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The Fascination of Minted Gold (and Silver)

16. август 2021


There is something special about the relationship between a collector and a coin dealer. This is demonstrated by the fate of the Hermann Schwarz Collection, which will be auctioned off by Künker at the beginning of their Fall Auction Sales, which take place from 25 September to 1 October 2021. When the heirs of the collector, who had died in 1961, planned to sell the collection, they could only think of one firm to do the job: the dealership that had once helped Hermann Schwarz build his collection. That was the Munich coin shop of Julius Jenke. After the death of its founder, Egon Beckenbauer took over the firm. Beckenbauer sold it to the private bank Aufhäuser or rather Hauck & Aufhäuser, which sold it to Künker in 2010. Thus, the collector’s heirs got in touch with Künker am Dom. Being the successor of the coin dealer Julius Jenke, Künker’s experts did whatever they could to live up to the trust of the heirs. The Hermann Schwarz Collection is presented in a separate catalog entitled “The Fascination of Minted Gold”.

The Schwarz Collection is just one of many private collections offered in Künker’s Fall Auction Sales: the spectrum covers material from Greek and Roman coins of the collection of an engineer and spectacular ancient rarities from the collection of a cosmopolitan, to the second part of the Axel Tesmer Collection with issues of the Prussian kings, to coins and medals from Brunswick-Lüneburg from the collection of an engineer.

Two other collections – Coins and Medals from the Middle Ages and the Modern Period from South German Private Ownership and Nuditas in nummis / Nude and Eros in Numismatics / The W. Risse Collection – will be presented later in a separate auction preview. You should definitely save the auction dates in your agenda. The two eLive Premium Auctions will be held on 12 and 13 October 2021 at www.eLive-Auction.de.

Catalog 351: Coins from the Ancient World
Sat 25 Sept. 2021

The success of any collection depends on the collector. And being loyal to the dealer who helped him build it is a collector’s way of thanking his dealer for his good advice. Künker is proud of the fact that satisfied collectors do not only buy coins at Künker auctions but also sell them – just like the collector does who presents himself as the “engineer”. This collector built an impressive coin collection over the past forty years. Following the tradition of the 19th century, it contains ancient coins as well as issues from the collector’s homeland: Brunswick. However, as Dr Andreas Kaiser points out, there is one thing both parts of his collection have in common: “His talent for attention to detail and accuracy on the one hand as well as foresight on the other hand is also evident in his excellent numismatic collection.” Thus, connoisseurs will find an abundance of coins that combine sought-after qualities in catalog 351: great style, detailed engraving, finest quality and excellently documented provenance – for Greek and Roman issues. Whether it be a Celtic silver coin, Greek tetradrachm, stater or Roman denarius: the coins from the collection of an engineer will please special collectors of the most refined taste. Many of these characteristics also apply to the collection of a cosmopolitan, which unites coins that many collectors can only dream of. For instance, the probably most beautiful specimen of all staters of Abdera, estimated at 50,000 euros, with the exhausted Heracles on the reverse and the probably best-preserved specimen of an aureus of Vespasian that celebrated the victory over the Jews in 72 AD. The coin has an impressive estimate of 250,000 euros. But do not let yourself be fooled by these high estimate! Catalog 351 contains specimens with estimates of less than 25 euros. Thus, everyone can participate in the bidding process in order to get their hands on an interesting piece for their own collection!

No. 35: Celts / Pannonia
Tetradrachm, type “Baumreiter mit Bartkranz”, 2nd/1st century BC.
From the collection of an engineer. From Münzzentrum auction 160 (2011), No. 299. Extremely fine +.
Estimate: 700 euros

No. 68: Akragas / Sicily.
Didrachm, 480-470.
From the collection of an engineer. From Leo Hamburger auction 98 (1933), No. 139. From MMAG auction 52 (1975), No. 62. Almost extremely fine / Extremely fine.
Estimate: 600 euros

 



No. 100: Abdera / Thrace.
Stater, 362 BC.
From the collection of a cosmopolitan. From Gießener Münzhandlung auction 44 (1989), No. 152. From Hess-Divo auction 335 (2018), No. 20. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 50,000 euros

No. 145: Koinon of Boeotia.
Stater, 395-387.
From the collection of an engineer. From Bank Leu auction 15 (1976), No. 218.
Almost extremely fine.
Estimate: 500 euros



