KUENKER AUCTION SALES 438-441, PART TWO

German States

You will find coins from the German States spread across three catalogs:

• Gold coins and medals in Künker 439,

• Silver coins and medals with the Dr. Wolfgang Kümpfel Collection of Saxony, Coburg and Gotha in Künker 441,

• as well as Württemberg rarities from the Gaiser Collection in Künker 440.

And these are just a few highlights on the subject of the German States.

In this auction preview, we present just a few of the many outstanding pieces. From Prussia, for instance, there is an award medal of the Leopoldinisch-Carolinische Akademie that was presented to Professor Adolf Fick in 1893 (No. 2380). Adolf Fick was arguably the most important physiologist of the 19th century. He worked both mathematically and experimentally, breaking new ground in medical research. Even today, cardiologists are familiar with the "Fick principle" and physicists with "Fick's laws of diffusion". His importance to the development of modern medicine is demonstrated by the fact that his Wikipedia article is available in 33 languages.

A Nuremberg gold medal (No. 2458) commemorates a key event in monetary history during the Thirty Years' War. On 15 May 1624, a "Probationstag" – a meeting to test coins – was held in Regensburg. At this gathering, the three southwestern German imperial circles of Swabia, Franconia and Bavaria agreed on a new, fixed exchange rate between small coins and coins of stable value, such as talers and ducats. This brought an end to the devastating period of currency instability during the financial crisis called "Kipper und Wipper" in the south of the empire, which had caused lasting damage to trade due to the unpredictable and poor quality of the currency. The fact that the three major imperial cities of Augsburg, Regensburg and Nuremberg guaranteed compliance with the convention – at least within their territories – can be considered a significant diplomatic achievement.

The unsigned medal commemorating this event is now believed to be the work of Christian Maler, who took over his father's workshop in Nuremberg in 1603. There is evidence that he worked there at least until 1625/27. Incidentally, in 1613, he was granted an imperial privilege to protect all his medal designs from imitation.

Those interested in bracteates will find a wide selection in auction 441, covering all areas of the German States. These bracteates come from the Jürgen and Erika Schmidt Collection. They are characterized by their quality and artistic caliber. It is clear how carefully the collector couple selected the pieces. They succeeded in acquiring numerous rarities. These include a bracteate from Quedlinburg Abbey by Abbess Beatrix II von Winzenburg (No. 4350), who was one of the most powerful women in the high medieval German church hierarchy. She was responsible for founding several monasteries. Aware of her power, she is depicted in full regalia: enthroned on a folding chair, as was customary for official occasions, she holds an open book and a crosier as the insignia of her office. This bracteate is also one of the rare specimens that bear a clearly visible legend.

Finally, we would like to mention the magnificent reichstaler of Augustus the Strong depicting the Polish Order of the White Eagle (No. 4464). It was founded in 1705 to reward Augustus' supporters who helped him regain the throne. The unusual inscription "Restaurator Ordinis Aquilae Polonicae" (= Restorer of the Order of the Polish Eagle) is related to the fact that Augustus claimed to have revived an order of King Wladyslaws I that did not actually exist. This allowed him to circumvent the Polish nobility's resistance to the new award.

No. 2380: Brandenburg-Prussia. Award medal of the Leopoldinisch-Carolinische Akademie, presented to Prof. Adolf Fick in 1893, minted with the dies of 1789. Very rare. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 7,500 euros

No. 2458: Nuremberg. 1624 gold medal, commemorating the coin convention of the three imperial circles of Bavaria, Franconia and Swabia. Very rare, only few specimens in gold are known of. About FDC. Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 2506: Saxony, Kingdom. Anton, 1827-1836. 1831 gold medal by A. F. König commemorating the constitution. NGC MS63*. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 4255: Hamelin. 1639 reichstaler. Very rare. From auction Sally Rosenberg 49 (1920), No. 1497. Very fine. Estimate: 7,500 euros

No. 4304: Mühlhausen. 1619 reichstaler. From auction Hess Nach. 214 (1933), No. 1536. Very rare. Very fine +. Estimate: 6,000 euros

