Schleswig-Holstein 1787 sechsling
The division of the late eighteenth century products of the Altona mint into issues of Denmark and issues of Schleswig-Holstein is arbitrary. Here, we will file coins under Denmark unless Schleswig-Holstein is specifically mentioned. This one, with the reverse legend "1 SECHSLING SCHLESW·HOLST SCHEIDEMÜNZE", is clearly an example of the latter. This specimen was lot 10372 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2025), where it sold for €2,040 (about US$2,126). The catalog description[1] noted, "DENMARK. Schleswig-Holstein. Sechsling, 1787. Altona/Poppenbuttel Mint. Christian VII. NGC AU-55 Brown. While common in lower grades this coin is not often encountered in AU grades. From the L. E. Bruun Collection." In Denmark, 96 skilling = one speciedaler but in late eighteenth century Germany, 120 kreuzer = one convention thaler. This coin was likely intended to pass for a kreuzer. Christian VII was insane for most of his reign and the government was in the hands of regents, including his stepmother and later his son. The court was the scene of violent power struggles over who would have access to the incapable king. Schleswig was Danish-speaking while Holstein was German; the conflicts arising therefrom led to the whole region being conquered and annexed by Prussia in the 1860's.
Recorded mintage: 6,000,000.
Specification: 11.8 g, copper, 32 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM-118; Hede-46; Sieg-38; Schou-18; FP-SH2.2; Bruun-7880.
- 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.
Links to:
- Schleswig-Holstein 1787 dreiling
- 1787-MF 2½ schilling (1/24 speciedaler)
- 1787 10 schilling (1/6 speciedaler)
- 1787-MF 40 schilling (2/3 speciedaler)
- 1787-MF 60 schilling (speciedaler)
- 1788-MF 2 sechsling
- 1788-MF 60 schilling (speciedaler)
- Schleswig-Holstein 1851-TA sechsling
- Coins and currency dated 1787