Prussia 1769-A 1/2 friedrichs d'or Fr-2408

Sincona sale 63, lot 237

This specimen was lot 237 in Sincona sale 63 (Zürich, June 2020), where it sold for 3,000 CHF (about US$3,759 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"DEUTSCHLAND | Brandenburg / Prussia, Friedrich II. 1740-1786. 1/2 Friedrichs d'or 1769 A, Berlin. Sehr selten in dieser Erhaltung. Gutes vorzüglich. Kleine Kratzer. (Germany, kingdom of Prussia, Frederick II, 1740-86, half frederick d'or of 1769, Berlin mint. Very rare in this condition, Good extremely fine, Small scratches.)"

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 rare half friedrichs d'or, struck 1765, 1769-74, was worth 2½ thalers. 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.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 3.34 g, 0.903 fine gold, this specimen 3.33 g.

Catalog reference: Olding 436. Kluge 116.2. Fr-2408, KM 315.

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, Sincona sale 63: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2020.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.

Link to:

• 1768-A friedrichs d'or
• 1769-B groschel
• 1769-E groschen
• 1769-A thaler
• 1769-B halb friedrichs d'or
• 1769-A friedrichs d'or
• 1769-B friedrichs d'or
• Coins and currency dated 1769