Nurnberg 1579 goldgulden Fr-1805
This specimen was lot 3759 in Künker sale 264 (Osnabrück, June 2015), where it sold for €13,000 (about US$16,794 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"STADT Goldgulden 1579, auf das Kranzschießen. Großes und kleines Stadtwappen nebeneinander mit einer Schnur verbunden, unten zwischen den Schilden N, umher Lorbeerkranz//AVF DEM / SCHIESEN IN / DISEM IAR · / SOLCHER STVCK / 100 · DAS BESTE / VVAR · / 1579 ·. GOLD. Von größter Seltenheit. Hübsche Goldpatina, min. Schrötlingsriß, fast vorzüglich. Vgl. den Kommentar bei Kellner S. 35: "Geprägt auf den anlässlich des kurfürstlichen Kollegialtages erwarteten Einzug des Kaisers Rudolf II. Da dieser ausfiel, wurden diese Münzen wieder eingeschmolzen und sind deshalb sehr selten." (Germany, city of Nuremberg, on the shooting festival. Dual arms tied with a cord, laurel wreath around; reverse: six line inscription. Of greatest rarity. Pretty gold patina, some rim flaws, choice extremely fine. See the comment at Kellner, p. 35: "struck for the expected arrival of Emperor Rudolf II on the occasion of the electoral college day. As it turned out, these coins were melted down and are therefore very rare.")"
Friedberg states these coins were minted as prizes for a shooting match.
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3,23 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-1805; Kellner 16; Slg. Erlanger 235.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 264, Gold coins | Russian Coins and Medals | German Coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2015.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
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