Prussia 1896-A 5 mark Dav-789
This specimen was lot 20638 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2019), where it sold for $10,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "A Key Proof Prussian 5 Mark, GERMANY. Prussia. 5 Mark, 1896-A. Berlin Mint. Wilhelm II. NGC PROOF-66. Absolutely stunning, this proof issue is VERY RARE, with this cataloger being able to locate just one other example to have sold in recent memory--a fairly argent Gem in Grün 56 (5/2011) Lot #277, which realized a hammer of €15,000 (just over $21,000 [!]) at that time. The present piece possesses the same quality of strike and preservation, and exhibits an intense palette of iridescence. A must for the connoisseur of fine crowns or elite German issues. Tremendous eye appeal is on full display." This type was struck 1891-1908. It superseded a similar type with a different reverse.
Recorded mintage: 45,925 plus proofs, the key date.
Specification: 27.77 g, 0.900 fine silver, 38 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: Dav-789; KM-523; J-104.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2019 Chicago ANA Auction: World Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
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