View source for Brandenburg 1638-DK ducat Fr-2183

[[Image:K425-1474.jpg|550px|thumb|Künker Auction 425, lot 1474]]

This specimen was lot 1474 in Künker Auction 425 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €22,000 (about US$31,152 including buyers' fees). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"''DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · BRANDENBURG, KURFÜRSTENTUM Georg Wilhelm, 1619-1640. Dukat 1638 DK, Königsberg. Brustbild r. in Kurornat//Kurhut über vierfeldigem Wappen mit Mittelschild, zu den Seiten die geteilte Jahreszahl 16 - 38 und die geteilte Signatur D - K (David Koch, Münzmeister in Königsberg, 1627 - ca. 1650), am Ende der Rückseitenumschrift das Wardeinzeichen "Kreuz über Herz" (Ernst Pfahler, Wardein in Königsberg 1619-1646). GOLD. Sehr selten, besonders in dieser Erhaltung. Prachtexemplar. Fast Stempelglanz.'' ([[Germany]], [[German States, Brandenburg|electorate of Brandenburg]], George William, 1619-40, ducat of 1638, Königsberg mint. Obverse: capped bust right in electoral robe; reverse: hatted quartered arms with an escutcheon dividing the date, signature below. Very scarce, especially in this quality, cabinet example, about uncirculated.)"</blockquote> This type was struck 1632-40 while the elector was hiding from the Thirty Years War in Königsberg.  His subjects, left to the mercies of the pillaging armies, were likely not grateful. The very similar Fr-2184, also struck in 1638, features more quarterings in the reverse arms.

''Recorded mintage'': unknown.

''Specification'': 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3,46 g.

''Catalog reference:'' KM 148, Fr-2183; Marienb. 1530; Olding 8 a. 

''[[Bibliography|Sources:]]'' 
* Craig, William D., ''[[Germany|Germanic]] Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II,'' Mountain View, CA: 1954. 
* Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed.'', Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
* Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, ''Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed.,'' Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017. 
* <sup>[1]</sup>Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, ''Katalog 425: Gold coins from the Medieval and Modern Times, from the Mohr family collection, e.g. | Silver coins, e.g. highlights of medallic art | German coins after 1871,'' Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.

''Links:''
* [[Brandenburg 1636-DK thaler Dav-6151|1636-DK thaler]]
* [[Brandenburg 1643-DK ducat Fr-2254|1643-DK ducat]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1638]]

[[Category:Selections from Kunker sale 423, 424, 425, 426]][[Category: Gold ducats of Europe]]