No. 324: Vitellius, 69.
Denarius, Rome.
From the collection of an engineer. From the Benz Coll, Lanz auction 94 (1999), No. 298. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 1,500 euros

 

No. 328: Vespasianus, 69-79.
Aureus, 72, Lugdunum.
Probably the finest of the few known specimens. From the collection of a cosmopolitan. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 250,000 euros


No. 351: Trajan, 98-117.
Denarius, 113/4.
From the collection of an engineer.
From Sternberg auction XXIX (1995), No. 451. From Bankhaus Aufhäuser auction 14 (1998), No. 320.
Almost extremely fine.
Estimate: 300 euros

No. 364: Hadrian, 117-138 for Divus Traianus or Diva Plotina.
Aureus, 137 (or 138).
From the collection of a cosmopolitan. From Bank Leu auction 2 (1972), No. 372. From Bank Leu AG auction 48 (1989), No. 351. From Künker auction 236 (2013), No. 1060. Very rare. Almost extremely fine.
Estimate: 100,000 euros

No. 513: Galeria Valeria.
Aureus, 308-309, Siscia.
From the collection of a cosmopolitan.
Very rare. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 50,000 euros


No. 523: Crispus.
Solidus, 324, Nicomedia.
From the collection of a cosmopolitan. From the Vierordt Coll., Schulman auction 5 (1923), No. 2694. From the Mazzini Coll., pl. XXXI, 56. Very rare. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 75,000 euros

Catalog 352: The Hermann Schwarz Collection: The Fascination of Minted Gold
Sat 25 Sept. 2021 – Ancient coins
Mon 27 Sept. / Tue 28 Sept. 2021– Coins and medals from medieval and modern times

The Hermann Schwarz Collection contains more than 1,500 lots with gold coins from ancient to modern times. The many interesting specimens inspired Künker’s experts to title this collection “Fascination of Minted Gold”. However, it was probably not the warm shimmer of gold that convinced the collector to focus on gold coins at the end of the 1920s. Back then, Germany had only just overcome the hyperinflation that prevailed after World War I. Gold was inflation-proof. And, indeed, by selling part of his collection after World War II, the entrepreneur financed reconstructing his family-owned publishing house – the oldest one specialized in forms in Bavarian – which had suffered severe damage in the Bombing of Munich.

Whether buying or selling, the Munich coin dealer Julius Jenke (1882-1957) advised the collector in all numismatic matters. Julius Jenke knew what he was doing: his father had already been a coin dealer too. Julius Jenke had studied history and art history in Munich, Geneva and Berlin before opening his coin shop at Maximiliansstraße 10 in the 1920s. We can learn how he operated as a coin dealer from an obituary published by the Bavarian Numismatic Society: “Always ready to help, he put his rich knowledge and experience at the service of the cause and proved time and again to be a selfless advisor, especially when his clients were beginners or young collectors.”

We have to agree: Julius Jenke perfectly advised Hermann Schwarz, as can be proven by Künker’s catalog 352. Following the style of his time, Hermann Schwarz compiled a general collection of gold coins. It starts with ancient coins and ends with contemporary issues of the 1950s. As was customary at the time, quality was way less important than the historical importance of a piece. However, this does not mean that you cannot find FDC coins in his collection. You certainly can! Some extremely rare issues are completely untouched and might be the most beautiful known specimen of that type. They were just as precious to the collector as all the coins of very fine quality whose estimates are only slightly above their material value. Thus, auction 352 has something on offer for every collector regardless of their budget and field of interest. To illustrate the material, we present two completely different coins that are typical for this collection, as is their diversity:

In 1954, Hermann Schwarz purchased a 5 guinea piece of 1701 from the stock of Julius Jenke’s dealership, which was graded MS-61 by NGC, i.e. extremely fine to FDC. The finely minted coin features a magnificent portrait of William III, the British ruler who was catapulted to the head of the island state by the Glorious Revolution. The estimate is 25,000 euros, a rather conservative figure considering the prizes that are currently being realized by coins of this type.

Less than a hundredth of this estimate, namely 240 euros, is the starting price of a 100 lire piece of the Vatican of which only 4,000 specimens were minted by Pius XII in 1950 on the occasion of the holy year. Hermann Schwarz purchased this modern commemorative coin for his collection probably shortly after it was issued.