No. 4350: Quedlinburg. Beatrix II von Winzenburg. Bracteate. Very rare. From the Jürgen and Erika Schmidt Collection. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 3,000 euros

No. 4464: Saxony. Frederick Augustus I (Augustus the Strong), 1694-1733. 1696 reichstaler, Dresden. About extremely fine. Estimate: 1,500 euros

A Large Series of Löser Issues

Once again, the Künker auction house has the pleasure of offering a large series of lösers from Brunswick. They include an extremely rare 1614 specimen of 10 reichstalers, minted on behalf of Frederick Ulrich in Goslar or Zellerfeld. Also on offer is a löser of 2 reichstalers commemorating the death of Augustus the Younger, as well as a löser of 4 reichstalers minted under Frederick in Clausthal in 1639.

No. 4111: Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Frederick Ulrich, 1613-1634. 1614 löser of 10 reichstalers, Goslar or Zellerfeld. Extremely rare. From the old holdings of the Preussag in Goslar, purchased on 28 February 1977. Very fine. Estimate: 100,000 euros

No. 4134: Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Commemorating the death of Augustus the Younger, +1666. 1666 löser of 2 reichstalers, Zellerfeld. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 20,000 euros

No. 4164: Brunswick-Lüneburg-Celle. Frederick, 1636-1648. Löser of 4 reichstalers 1639, Clausthal. Very rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: 15,000 euros

The Dr. Wolfgang Kümpfel Collection – Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

60 lots from the Ernestine branches in Coburg and Gotha will be auctioned on the afternoon of 19 March 2026. They are from the collection of Dr. Wolfgang Kümpfel, a chemist and an enthusiastic supporter of his hometown of Gotha. He was fascinated by its history and inspired by its former status as a ducal residence, as so many reminders of its former glory have been preserved in the castle. This is why the collector prioritized historical importance and attractive designs when selecting his pieces. A good example of this is a 1680 taler commemorating the construction of Friedrichswerth Castle (not to be confused with Friedenstein Castle in Gotha), or the 1692 ducat created on behalf of Frederick II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg to mark his homage in Gotha. We know that the prince received 45 specimens of this issue, totaling 115 pieces, to give as gifts to princely visitors at the homage ceremony.

No. 4504: Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. Frederick I. 1680 taler, Gotha, commemorating the construction of Friedrichswerth Castle. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 3,500 euros

No. 4516: Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. Frederick II. 1692 ducat, Gotha, unsigned by C. Wermuth, commemorating the homage ceremony in Gotha on 15 June. Extremely rare. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 4,000 euros

The Heinz-Falk Gaiser Collection: Württemberg, Part 3

This brings us to the third and final auction of Württemberg coins from the Heinz-Falk Gaiser Collection. The sale comprises 153 lots from the period from 1797 to 1918. Once again, there are numerous rarities in exceptional quality to be discovered, which will delight not only collectors of Württemberg coinage. These include the extremely rare Frederick d'ors of 1810 bearing the title of king, the so-called Königstaler (king's taler) of 1806, and the very rare 1809 konventionstaler in exceptional condition. And all those interested in coins from the German Empire should not forget to take a look at the Gaiser Collection: it includes 13 exceptionally well-preserved pieces from this period.

No. 3528: Württemberg. Frederick II / I, 1797-1805. Frederick d'or 1810. Very rare. From the Gaiser Collection. Extremely fine. Estimate: 7,500 euros

No. 3537: Württemberg. Frederick II / I, 1797-1805. 1806 konventionstaler, Königstaler (king's taler). Very rare. From the Gaiser Collection. Extremely fine. Estimate: 7,500 euros

No. 3540: Württemberg. Frederick II / I, 1797-1805. 1809 konventionstaler. Very rare. From the Gaiser Collection. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 3652: Württemberg. William II, 1891-1918. 3 marks, 1916. Anniversary of the reign. Probably only 350 specimens in existence. Matte obverse, Proof, minimally touched. Estimate: 4,000 euros

German Coins Minted After 1871

And this brings us to the German Empire: of course, Künker is offering a comprehensive selection of coins minted after 1871, i.e., coins from the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. Many of these pieces are from the Jürgen and Erika Schmidt Collection, including an interesting selection of FDC fractional pieces and numerous Proof coins of the Weimar Republic.

