2019-07-27 Sat

Kunker sold numerous rare and interesting coins from 24th to 27th June during their Summer World Coin Auctions. The exquisite coins had an estimated value of €5.1 million but were sold for a total of €7.5 million in the end. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights today.

Two coins shared the same final bid value of €70,000 against an estimated value of €20,000. One was a gold ducat from Poland issued under the reign of Sigismund I in 1532. The extremely rare coin with a small bent in very fine condition belongs to the Krakow Phoibos collection. Sigismund I ruled from 1506 to 1548, a period that’s also known as the Golden Age of the Polish Aristocratic Republic. The second offering was an extremely rare un-dated 5 Ducats coin that was struck in Gdansk under John III Sobieski who ruled from 1674 to 1696. Graded as extremely fine by the auction house, the coin also belongs to the Phoibos Collection. It shows a city view on the obverse side and a portrait of John III Sobieski on the reverse.

A 5 Pounds gold Proof coin issued for Great Britain during the reign of King George IV in 1826 at London Mint was sold for its estimated value of €75,000. Graded as NGC PF63 CAMEO, the coin is barely touched and has a mintage limit of just 150 pieces.

An extremely rare double reichstaler in extremely fine condition, issued for Mecklenburg in 1677 under the rule of Christian Louis I at Domitz mint was also sold for €80,000 against an estimated value of €30,000. Christian Louis I reigned from 1658-1692. The coin shows him in a baroque wig just like the hairstyle of Louis XIV as a tribute. Christian Louis I had lived in Louis XIV’s kingdom for many years. Louis XIV’s kingdom was far away from Mecklenburg and Christian Louis I was unable to establish his lineage. He couldn’t even file a divorce. Louis XIV helped him file a divorce and asked Christian Louis I to marry again after getting converted to Catholicism. The offered coin was minted when Christian Louis I was in Paris. A mint master who served a term at the Hamburg debtor’s prison was hired to strike the coins due to insufficient supervision. Werner Eberhardt was arrested in 1679 also in Domitz for altering the coin designs.

Image Courtesy: Kunker Auctions