Wurttemberg 1593 groschel KM-MB165
This specimen was lot 5474 in Künker sale 386 (Osnabrück, March 2023), where it sold for €2,000 (about US$2,585 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"WÜRTTEMBERG, HERZOGTUM, SEIT 1806 KÖNIGREICH, Friedrich I. 1593-1608. Groschen 1593, Stuttgart. R Prachtexemplar. Herrliche Patina, vorzüglich-Stempelglanz. (duchy of Wurttemberg, Frederick I, 1593-1608, groschen of 1593, Stuttgart mint. Rare, outstanding example, superb patina, extremely fine to uncirculated.)"
The coinage of Württemberg prior to the nineteenth century is generally rare and this groschel is no exception. This is the rarer of two varieties; KM MB164 has less ornate arms on the obverse. Altho the auctioneers catalogued this as a groschen, the groschen (KM MB167) was 1/25 of a gulden. This was probably intended to pass for two kreuzer.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.11-1.33 g, 0.437 fine silver, 21 mm diameter, this specimen 1.07 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB165, Klein/Raff 246.
- 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.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 386: Brakteaten | Mainz | Bibliothek Prof. Dr. Niklot Klüßendorf | Mittelalter und Neuzeit | Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2023.
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