View source for Sayn-Wittgenstein (1623-1626) goldgulden Fr-3054

[[Image:Sayn J124-1258.jpg|550px|thumb|Jean Elsen sale 124, sale 1258]]
[[Image:Cologne 1789.jpg|550px|thumb|Sayn about 1789, southeast of Cologne]]
[[Image:Sayn 1789.JPG|550px|thumb|Sayn and Wittgenstein in 1789]]

This specimen was lot 1258 in Jean Elsen sale 124 (Brussels, March 2015), where it sold for €6,500 (about US$8,104 including buyer's fees). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"''ALLEMAGNE, SAYN-WITTGENSTEIN-BERLEBURG, Georg V (1605-1631), AV Goldgulden, s.d. (1623-1626), Au titre de Ferdinand II. 2e type frappé par Johan Schmid. Droit: MON: NOV: AVR: COMES· IN· WI: Trois écus ornés de volutes (Sayn, Homburg et Wittgenstein), posés en triangle autour d'un point. Revers: *FER: II· D: G: ROM: IMP: S: AVG:* Aigle impériale couronnée. De la plus haute rareté. Ebréché. Semble inédit. Très Beau.'' (Germany, Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, George V (1605-31), goldgulden without date, struck in the name of Ferdinand II, second type struck by John Schmid. Obverse: three shields of Sayn, Homburg and Wittgenstein posed in a triangle; reverse: crowned imperial eagle. Of the highest rarity, mount removed, seems to be unpublished, very fine.)"</blockquote> The cataloguers at Jean Elsen did not attribute this to Friedberg but we feel it is Fr-3054. In any case, it is very rare. The county of Sayn was a very small state between the archbishopric of Cologne and the duchy of Nassau.

''Reported Mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3,06 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' KM 17, M.-J./V., - (cfr 38-42); Fr-3054.

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* 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>Elsen, Philippe, et al., ''Vente Publique 124,'' Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2015. 

''Link to:''
* [[Sayn-Wittgenstein (1623-26) goldgulden Fr-3053]] one shield obverse/"*FER:II·D:G:RO:IMP:SE:A*"
* [[Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein 1677 24 mariengroschen KM-42]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1623]]
* return to coins of [[German States, Cologne]]

[[Category: Selections from Jean Elsen sale 124]][[Category:Gold ducats of Europe]]