Prussia 1775-A friedrichs d'or Fr-2411
This specimen was lot 161 in Sincona sale 46 (Zürich, May 2018), where it sold for 2,000 CHF (about US$2,400 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Brandenburg/Prussia, Friedrich II. 1740-1786. Friedrichs dor 1775 A, Berlin. Greisenantlitz. Nackte Büste mit Lorbeerkranz nach rechts. Rv. Gekrönter Adler auf Fahnen und Waffen, darüber die Jahreszahl 1775, im Abschnitt Münzzeichen A. Der seltenste Jahrgang dieses Münztyps. Gutes sehr schön. (Germany, kingdom of Prussia, Frederick II, 1740-86, frederick d'or of 1775, Berlin mint, old bust. Obverse: bare, laureate bust to right; reverse: crowned eagle rising over piled arms, mintmark dividing date below. The rarest year of this type, Good very fine.)"
This type was struck in Berlin (shown here) and in Breslau (Fr-2412) 1775-86. It traded for five thalers. Frederick the Great emerged victorious from the Seven Years War but it was a very near thing, with only the death of the empress Elizabeth in 1761 saving Prussia from utter destruction. Having established Prussia as a major power, he eschewed further wars of aggression.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.65 g, 0.903 fine gold, this specimen 6.61 g.
Catalog reference: Olding 435. Kluge 112.1. Fr-2411, KM 333.
- 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.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [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.
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