Prussia 1756-D 4 mariengroschen

Sincona sale 46, lot 124

This specimen was lot 124 in Sincona sale 46 (Zurich, May 2018), where it sold for 5,000 CHF (about US$6,000 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Brandenburg/Prussia, Friedrich II. 1740-1786. Friedrichs dor 1756 D, Aurich. Goldabschlag von den Stempeln des 4 Mariengroschen im Gewicht des Friedrichs d'ors. Wertangabe, darunter die Jahreszahl 1756 und Münzzeichen D. Rv. Gekrönter Adler mit Zepter und Reichsapfel. Äusserst selten. Fast sehr schön. Kleiner Schrötlingsfehler. (Germany, kingdom of Prussia, Frederick II, 1740-86, 6, Aurich mint. Off metal strike in gold of a four Mariengroschen in the weight of a frederick d'or. Obverse: denomination with date and mintmark; reverse: crowned eagle with scepter and orb. Extremely rare, About very fine, Minor flan defect.)"

This four mariengroschen was normally a billon piece of a type struck at Aurich in East Friesland 1756-57. The province of East Friesland was part of Prussia 1744-1806, then French 1806-13, then Prussia 1813-15, then Hannover 1815-66 and finally Prussia 1866-1918.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: normally billon. Off metal strike: 6.68 g, .903 fine gold, this specimen 6.29 g.

Catalog reference: Olding 250 Anm. Kluge 328.3 (ohne Abb). Slg. Killisch von Horn 3153, KM 221 (listed under East Friesland).

Source:

• 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.
• ^[1]Richter, Jürg, Auction 46, Gold Coins and Medals, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2018.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.

Link to:

• 1756-D mariengroschen, struck in gold
• 1756-B friedrichs d’or, uniformed bust
• 1756-A halb friedrichs d’or, uniformed bust
• 1756-A friedrichs d'or, bare bust
• Coins and currency dated 1756
• return to coins of German States, Prussia