Another exceptional highlight is a small but sweet series of patterns of imperial silver coins.

No. 2537: German Empire. 5 pfennigs, 1874. From the Jürgen and Erika Schmidt Collection. Very rare. FDC. Estimate: 100 euros

No. 2600: German Empire. Oldenburg. Frederick Augustus. 5 marks, 1900. PCGS PR67. Showpiece. Proof. Estimate: 6,000 euros

No. 2855: German Empire. Saxe-Meiningen. George II. 20 marks, 1882. Very rare. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 2887: German New Guinea. 10 New Guinean marks, 1895. Only 2,000 specimens minted. Proof. Estimate: 50,000 euros

No. 2903: Weimar Republic. 5 reichsmarks, 1927 A, Bremerhaven. From the Jürgen and Erika Schmidt Collection. PCGS PR66 CAM. Proof. Estimate: 1,250 euros

No. 2946: German Empire. Saxony. George. 1902 pattern of 5 marks. Extremely rare, probably only this specimen known. Extremely fine to FDC, struck in proof quality. Estimate: 30,000 euros

Coins from the Habsburg Empire from the Dr. Herbert Wenzel Collection, Among Others

This auction also features an extensive portion of the spectacular collection of Kommerzialrat Dr. Herbert Wenzel from Vienna. These coins from the Habsburg Empire are distinguished by their rarity and exceptional quality. We would like to mention here a previously unknown multiple issue of Matthias with a weight of 8 ducats, minted in Vienna in 1609 (No. 2264), as well as a wearable gold medal of 40 ducats created in 1711 to commemorate the arrival of Emperor Charles VI for his coronation in Frankfurt (No. 2287). This piece is likely to be unique.

Another noteworthy piece is the quadruple representative taler of 1629, minted on behalf of Ferdinand III in Prague (No. 4757). 19th-century numismatists attempted to explain this magnificent issue as being related to the emperor's recovery from smallpox, which seems rather unlikely. A much more realistic explanation is that it was used as a diplomatic gift at the Regensburg Electors' assembly. At that time, Ferdinand II was attempting to secure the election of his son as king. He failed because the Spanish Habsburgs required military support in the Netherlands. Thus, in order to obtain the support of the imperial princes, the King had to do without the princes' promise to elect his son as king and even had to sacrifice Wallenstein, who was very unpopular with the electors.

To conclude our brief exploration of the Habsburg Empire, let us examine a 1790 konventionstaler minted in Vienna for Hungary (No. 4896). This interesting piece is unusual in its condition. It is a perfectly preserved first strike from particularly fresh dies, showing every detail of the design.

No. 2264: Holy Roman Empire. Matthias, 1608-1612-1619. 8 ducats, 1609, Vienna. Extremely rare. Unpublished as an 8-ducat issue. From the collection of Kommerzialrat Dr. Herbert Wenzel, Vienna. Very fine. Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 2287: Holy Roman Empire. Charles VI, 1711-1740. Wearable gold medal of 40 ducats, 1711, by B. Richter, commemorating his arrival for the coronation in Frankfurt. Extremely rare, probably unique. From the collection of Kommerzialrat Dr. Herbert Wenzel. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 40,000 euros

No. 4757: Holy Roman Empire. Ferdinand III, 1625-1627-1657. Quadruple representative taler, 1629, Prague. Extremely rare. From the collection of Kommerzialrat Dr. Herbert Wenzel. About extremely fine. Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 4896: Holy Roman Empire. Leopold II, 1790-1792. Konventionstaler, 1790 A, Vienna for Hungary. Very rare. From the collection of Kommerzialrat Dr. Herbert Wenzel. First strike. About FDC. Estimate: 15,000 euros

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