Saxony (14)77 groschen KM-MB135
This specimen was lot 806 in Steve Album Auction 53 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "SAXONY: Ernst, Albrecht & Wilhelm III, 1465-1482, AR spitzgroschen, Zwickau, 1477, a pleasing lustrous mint state example of this early dated coin, PCGS graded MS62." This spitzgroschen (probably so-called because of the points on the trilobe) was struck at Zwickau with a crescent mintmark. It is similar to Levinson# I-163, struck 1478 with a trefoil mintmark. The obverse legend, +E•W•A•D•G•DUCS•SX•TV•L•MAR•MIS, expands to "Ernestus, Wilhelmus, Albertus - Dei Gratia Duces Saxoniae Thuringiae Landgravii Marchiones Misnenses" and the reverse legend, +GROSSVS•NOWS•MARCH•MIS ɅɅ, expands to "Grossus Novus Marchionum Misnensium 77". Note the two digit date "ɅɅ". Spitzgroschen were struck again in the 1540's.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.69 g, silver, 22 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM MB135 (listed under Saxe-Wittenberg), Levinson-I-156.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- Levinson, Robert, The Early Dated Coins of Europe, 1234-1500: An Illustrated Catalogue and Guide to dated medieval coinage. Clifton, NJ: Coin & Currency Institute, 2007.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 53, featuring Selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld, Almer H. Orr III, Dr. Dirk Loer and Joe Sedillot Collections, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
Link to: