Prussia 1751-B friedrichs d'or Fr-2400

Sincona sale 46, lot 102

This specimen was lot 102 in Sincona sale 46 (Zürich, May 2018), where it sold for 3,400 CHF (about US$4,080 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Brandenburg/Prussia, Friedrich II. 1740-1786. Friedrichs dor 1751 B, Breslau. Brustbild im Harnisch mit Ordensband und Kreuz nach rechts. Rv. Gekrönter Adler auf Fahnen und Waffen, unten Schild mit B und die geteilte Jahreszahl 17 - 51. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. Fast vorzüglich. Leicht justiert. (Germany, kingdom of Prussia, Frederick II, 1740-86, frederick d'or of 1749, Breslau mint. Obverse: armored bust with sash and cross to right; reverse: crowned eagle rising over piled arms. Rare in this condition, About extremely fine, Minor adjustment marks.)"

Altho Frederick began his reign by minting ducats, in 1741 he switched to friedrichs d'or, a renamed version of the wilhelm d'or minted by his father. The early issues are rare but the coin later came to be quite common and was imitated by other North German states as a five thaler gold coin. This rare friedrichs d'or of 1750-57 and 1764 instituted the use of the "B" mintmark for the Breslau mint.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 6.68 g, 0.903 fine gold, this specimen 6.63 g.

Catalog reference: Olding 412c. Kluge 42.2-100. Fr-2400, KM 948 (listed under Silesia).

Source:

• 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.
• ^[1]Richter, Jürg, Auction 46, Gold Coins and Medals, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2018.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.

Link to:

• 1750-A halb friedrichs d'or, bare bust
• 1750-A friedrichs d'or, bare bust
• 1750-A friedrichs d'or, uniformed bust
• 1750-B friedrichs d'or, uniformed bust
• 1750-A doppelter friedrichs d'or, uniformed bust
• 1751-A 1/48 thaler
• 1751-C stuber
• 1751-B 2 groschel
• 1751-E 3 groscher
• 1751-B 1/24 thaler, date on obverse
• 1751-A 1/12 thaler
• 1751-B 1/12 thaler
• 1751-C 1/12 thaler
• 1751-A 1/6 thaler
• 1751-B 1/6 thaler
• 1751-E 18 groscher
• 1751-W E 18 groscher
• 1751-B quarter thaler
• 1751-B half thaler
• 1751-C half thaler
• 1751-A thaler
• 1751-B thaler
• 1751-C thaler
• 1751-ICM thaler, Royal Asiatic Society
• 1751-A halb friedrichs d’or
• 1751-B halb friedrichs d’or
• 1751-C friedrichs d'or, uniformed bust
• 1755-B friedrichs d'or, uniformed bust
• Coins and currency dated 1751
• return to coins of German States, Prussia