Bavaria 1871 1/2 gulden

Künker sale 386, lot 4968

This specimen was lot 4968 in Künker sale 386 (Osnabrück, March 2023), where it sold for €650 (about US$840 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"BAYERN, HERZOGTUM, SEIT 1623 KURFÜRSTENTUM, SEIT 1806 KÖNIGREICH, Ludwig II. 1864-1886. 1/2 Gulden 1871. Prachtexemplar von feinster Erhaltung. Stempelglanz. Exemplar der Sammlung Coenen. Exemplar der Auktion Fritz Rudolf Künker 113, Osnabrück 2006, Nr. 3110. (kingdom of Bavaria, Louis II, 1864-86, half gulden of 1871. Outstanding example with superb toning, uncirculated.)"

This type was struck 1866-71 and is the last of its denomination. One of the results of unification was the termination of separate coinages for each of the independent states, including Bavaria. Bavaria continued to issue coins using the united empire standard in the denominations of 2, 5, 10 and 20 mark until 1918 when the empire collapsed at the end of World War One. The old thalers continued to circulate as three mark pieces. This piece, within 5% of the weight of a one mark piece, may also have sirculated for a time. King Ludwig II ruled until 1886, when he was deposed in favor of his brother. Disliked for his extravagance and his homosexuality, he died soon after under very mysterious circumstances.

Recorded mintage: 50,711.

Specification: 5.3 g, 0.900 fine silver, .153 troy oz ASW, this specimen 5.26 g.

Catalog reference: KM 882, AKS 180; J. 102; Witt. 3012.

Source:

• Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 386: Brakteaten | Mainz | Bibliothek Prof. Dr. Niklot Klüßendorf | Mittelalter und Neuzeit | Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2023.

Link to:

• 1867 half gulden
• 1871 kreuzer
• 1871 thaler, Madonna reverse
• 1871 thaler, new arabesques
• 1871 thaler, bust by J. Reis
• 1871 thaler, Victory
• Coins and currency dated 1871