Thus, this catalog truly has something for everyone! Even though – as usual – the pictures in this preview rather focus on the spectacular pages of this catalog.

No. 1020: Egypt.
Ptolemy VIII, 145-116, for Arsinoe II. Octodrachm (mnaion), Alexandria.
From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1953 at Grabow, Berlin. Very fine to extremely fine.
Estimate: 6,000 euros

No. 1209: France.
Charles X., 1824-1830. Large gold medal 1825 by E. Gatteaux commemorating the coronation in Reims.
From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1938 at Julius Jenke, Munich. From the estate of Heinrich Wilhelm von Werther, the Prussian envoy to Paris who received it as a personal gift from the king. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 25,000 euros

No. 1234: Great Britain.
William III, 1694-1702. 5 guineas 1701, London.
From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1954 at Julius Jenke, Munich.
Rare NGC MS61. Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 25,000 euros

No. 1407: Russia.
Elizabeth, 1741-1761. 5 roubles 1759, St. Petersburg.
From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1955 at Dr. Busso Peus, Frankfurt. NGC MS62. Only 2,354 specimens minted. Extremely fine / Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 25,000 euros

No. 1548: Japan. Mutsuhito, 1867-1912.
20 yen, year 3 Meji era (1870), Osaka.
From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1937 at Helbing, Munich.
NGC MS65+. Very rare. Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 20,000 euros

No. 1607: HRE.
Ferdinand II, 1592-1618-1637. 5 ducats 1627, Breslau.
From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1938 at Julius Jenke, Munich.
NGC MS62. Very rare. Extremely fine +.
Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 1751: Bavaria.
Maximilian I, 1598–1651. 10 ducats 1643, Munich.
Off-metal strike from the dies of the taler. From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1954 at Julius Jenke, Munich.
3rd known specimen. Edge slightly reworked.
Extremely fine.
Estimate: 20,000 euros


No. 1955: Lauenburg.
Julius Franz, 1666-1689. Double ducat n.d. (1678).
From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1935 at Julius Jenke, Munich.
Extremely rare. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 20,000 euros

No. 1983: Münster.
Ferdinand of Bavaria, 1612-1650. 5 ducats n.d., Münster. Off-metal strike in gold from the dies of the schautaler.
From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1953 at Grabow, Berlin.
Extremely rare. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 20,000 euros

No. 2009: Nuremberg.
5 ducats 1698.
From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1938 at Julius Jenke, Munich. Minor assay trace at the edge.
Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 20,000 euros

No. 2087: Saxony.
Christian I, 1586-1591. Ducat 1590, Dresden.
From the Hermann Schwarz Coll., purchased in 1953 at Grabow, Berlin. Very rare. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 2198: German Empire. Bavaria.
Ludwig III, 1913-1918. 3 marks 1918. “Golden Wedding Anniversary”.
Very rare. Extremely fine +.
Estimate: 25,000 euros

 

Auction 353 The Axel Tesmer Collection, Part 2 – Issues of the Prussian Kings
Tue 28 Sept. / Wed 29 Sept. 2021

In March 2021, the first part of the Axel Tesmer Collection already attracted  worldwide attention. The highlights realized record results. The first Brandenburg taler by Elector Joachim I from Frankfurt an der Order, for example, was sold for 130,000 euros. According to the research made by Künker’s experts, it was the first specimen of this coin type to achieve a six-digit result.

Now, the second part will be sold at auction. It comprises 1098 lots with coins of the Prussian kings starting with the coronation of Frederick I in 1701. The material for the reign of Frederick II the Great is especially abundant comprising 500 lots. A few coins that were issued after the founding of the German Empire mark the end of the time frame covered by this section. Axel Tesmer agreed with the opinion of Emperor William I. that “Prussian monarchy was buried” with the proclamation of the emperor.

The Tesmer Collection provides connoisseurs with the opportunity to purchase some specimens of which only one piece exists on the market. For example a double reichstaler of 1719 from Berlin or a third reichstaler of 1754, also from Berlin. Axel Tesmer paid attention to the quality of his coins. Even the extremely rare coins from the Seven Years’ War are of great quality. Thus, the material has something to offer for collectors of rarities but also for those who can rather afford coins of smaller denominations. Estimates start at 25 euros.

Prussia had a lasting impact on German history. The Tesmer Collection is a numismatic lesson in German history. Immerse yourself with this catalog in an epoch in which a small country at the end of the Holy Roman Empire became a key player in the game of European powers.

