Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1915-A 3 mark
The first specimen was lot 6878 in Künker sale 336 (Osnabrück, Germany, March 2020), where it sold for €340 (about US$445 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"GERMAN COINS SINCE 1871, REICHSSILBERMÜNZEN, MECKLENBURG-SCHWERIN. Friedrich Franz IV. 1897-1918. 3 Mark 1915. Jahrhundertfeier. Winz. Kratzer, polierte Platte. (Germany, grand duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Frederick Francis IV, 1897-1918, three mark of 1915, centennial of the grand duchy. Minor scratches, proof.)"
The second specimen was lot 70717 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2021), where it did not sell. The catalog description[2] noted, "GERMANY. Mecklenburg-Schwerin. 3 Mark, 1915-A. Berlin Mint. Friedrich Franz IV. NGC MS-64. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Grand Duchy. Alluring nearly full blast white, with hints of amber color visible at 12 on the reverse that establish full originality. Quite a miraculous Mint State survivor that deserves its rather lofty near-Gem acclaim." This type is scarce, being struck in the midst of World War One. It is accompanied by a five mark.
Recorded mintage: 33,334 plus proofs.
Specification: 16.67 g, 0.900 fine silver, 33 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 340, J. 88.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 336: Gold coins from all over the World|German Coins after 1871. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2020.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The October 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
Link to:
- 1915-D 5 pfennig, struck in iron
- 1915-J 5 pfennig
- 1915-D ½ mark
- 1915-F ½ mark
- 1915-J ½ mark
- 1915-A mark
- 1915-D mark
- 1915-F mark
- 1915-G mark
- Baden 1915-G 3 mark
- Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1915-A 3 mark, without Luneburg
- Prussia 1915-A 3 mark, Mansfeld centennial
- Saxe-Meiningen 1915 3 mark death of the duke
- Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach 1915-A 3 mark centennial of the grand duchy
- 1915 5 mark
- Coins and currency dated 1915