Prussia 1535 groschen
This specimen was lot 2082 in Goldberg sale 122 (Los Angeles, June 2021), where it sold for $150. The catalog description[1] noted, "German States: Brandenburg. Groszy, 1535. Albrecht, 1525-69. Bust right. Reverse: Eagle with S on breast. Lustrous. PCGS graded AU-58." Albert, first duke of Prussia, was the former grand master of the Teutonic knights who converted to Lutheranism and proclaimed himself duke with the connivance of the king of Poland. Prussia was merged with Brandenburg only upon the extinction of his line in 1618. Those Teutonic knights who remained Catholic were exiled and returned to Germany, where the knights had estates. This type was struck 1529-50 and 1558 and is common.
According to Wikipedia, "Albert of Prussia (17 May 1490 – 20 March 1568) was the last Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, who after converting to Lutheranism, became the first monarch of the Duchy of Prussia, the secularized state that emerged from the former Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights. Albert was the first European ruler to establish Protestantism as the official state religion of his lands. He proved instrumental in the political spread of Protestantism in its early stage, ruling the Prussian lands for nearly six decades (1510–1568)."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, 23-24 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM MB3, Kop-3777; Saurma-5052/2674.
- Cuhaj, George S., Thomas Michael and Douglas Nicol, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd Ed. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 122: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2021.
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