Schwarzburg-Sondershausen 1896-A 20 mark
The first specimen was lot 20710 in Heritage sale 3021 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $9,987.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen. Karl Gunther gold Proof 20 Mark 1896-A, Proof 65 NGC, lovely mirror surfaces with a slight cameo frost to the bust and raised details, rare one-year type and especially elusive in Proof. From The Elizabeth MacPhail Charters Collection." The second specimen was lot 2448 in Sincona sale 23 (Zürich, May 2015), where it sold for 17,000 CHF (about US$21,354 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, Fürstentum, Karl Günther, 1880-1909 20 Mark 1896 A. Berlin. In dieser Erhaltung äusserst selten. Polierte Platte. (Germany, principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, Charles Gunther (1880-1909), twenty mark of 1896, Berlin mint. Very rare in this condition, proof.)"
Recorded mintage: 5,000 plus a few proofs.
Specification: 7.96 g, 0.900 fine gold, the second specimen 7.90 g.
Catalog reference: J. 287. KM 151.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Jaeger, Kurt, Die Deutschen Münzen seit 1871, Basel: Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1982.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3021, featuring the Cecil Webster, Richard P. Ariagno and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
- [2]Richter, Jürg, Ruedi Kunzmann and Arne Kirsch, Numismatic Coins & Medals, Auction 23, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2015.
Link to:
- Bavaria 1895 D 20 mark
- Hamburg 1895-J 20 mark
- 1896-G 5 pfennig
- 1896-A 50 pfennig
- 1896-D mark
- 1896-F mark
- 1896-G mark
- 1896 2 mark
- Anhalt 1896-A 20 mark
- Hesse 1896-A 20 mark
- Prussia 1896-A 20 mark
- Wurttemberg 1897-F 20 mark
- Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 1898-A 10 mark
- Coins and currency dated 1896
- return to coins of German States, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen