Prussia 1873-B groschen
This specimen was lot 4175 in Künker sale 353 (Osnabrück, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €220 (about US$306 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRANDENBURG-PREUSSEN, PREUSSEN, KÖNIGREICH, Wilhelm I. 1861-1888. Silbergroschen 1873, B. Fast Stempelglanz. Erworben 1971. (Germany, kingdom of Prussia, William I, 1861-88, silver groschen of 1873. About uncirculated.)"
This type was struck 1861-73 (two years after unification) at Berlin (A), Hannover (B) and Frankfurt (C) and all dates are common. In 1871, with the successful conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War, Wilhelm assumed the title of Emperor of Germany. The currency was reformed to use pfennig and marks and the taler was dropped, tho it remained legal tender at three mark. The first of the reformed coinage was the twenty mark (1871), followed by the ten mark (1872) and the one mark (1873).
Recorded mintage: unknown but common.
Specification: 2.19 g, .222 fine silver, this specimen 2.13 g.
Catalog reference: KM 485, AKS 103; J. 89; Olding 418.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
- [1]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.
Link to: