Prussia 1870-C 2-1/2 groschen
The first specimen was lot 22624 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $336. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Prussia. 2-1/2 Silber Groschen, 1870-C. Cleve Mint. Wilhelm I. NGC PROOF-67. A lovely Superb Gem with hard flashy surfaces and light attractive mottled tone." The second specimen was lot 4177 in Künker sale 353 (Osnabrück, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €550 (about US$766 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"BRANDENBURG-PREUSSEN, PREUSSEN, KÖNIGREICH, Wilhelm I. 1861-1888. 2 1/2 Silbergroschen 1870, C. Fast Stempelglanz. Erworben am 9.12.1973. (kingdom of Prussia, William I, 1861-88, 2½ silver groschen of 1870. About uncirculated.)"
This type was struck 1861-73 at Berlin ("A"), Hannover ("B") and Frankfurt ("C", shown here) until unification terminated its issue. This is a low mintage but there is no premium for this date. It was accompanied by half and one groschen.
Recorded mintage: 295,481.
Specification: 3.24 g, 0.375 fine silver, the second specimen 3.20 g.
Catalog reference: KM 486, AKS 102; J. 90; Olding 420.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
- [2]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 353: Die Sammlung Axel Tesmer, Teil 2: Prägungen der Könige von Preussen von der Kroning 1701 bis zum Ende der Monarchie. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
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