No. 3155: Brandenburg-Prussia.
Frederick I, 1701-1713. 2 ducats 1712, Magdeburg.
From the Axel Tesmer Coll. From Peter Sauer auction 3 (1986), No. 149.
Very rare. Very fine to extremely fine.
Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 3157: Brandenburg-Prussia.
Frederick I, 1701-1713. Reichstaler 1701, Königsberg, commemorating his coronation.
From the Axel Tesmer Coll. From Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. auction 309 (1984), No. 1213.
Extremely rare. FDC.
Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 3264: Brandenburg-Prussia.
Frederick William I, 1713-1740. Double reichstaler 1719, Berlin.
From the Axel Tesmer Coll. From Rosenberg auction (1902), No. 756. From the Virgil Brand Coll. part 3, Leu auction 67 (1996), No. 334.
The only specimen on the market. Extremely fine +.
Estimate: 50,000 euros

No. 3388: Brandenburg-Prussia.
Frederick II, 1740-1786. 1/3 reichstaler 1754, Berlin.
From the Axel Tesmer Coll. From Künker auction 81 (2003), No. 4329.
Probably the 2nd known specimen. Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 3483: Brandenburg-Prussia.
Frederick II, 1740-1786. 1/4 reichstaler 1780, Berlin.
From the Axel Tesmer Coll. From Frankfurter Münzhandlung auction 131 (1988), No. 289.
Extremely rare. Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 3860: Brandenburg-Prussia.
Frederick II, 1740-1786. Speciestaler 1755, Berlin.
Trading coin.
From the Axel Tesmer Coll. From Künker auction 81 (2003), No. 4500.
Extremely rare. Almost FDC.
Estimate: 50,000 euros

No. 3965: Brandenburg-Prussia.
Frederick William III, 1797-1870. Pattern of the 1798 taler, Berlin.
From the Axel Tesmer Coll. From the Ferrari Coll., Schulman auction (1928), No. 2786.
Probably the only known specimen in private possession. Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 25,000 euros

No. 3988: Brandenburg-Prussia.
Frederick William III, 1797-1870. Pattern of the 1818 taler that was not issued.
From the Axel Tesmer Coll.
Extremely rare. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 7,500 euros

Auction 354: Coins and Medals from Medieval and Modern Times / German Coins after 1871
Thu 30 Sept. / Fri 1 Oct. 2021

The auction week will be concluded on 30 September and 1 October 2021 by auction 354 with coins and medals from medieval and modern times and with German coins after 1871.

The material covers a broad spectrum: the sale starts with world gold coins and medals. A special highlight are multiple ducats of the Holy Roman Empire which were issued by the Habsburg emperors as diplomatic gifts for their supporters. From a cast medal by Maximilian II weighing 7 ducats to several 10fold ducats of Ferdinand II from the mints of Prague and Nagybanya to a 10fold ducat by Ferdinand III from Prague – these coins bear testimony to the imperial network which proved to be successful in the difficult era of the Counter-Reformation.

Once again, there are so many remarkable rarities among the German coins and medals that it is impossible to feature them all in a short preview. Therefore, we limit ourselves to a Saxon 10fold ducat, minted in the midst of the 30 Years’ War on the occasion of the centenary of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession, a quadruple ducat of the duchy of Liegnitz-Brieg of 1610 graded MS61 by NGC and a unique bracteate from the imperial mint in Mühlhausen, minted under King Conrad III (1138-1152). The provenance of this showpiece can be traced back to 1905.

Moreover, auction 354 offers a part of the collection of an engineer containing coins and medals from Brunswick. We already found out about the excellent taste of this collector seeing his ancient coins in catalog 351.

The time frame of his collection starts with the bracteates of Henry the Lion. It ends with Brunswick talers of the 19th century. Naturally, many of the coins on offer feature mining scenes. You can also find yield coins and medals. The fact that the collector did not only pay attention to excellent quality but also carefully documented the provenance of his coins will be appreciated by potential customers.

The auction will be rounded off by German coins after 1871 with a wealth of rarities. Bavarian Wedding, Frederick the Wise or the rarest gold coin of the German empire, 20 mark Saxe-Coburg and Gotha of 1872: if you are collecting German coins after 1871, you should take a close look! And you should not limit yourself to catalog 354! The Hermann Schwarz Collection also contains interesting pieces, in gold AND silver.

