New Guinea 1894-A 10 pfennig
This specimen was lot 30837 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $3,840. The catalog description[1] noted, "German Colony. Wilhelm II Proof 10 Pfennig 1894-A PR64 Red and Brown NGC, Berlin mint. A vibrant copper-red offering that depicts an open-winged Bird of Paradise with full plumage on the obverse, surrounded by fully reflective mirrors that glimmer with golden-apricot highlights. The reverse is equally stunning and bold, adding to the endless allure of this popular type. Bordering on Gem, and a wonderful Proof example as such." This coin was minted in Berlin in 1894 for the German colony of New Guinea. Gold ten and twenty mark pieces also exist, along with silver half mark, mark, two mark and five mark pieces. The German colony fell to the Australians in 1914 and was held by them until 1975, when the area became part of Papua New Guinea. Mineral wealth abounds but the climate and terrain are harsh and the country remains poor. It is unlikely that this gem specimen ever crossed the Pacific to New Guinea.
Recorded mintage: 24,000 plus proofs.
Specification: copper, 29.5 mm diamete.
Catalog reference: KM 3.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
Link to: