Prussia 1878-A 5 mark
This specimen was lot 4186 in Künker sale 353 (Osnabrück, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €150 (about US$209 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRANDENBURG-PREUSSEN, PREUSSEN, KÖNIGREICH, Wilhelm I. 1861-1888. 5 Mark 1878, A. Kratzer, sehr schön. (Germany, kingdom of Prussia, William I, 1861-88, five mark of 1878, scratched, very fine.)"
After striking silver five marks 1874-76, gold five marks were issued from the Berlin, Hannover and Frankfurt mints 1877-78. The type does not seem to have been a success, as the denomination was suspended and silver five mark resumed in 1888.
Recorded mintage: 502,138 plus proofs.
Specification: 1.99 g, 0.900 fine gold.
Catalog reference: J. 244A, KM 507, Fr-3825.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 353: Die Sammlung Axel Tesmer, Teil 2: Prägungen der Könige von Preussen von der Kroning 1701 bis zum Ende der Monarchie. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
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