Greece 1833-A drachma
This specimen was lot 1298 in Sincona sale 6 (Zurich, May 2012), where it sold for 560 CHF (about US$689 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"GRIECHENLAND Otto, 1831-1863. 1 Drachme 1833, München. Patina. Kl. Kr. Vorzüglich. (Greece, Otto I, 1831-63, one drachma of 1833, munich mint. Toned, hairlined, extremely fine.)"
This type is listed for 1832-34 and 1845-47 and, like most of the issues of nineteenth century Greece, is scarce. Drachmai struck 1868 and later were minted to the standard of a French silver franc. Greece, poor, backward, corrupt and riven by feuds, could ill afford a substantial silver coinage. Wikipedia comments,
"Otto (1815-67) was a Bavarian prince who ruled as King of Greece from the establishment of the monarchy on 27 May 1832, under the Convention of London, until he was deposed on 23 October 1862. The second son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended the newly created throne of Greece at age 17. His government was initially run by a three-man regency council made up of Bavarian court officials. Upon reaching his majority, Otto removed the regents when they proved unpopular with the people, and he ruled as an absolute monarch. Eventually his subjects' demands for a constitution proved overwhelming, and in the face of an armed (but bloodless) insurrection, Otto granted a constitution in 1843."
Recorded mintage: 1,125,000 for 1832-33.
Specification: 4.47 g, .900 fine silver, .129 troy oz ASW; this specimen is 4,44 g.
Catalog reference: Divo 12c, KM 15.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 6, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2012.
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