Prussia 1870-C pfennig

Steve Album sale 51, lot 2965

This specimen was lot 2965 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $336. The catalog description^[1] noted, "PRUSSIA: Wilhelm I, 1861-1888, AE pfennig, 1870-C, a wonderful proof issue with mirror-like fields and intense red color, PCGS graded PF65 RD." This type was struck 1861-73 at Berlin ("A"), Hannover ("B") and Frankfurt ("C", shown here) until unification terminated its issue. Other copper coins of the time included two pfennig (KM 481), three pfennig (KM 482) and four pfennig (KM 483).

Recorded mintage: unknown but a common date.

Specifications: 1.5 g, copper, 17.5 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-480.

Sources:

• Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 51, featuring the Howard Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins and the Joe Sedillot Collection of German Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.

Links:

• 1869-B 3 pfennig
• 1869-A half silbergroschen
• 1869-C silbergroschen
• 1869-A thaler
• 1870-C 2½ silbergroschen
• 1870-B thaler
• 1870-C thaler
• 1870-A double thaler
• Coins and currency dated 1870