Prussia 1903-A 20 mark
This specimen was lot 30670 in Heritage sale 3081 (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $4,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "German States: Prussia. Wilhelm II gold Proof 20 Mark 1903-A PR66 Ultra Cameo NGC, Berlin mint. Proof mintage unlisted in the Standard Catalog of World Coins. Of stellar preservation and resulting technical and visual appeal, this gem 20 Mark stands as the finest of its issue certified by NGC, both in non-cameo and Ultra Cameo designations (none are currently certified as "Cameo"). Pristine mirrors, coupled with a delightful and essentially undisturbed frost over Wilhelm's portrait, yield an unmistakable impression of quality, one that would certainly be difficult to match in any other example. From the Caranett Collection." This specimen is one of a type struck 1890-1913 at Berlin (mintmark "A") and Hamburg (mintmark "J"). Most of the later dates, including this one, are common.
Recorded mintage: 2,870,073 plus proofs.
Specification: 7.97 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.229 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-3831, KM 521, J-252.
- 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, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3081, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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