Prussia 1749-CHI 1/2 friedrichs d'or Fr-2386

Sincona sale 46, lot 85

This specimen was lot 85 in Sincona sale 46 (Zürich, May 2018), where it sold for 2,000 CHF (about US$2,500 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Brandenburg/Prussia, Friedrich II. 1740-1786. 1/2 Friedrichs dor 1749 CHI, Berlin. Brustbild im Harnisch mit Hermelin und Ordensband nach rechts. Rv. Adler zwischen Waffen, darüber die Krone, im Abschnitt CHI - 1749. Fast vorzüglich. Kleine Fassungsspuren und Vorderseite etwas berieben. (Germany, kingdom of Prussia, Frederick II, 1740-86, half frederick d'or of 1749, Berlin mint. Obverse: armored, mantled bust with sash to right; reverse: eagle rising over piled arms, crown above. About extremely fine, Small traces of mounting and obverse slightly polished.)"

Altho Frederick began his reign by minting ducats, in 1741 he switched to friedrichs d'or, a renamed version of the Wilhelm d'or minted by his father. The early issues are rare, but the coin later came to be quite common and was imitated by other North German states as a five thaler gold coin. This half friedrichs d'or was worth 2½ thalers.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 3.34 g, 0.903 fine gold, this specimen 3.30 g.

Catalog reference: Olding 380. Kluge 13. Fr-2386, KM 240.

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, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2018.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.

Link to:

• 1746-EGN friedrichs d'or
• 1749 duit, Cleve mint
• 1749-ALS 1/48 thaler
• 1749-EGN 1/48 thaler
• 1749-CHI ducat
• 1749-ALS friedrichs d'or
• 1749-ALS doppelter friedrichs d'or
• 1749-W AHE friedrichs d'or, Breslau mint
• 1750-A friedrichs d'or bare bust
• 1750-A friedrichs d'or uniformed bust
• Coins and currency dated 1749
• return to coins of German States, Prussia