Saxony (1512-23) schreckenberger

Jean Elsen sale 149, lot 1277

Künker Auction 441, part of lot 4375

Künker Auction 441, lot 4377

The first specimen was lot 1277 in Jean Elsen sale 149 (Brussels, December 2021), where it sold for €180 (about US$244 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"ALLEMAGNE, SAXE, Friedrich III, Johann et Georg (1507-1525), AR Schreckenberger (Engelgroschen), s.d. (1512-1523), Annaberg. Différent: croisette. D/ Ecu tenu par un ange. R/ Ecu écartelé. Belle patine. Très Beau à Superbe. (Germany, duchy of Saxony, Frederick III, George and John, 1507-25, undated silver schreckenberger or engelgroschen, Annaberg mint. Privy mark: crosslet. Obverse: arms supported by an angel; reverse: quartered arms. Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"

The second specimen was part of lot 4375 in Künker sale 441 (Osnabrück, March 2026), where it sold for €260 (about US$358 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[2] noted,

"SACHSEN, KURFÜRSTENTUM Friedrich II. und Wilhelm III., 1440-1464. Schildgroschen o. J. (1451-1456), Freiberg. 2,63 g Münzzeichen Mohnkapsel und Stachelrose. Krug 1034/1; Mehner 14/7. Dazu: Friedrich III. der Weise, Johann und Georg, 1492-1493. Schreckenberger o. J., Annaberg. 3,78 g und 4,53 g. Mit Münzzeichen * auf Vorder- und Rückseite. Zwei Varianten mit rundem und eckigem E. Keilitz 51 (2x); Schreckenberger o. J., Annaberg. 4,43 g. Mit Münzzeichen + auf Vorder- und Rückseite. Keilitz 52. 4 Stück. Meist sehr schön. (electorate of Saxony, Frederick the Wise, John and George, 1492-93, undated shield groschen, Annaberg mint, Mint marks: Poppy capsule and thorny rose. Also an undated schreckenberger, circa 1492-93, Annaberg mint, with * on obverse and reverse, two varieties with round and square E's. Also an undated schreckenberger, circa 1492-93, Annaberg mint, with + on obverse and reverse. Four pieces, most very fine.)"

The third specimen was lot 4377 in the same sale, where it sold for €550 (about US$757 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[2] noted,

"SACHSEN, KURFÜRSTENTUM Friedrich III. der Weise, Johann und Georg, 1492-1493. Schreckenberger o. J., Annaberg. Beiderseits Münzzeichen +. Keilitz 52. Herrliche Patina, winz. Prägeschwäche, vorzüglich-Stempelglanz. (electorate of Saxony, Frederick the Wise, John and George, 1492-93, undated schreckenberger, Annaberg mint.)"

The schreckenberger or engelgroschen was a denomination briefly popular around the turn of the sixteenth century. Nominally equal to twelve kreuzer, they should have the weight of one-fifth thaler altho this example weighs about one-seventh of a thaler. Schreckenbergers were also struck at the Buchholz and Nurnberg mints. Only a few are dated. The cross in the legends is the mark of mintmaster Albrecht von Schreibersdorf. This one (KM MB86) has obverse legend "+FRIDERICVS·IOHANNES·GEORGIVS" while the slightly earlier KM MB56 has "*FRIDERICVS: GEORGIVS: IOHANN". Joint coinages were frequent during the early stages of the division between the Ernestine and Albertine dukes; the Ernestine branch splintered after 1554 into the Saxon duchies.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver, the first specimen 4,08 g, the third specimen 4,49 g.

Catalog reference: KM MB86, Keilitz-Kohl 40; Schulten 3003.

Source:

Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 149: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.
^[2]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Frühjahrs-Auktion 441: Orders and Decorations from the Estate of Wilhelm, Duke of Bavaria (1752–1837), among others | Coins and Medals from the Middle Ages and Modern times, particularly Denmark, Habsburg, Norway, and Saxony, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2026.

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Saxony (1512-23) schreckenberger

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