Schleswig-Holstein 1809-MF 2-1/2 schilling
The division of the early nineteenth 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 "2½ SCHILLING SCHLESW·HOLST COURANT·", is an example of the latter. This specimen was lot 10382 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2025), where it sold for €145 (about US$151). The catalog description[1] noted, "DENMARK. Schleswig-Holstein. 1/24 Speciedaler, 1809-MF. Altona Mint. Frederik VI. NGC Unc Details--Cleaned. 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 struck 1809 and 1812. The initials MF stood for Michael Flor, mintmaster at Altona 1787-1818. 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: 960,000.
Specification: 2.80 g, 0.375 fine silver, 22 mm diameter, plain edge.
Catalog reference: KM-150; Hede-16; Sieg-8; Schou-1; Bruun-8003.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
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