New Guinea 1894-A pfennig
This specimen was lot 74661 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMAN NEW GUINEA. Pfennig, 1894-A. Berlin Mint. Wilhelm II. PCGS MS-65 Brown. Showcasing a rich and consistent mahogany tone across both faces, this well produced Gem is endowed with a delightful satin texture." 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 of New Guinea 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.
Recorded mintage: 33,000 plus proofs.
Specification: copper, 17.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-1.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The November 2022 Collectors Choice Ancient & World Coins Auction, Featuring the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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