Prussia 1749-W AHE 2 friedrichs d'or Fr-2379
This specimen was lot 86 in Sincona sale 46 (Zurich, May 2018), where it sold for 8,500 CHF (about US$10,199 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Brandenburg/Prussia, Friedrich II. 1740-1786. 2 Friedrichs dor 1749 W-AHE, Breslau. Brustbild im Harnisch mit Hermelin und Ordensband nach rechts. Rv. Adler auf Schild mit W zwischen Waffen, oben die Krone, unten AHE zwischen der geteilten Jahreszahl 17 - 49. Attraktives Exemplar in überdurchschnittlicher Erhaltung. Gutes sehr schön. Sehr selten. (Germany, kingdom of Prussia, Frederick II, 1740-86, double frederick d'or of 1749, Berlin mint. Obverse: armored, mantled bust with sash and cross to right; reverse: eagle with shield rising over piled arms, crown above. Attractive example in this quality, Good very fine, Very rare.)"
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 double friedrichs d'or was worth ten thalers and is the first issue of this denomination at the branch mint at Breslau.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.36 g, .903 fine gold, this specimen 13.28 g.
Catalog reference: Olding 388. Kluge 4.3. Fr-2379, KM 933 (listed under Silesia).
- 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:
- 1747-AE friedrichs d'or
- 1749-ALS 1/48 thaler
- 1749-EGN 1/48 thaler
- 1749-CHI ducat
- 1749-CHI halb friedrichs d'or
- 1749-ALS friedrichs d'or
- 1749-W AHE friedrichs d'or, Breslau mint
- 1749-ALS doppelter friedrichs d'or
- 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