Germany 1914-A 1/2 mark
This specimen was lot 74811 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $60. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Empire. 1/2 Mark, 1914-A. Berlin Mint. Wilhelm II. NGC MS-67. On this dreamy Superb Gem, both sides are adorned with crescents of electric pastel-rainbow tone including russet, chartreuse, rich magenta, and sapphire coloration. The centers remain argent, and all areas are highly lustrous with strong mint frost to the finish. Tied for the finest NGC has graded, this piece is fully struck, virtually pristine and destined for inclusion in a sophisticated cabinet." This coin is a silver half mark from a type issued 1905-19 from the Berlin (mintmark "A", shown here), Munich (mintmark "D"), Muldenhutten (mintmark "E"), Stuttgart (mintmark "F"), Karlsruhe (mintmark "G") and Hamburg (mintmark "J") mints. Under the German Empire of 1871-1918, the denominations of two mark and up were permitted for the formerly independent principalities while the lower denominations (one pfennig thru one mark) were minted to a unified design. The pre-war silver half marks are not rare but the 1914-19 issues were almost completely hoarded, making them common today in all grades.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a common date.
Specification: 2.77 g, 0.900 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-17; J-16.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2020 ANA Auction: World Coins, featuring the Duke of Lansing Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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