Prussia 1538 groschen
This specimen was lot 75067 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2024), where it sold for $105. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Prussia. Groschen, 1538. Albrecht Hohenzollern. NGC AU-50. A charming example, with nice details and limited si[gn]s of actual circulation." Wikipedia comments, "Albert of Prussia (German: Albrecht von Preussen; 17 May 1490 – 20 March 1568) was a German prince who was the 37th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, who after converting to Lutheranism, became the first ruler 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 Lutheranism, and thus 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)." 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM MB3, Kopicki-3779.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, October 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the S.P. Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
Link to:
- Prussia 1535 groschen, Albrecht
- Brandenburg 1538 groschen, Joachim II
- Prussia 1539 groschen, Albrecht
- Coins and currency dated 1538