Prussia 1786-A friedrichs d'or Fr-2411

Sincona sale 46, lot 177

This specimen was lot 177 in Sincona sale 46 (Zurich, May 2018), where it sold for 1,500 CHF (about US$1,800 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Brandenburg/Prussia, Friedrich II. 1740-1786. Friedrichs dor 1786 A, Berlin. Greisenantlitz. Nackte Büste mit Lorbeerkranz nach rechts. Rv. Gekrönter Adler auf Fahnen und Waffen, darüber die Jahreszahl 1786, im Abschnitt Münzzeichen A. Seltener Jahrgang. Sehr schön. (Germany, kingdom of Prussia, Frederick II, 1740-86, frederick d'or of 1786, Berlin mint, old bust. Obverse: bare, laureate bust to right; reverse: crowned eagle rising over piled arms, mintmark dividing date below. Rare date, Very fine.)"

This type was struck in Berlin (shown here) and in Breslau (Fr-2412) 1775-86. It traded for five thalers. Double friedrichs d'or (Fr-2410) and half friedrichs d'or (Fr-2415) also exist. Frederick died early enough in 1786 that gold coins of his successor, Friedrich Wilhelm II, also exist for the year (Fr-2417). Frederick the Great emerged victorious from the Seven Years War but it was a very near thing, with only the death of the empress Elizabeth in 1761 saving Prussia from utter destruction. Having established Prussia as a major power, he eschewed further wars of aggression.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 6.65 g, 0.903 fine gold, this specimen 6.59 g.

Catalog reference: Olding 435. Kluge 112.11, Fr-2411, KM 333.

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:

• 1784-A friedrichs d'or
• 1784-A thaler
• 1786-E schilling
• 1786-B kreuzer
• 1786-B 3 kreuzer
• 1786-A 1/24 thaler struck in copper
• 1786-A 1/6 thaler
• 1786-A quarter thaler
• 1786-A ⅓ thaler, Friedrich Wilhelm II
• 1786-A half thaler
• 1786-A thaler, regular issue
• 1786-A thaler, on the king's death
• 1786-E thaler
• 1786-A thaler, Friedrich Wilhelm II
• Hesse-Cassel 1784-DF 5 thaler Fr-1283
• 1787 ducat
• 1794-B friedrichs d'or
• Coins and currency dated 1786
• return to coins of German States, Prussia