Prussia 1888-A 20 mark Fr-3828

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This coin is a one year type issued during the short reign of Frederick as king of Prussia and Emperor of Germany. The old king, William, died in March after a 27 year reign, by which time Frederick was already dying of throat cancer. Frederick died in June and William II succeeded him, to rule until the collapse of the regime in the throes of World War One. 1888 is known as the "Dreikaisersjahr," or "Year of the Three Emperors." Even so, this type is common and is more obtainable than many issues of William II.

Recorded mintage: 5,364,000.

Specification: 7.965 g, 0.900 fine gold, .230 troy oz AGW, lettered edge.

Catalog reference: KM 515.

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.
• 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.
• Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.

Link to:

• 1872-A 10 mark
• Saxe-Altenburg 1887-A 20 mark
• 1888-J pfennig
• 1888-A 20 pfennig
• 1888-G 20 pfennig
• 1888-A 5 mark
• 1888-A 10 mark, Wilhelm I
• 1888-A 10 mark, Friedrich III
• 1888-A 20 mark, Wilhelm I
• 1888-A 20 mark (Wilhelm II)
• 1913-A 2 mark defeat of Napoleon
• Coins and currency dated 1888
• return to coins of German States, Prussia