View source for Danzig 1809-M groschen KM-Pn38

[[Image:SB223-74411o.jpg|300px|thumb|Stack's Bowers February 2023 Collector's Choice sale, lot 74411]]
[[Image:SB223-74411r.jpg|300px|thumb]]

This specimen was lot 74411 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, "[[Poland|POLAND]]. [[Danzig]]. Billon Grosz, 1809-M. Marshal Lefebvre. PCGS MS-62 Brown. A variant that is listed as a pattern in Krause despite the fact that it was likely struck for circulation. Silvered surfaces present a delightful amber and powder blue iridescence, while coppery areas show a somewhat deeper magenta brown coloration. Seldom encountered in Mint State preservation, and sure to excite specialists." This groschen (grosz in Polish) was struck in copper (KM 137) for Danzig in 1809 and 1812. The silver or billon version shown here is listed in the SCWC as a pattern. However, judging from the evidence of die erosion, we think the auctioneers are correct in stating that this was struck for circulation. The port, long ruled by Poland, was annexed to Prussia as part of the Second Partition of 1793. After defeat by Napoleon, Frederick William III was forced to surrender a large chunk of South Prussia to the king of Saxony as part of Napoleon's puppet state, the grand duchy of Warsaw. Danzig, tho not adjacent to the grand duchy, was made a free city so that the new state would have a port on the Baltic Sea. This lasted until Napoleon's defeat, whereupon the grand duchy was handed to the Russians as the kingdom of Poland. The city of Danzig returned to its former status.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown. 

''Specification:'' silver or billon. 

''Catalog reference:'' KM-Pn38; Kopicki-7813; Khminski-533. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed.,'' Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, ''February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection,'' Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.

''Link to:''
* [[Prussia 1808-M schilling|1808-M schilling]]
* [[Prussia 1812-M groschen|1812-M groschen]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1809]]

[[Category:Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2023 Collector's Choice sale]]