Minden 1634 8 groschen KM-11
This specimen was lot 1146 in Jean Elsen sale 159 (Brussels, June 2024), where it sold for €200 (about US$257 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ALLEMAGNE, MINDEN, assiégée par l'armée suédoise, AR 8 Groschen, 1634. Klippe. Contremarqué de deux clés en sautoir. D/ MINDA/ OBSESSA/ 1634. R/ 8/ GROS/CHEN. Rare. Contremarque: Très Beau. Beau à Très Beau. (Germany, city of Minden, besieged by the Swedish, silver klippe eight groschen of 1634, couterstamped with two keys. Obverse: legend and date; reverse: value. Rare, fine to very fine, counterstamp very fine.)"
Minden was originally a prince-bishopric but went over to Lutheranism in the sixteenth century. Three dukes of Brunswick-Luneburg were bishops of Minden (1553-54, 1582-85 and 1599-1625). It was seized by the Swedes and awarded to the elector of Brandenburg in 1648 by the peace of Westphalia. During the siege, city authorities also struck three pfennig and one, two and four mariengroschen. This type also comes with the value written as "VIII/GROS" and without the counterstamp (KM 12).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.6 g, silver; this specimen 3,48 g.
Catalog reference: KM 11, Stange, Minden, 175; Brause-Mansfeldt 19, 4; Mailliet 85, 1.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 159, Collection Harry Dewit, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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