLPH II. VON NASSAU, 1461-1475. Ein Weißpfennig mit Titel Electus et Confirmatus aus der Münzstätte Seligenstadt. Weißpfennig (Groschen) o. J. (1461/1462), Seligenstadt. St. Petrus mit Kreuzstab und Schlüssel v. v. in gotischem Gestühl, unten der Wappenschild von Nassau//Zweifeldiges Wappen (Mainz/Nassau) in doppeltem Dreipass, in den Winkeln die Schilde von Köln, Trier und Bayern für Pfalz. Von großer Seltenheit. Prachtexemplar. Vorzüglich +. Exemplar der Slg. Dr. Rudolph Walther, Auktion Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 275, Frankfurt/Main 1971, Nr. 159 und der Auktion Heidelberger Münzhandlung, Herbert Grün 74, Heidelberg 2018, Nr. 1365. (Germany, archbishopric of Mainz, Adolf II of Nassau, 1461-75, undated groschen or Weißpfennig, circa 1461-62, Seligenstadt mint. Obverse: St. Peter with crozier and keys stands under a Gothic dais, the arms of Nassau below; reverse: impaled arms of Mainz and Nassau in a double trefoil, cantonned with the shields of Cologne, Trier and Bavaria for the Palatinate. Extremely rare, cabinet example, choice extremely fine.)"

The Weißpfennig was struck by the archbishops of Trier, Mainz and Cologne at Coblenz, starting in the late fourteenth century. It became popular because of its good alloy. It was eventually copied by numerous petty princes along the Rhine. Adolf II was not the choice of the citizens or the cathedral chapter and he had to take his office by force.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver or billon, this specimen 2,03 g.

Catalog reference: Pr. Alex. 190; Slg. Pick I (Auktion Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 405) -; Slg. Walther 159 (this example).

Source:

  • Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
  • Grierson, Philip, Coins of Medieval Europe, London: B. A. Seaby Ltd., 1991.
  • [1]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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