No. 5016: France / Strasbourg.
Louis Constantin de Rohan, 1756-1777.
1/ 2 Constantin d’or 1759, Oberkirch.
Very rare. Almost FDC.
Estimate: 12,500 euros

No. 5154: HRE.
Maximilian II, 1564-1576. Gold cast medal of 7 ducats n.d. (1567/8) by Valentin Maler.
Very rare. Contemporary cast. Very fine to extremely fine.
Estimate: 5,000 euros

No. 5158: HRE.
Ferdinand III, 1625-1637-1657.
10 ducats 1640, Prague.
Very rare. Very fine to extremely fine.
Estimate: 50,000 euros

No. 5212: Hesse-Kassel.
Charles, 1670-1730.
2 ducats n.d. (ca. 1730), Kassel. Extremely rare. Almost extremely fine.
Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 5242: Saxony.
John George I, 1615-1656. 10 ducats 1630, Dresden, commemorating the centenary of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession. Minted with the dies of the reichstaler.
Very rare. Almost extremely fine.
Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 5248: Liegnitz-Brieg.
Johann Christian and Georg Rudolf, 1602-1621.
4 ducats 1610, Reichenstein.
Very rare. NGC MS61. Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 30,000 euros

No. 5373: Brunswick.
Henry the Lion, 1142-1195. Bracteate, Brunswick.
From the collection of an engineer. From Hess / Leu auction 23 (1963), No. 2. From the Herbert A. Cahn Coll., MMAG auction 87 (1998), No. 114.
Very rare. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 1,500 euros

No. 5433: Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
Frederick Ulrich, 1613-1634. Löser of 3 reichstalers 1625, Goslar. Yield of the mine of Saint James near Lautenthal.
From the collection of an engineer. From Riechmann auction 10 (1914), No. 365. From the Virgil M. Brand Coll. part 5, Leu auction 70 (1997), No. 6104.
Very rare. Almost extremely fine.
Estimate: 6,000 euros

No. 5453: Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
Augustus the Younger, 1635-1666. Reichstaler 1643, Zellerfeld. 4th glockentaler.
From the collection of an engineer. From the Freiherr Knigge Coll., Rosenberg auction 23 (1929), No. 642.
Extremely rare. Extremely fine.
Estimate: 6,000 euros

No. 5481: Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
Rudolf August, 1666-1685. Löser of 4 reichstalers 1679, Zellerfeld.
From the collection of an engineer. From Spink Taisei auction 40 (1992), No. 48.
Very rare. Almost extremely fine.
Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 5503: Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
Rudolf August and Anton Ulrich, 1685-1704. Reichstaler 1702, Goslar, commemorating the end of fraternal harmony.
From the collection of an engineer. From Künker auction 80 (2003), No. 1830.
Very rare. Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 5721: Brunswick-Lüneburg. Georg II, 1727-1760. Reichstaler 1750, Zellerfeld. Yield from the mine called “Cronenburgs Glück”.
From the collection of an engineer. From the Köhlmoos Coll., MMAG auction 91 (2001), No. 188.
Rare. Attractive, perfect piece. Almost FDC.
Estimate: 2,000 euros

No. 5811: Mühlhausen / Thuringia.
Conrad III, 1138-1152. Bracteate, Mühlhausen.
Extremely rare. Almost FDC.
Estimate: 30,000 euros

 

No. 5871: Saxony.
John George I, 1615-1656. Broad triple reichstaler 1650, Dresden, commemorating the Peace of Westphalia.
Very rare. Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 6108: Sweden.
Gustav II Adolph, 1611-1632. Silver medallion 1634 by S. Dadler commemorating the king’s funeral.
Very rare. FDC.
Estimate: 12,500 euros

No. 6341: German Empire. Saxony.
Frederick Augustus III, 1904-1918.
3 marks 1917 “Frederick the Wise”.
Proof.
Estimate: 100,000 euros

No. 6548: German Empire. Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Ernest II, 1844-1893. 20 marks 1872. Rarest type of all gold coins of the German Empire.
Extremely fine to FDC.
Estimate: 75,000 euros

No. 6586: German Empire.
German New Guinea.
20 New Guinean marks 1895.
Only 1,500 specimens minted. NGC MS64. Almost FDC. Estimate: 30,000 euros

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