Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp 1712-BH 4 schilling
The first specimen was lot 11534 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2025), where it sold for €65 (about US$68). The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. 4 Schilling (4 Skilling), 1712 - BH. Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. Carl Frederik. NGC VF-35. From the L. E. Bruun Collection." The dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp were a cadet branch of the house of Oldenburg, which ruled Denmark. They divided the rule of Schleswig-Holstein between them and the history of the duchies is the story of their quarrels and feuds. Eventually the ducal title passed to Peter III of Russia in 1762 who determined to use the Russian army to reconquer his province. This diversion of Russian resources was one of the causes of his ouster and murder in that year and his widow, Catherine the Great, sold his rights to the Danish, finally ending the argument after two centuries. This type was struck 1711-12, both with initials "BH". One thaler was 48 schilling. Charles Frederick (b. 1700, r. 1702-39) was the last duke to rule. The second specimen was lot 11223 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Copenhagen, June 2026), where it did not sell. The catalog description[2] noted, "GERMANY. Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. 4 Schilling, 1712-BH. Tönning Mint. Karl Friedrich. NGC EF Details--Environmental Damage. From the L.E. Bruun Collection." The second specimen is a type unlisted in the SCWC and Numista.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: billon, the first specimen 2.24 g, the second specimen 2.80 g.
Catalog reference: KM-212; Sieg-7.5; Bruun-14595. The second specimen KM-; Sieg-7.3; Lange:-; Bruun-14598.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed., Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients, World Coins & World Paper Money, David B. Simpson Medals & World Coins Part 1, Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection, and Selections from the L. E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction - Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, the Richard Margolis Collection and the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.
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