View source for Schleswig-Holstein 1789-MF 20 schilling

[[Image:SB225-10374o.jpg|300px|thumb|from the Stack's Bowers February 2025 Collectors Choice sale, lot 10374]]
[[Image:SB225-10374r.jpg|300px|thumb]]

The division of the late eighteenth century products of the Altona mint into issues of [[Denmark]] and issues of [[German States, Schleswig-Holstein|Schleswig-Holstein]] is arbitrary. Here, we will file coins under Denmark unless Schleswig-Holstein is specifically mentioned. This one, with the reverse legend "20 SCHILLING· SCHLESW·HOLST· COURANT·", is clearly an example of the latter. This specimen was lot 10374 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2025), where it sold for €192 (about US$200). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, "DENMARK. Schleswig-Holstein. 1/3 Speciedaler, 1789-MF. Altona Mint. Christian VII. NGC F-12. Spelling error 'DAV' instead on 'DAN'. 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 likely intended to pass for half a gulden. It was struck 1789 only and is scarce. The initials MF stood for Michael Flor, mintmaster at Altona 1787-1818. Christian VII was insane for most of his reign and the government was in the hands of regents, including his stepmother and later his son. The court was the scene of violent power struggles over who would have access to the incapable king. 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:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 9.63 g, 0.875 fine silver, this specimen 9.38 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' KM-130b; Hede-41C; Sieg-43.3; Schou-5; FP-SH7.5; Bruun-7904. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]'' 
* Michael, Thomas, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed.,'' Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
* ''Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed.,'' Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.
* <sup>[1]</sup>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.

''Links to:''
* [[Schleswig-Holstein 1787 10 schilling|1787 10 schilling (1/6 speciedaler)]]
* [[Schleswig-Holstein 1787-MF 40 schilling|1787-MF 40 schilling (2/3 speciedaler)]]
* [[Schleswig-Holstein 1788-MF 2 sechsling|1788-MF 2 sechsling]]
* [[Schleswig-Holstein 1788-MF 60 schilling Dav-1311|1788-MF 60 schilling (speciedaler)]]
* [[Schleswig-Holstein 1789-MF 60 schilling Dav-1311|1789-MF 60 schilling (speciedaler)]]
* [[Schleswig-Holstein 1790-MF 60 schilling Dav-1311|1790-MF 60 schilling (speciedaler)]]
* [[Schleswig-Holstein 1808-MF 20 schilling|1808-MF 20 schilling (⅓ speciedaler)]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1789]]

[[Category:Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2025 Collectors Choice sale]] [[Category:Minor coinage of the German states]]