Künker Fall Auction by Künker GmbH ……
From October 7 to 11, 2019, four auction sales will be held by auction house Künker in Osnabrück. From ancient to modern times – there is literally something for every collector.
Moreover, this October there will once again be an auction of military orders and decorations.
In four auction catalogues, Künker presents a wide range of exciting coins and medals – from special collections of ancients to those of modern coins and medals. The Dr. W. R. Collection, the Phoibos Collection, and the collection of a North German friend all contain beautiful ancient coins of historical importance and in extremely fine grades. Friedrich Popken, Dr. Rolf Löns, Eberhard Link and Skyler Liechty – these are only some of the collectors that have entrusted auction house Künker with their treasures for the two catalogues of medieval and modern coins and medals.
At the end of the week, Künker is running an additional auction of orders and decorations, during which, for example, part 3 of the Peter Groch Collection will be sold. You can find this collection under the heading Militärische Konflikte des 20. Jahrhunderts bis 1918/1921 (“Military Conflicts of the 20th Century until 1918/1921”).
Auction 326: Coins From the Ancient World
The 439-lot auction week starts with part 3 of the Dr. W. R. Special Collection. This part is dedicated to coins from Northern and Central Greece, from the Cyclades, and from Crete. Here we can find not only Macedonian kings, Athens, and Sparta, but also exciting and unusual images such as the depiction of a ray on a coin from Kephallenia.
Then, the Celtic coins follow and there are some very rare pieces among them, for example a gold stater of the Parisii and a Noric tetradrachm with the inscription “Escingoma” – Göbl only knew about a single specimen of this issue.
In this auction, lovers of beautiful Greek coins will find everything they could ever wish for.
The most magnificent pieces stem mainly from the collection of a “North German friend of ancient coins” with an exquisite eye: Whether it be an incuse, early stater of Poseidonia or Caulonia, a classical stater from Lokroi with an eagle tearing a hare, an early classical tetradrachm from Kamarina or Syracuse, whether Punics, Ainos or Chalcidic League – many impressive testimonies of Greek coinage are on offer. Some rare examples of the Hellenistic coinage are also waiting for the experts. There is, for example, a gold stater of Demetrius Poliorcetes modeled on the Alexander type and a gold stater of Ptolemy I minted in Kyrene.
No. 414: Dr. W. R. Coll. Kephallenia (Peloponnese). AE, 30/28, C. Proculeius. Herm facing right. Rev.: Ray. From the Guermantes Collection. Very rare. Dark patina. Very fine +. Estimate: 600 euros
No. 471: Celtic coins / Noricum / Escingoma. Tetradrachm, 2nd/1st century. From Dorotheum auction 363 (1975), No. 25. Extremely rare. Very fine + / very fine. Estimate: 12,500 euros
No. 539: Poseidonia (Lucania). Stater, 530-500. From the collection of a North German friend of ancient coins. From Münzen und Medaillen AG auction XIII (1954), No. 1003. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 15,000 euros
No. 575: Epizephyrian Locris (Bruttium). Stater, 300-268. From the collection of a North German friend of ancient coins. Rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 5,000 euros
No. 664: Punic coins. Tetradrachm, 350-320. From the collection of a North German friend of ancient coins. From the Nanteuil Collection No. 411 and the Montagu Collection, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge (1896), No. 447. Extremely fine. Estimate: 5,000 euros
Gold Jewelry Related to Napoleon’s Sister
14 aurei for a necklace, seven aurei for the matching bracelet: According to tradition, it was Napoleon Bonaparte who had this piece of jewelry made in the Empire style for his little sister Pauline. It would fit perfectly into a period in which antiquity became the model of a whole culture. Napoleon considered himself to be an improved version of the ancient emperors. And Pauline loved to be portrayed in the antique style. It was a scandal when Pauline undressed for the then-famous sculptor Canova in order to pose for his Venus Victorious.
We know numerous paintings of her in which she is depicted with jewelry incorporating antique elements. Pauline was Napoleon’s favorite sister; therefore, it is very likely that the emperor gave her this gift. She was the only one of his relatives that followed him into exile on Elba, where she improved his standard of living by selling her jewelry.
When this necklace was presented for the first time in 1966 by Jacques Schulman in Delft in the context of one of the most important antique fairs of that time, it was “the” topic of the newspapers.
No. 1238: Golden necklace made of two plaited gold cords with 14 mounted Roman aurei. Estimate: 100,000 euros
No. 1239: Golden bracelet in seven segments with 7 mounted aurei. Estimate: 50,000 euros Roman coins
After a broad variety of coins of the Roman Republic, the coins from Imperial times follow with a wide range of spectacular aurei, many of them from the Phoibos Collection. In this preview, we will limit ourselves to three examples.
An extremely fine aureus of Pertinax will be sold as well as an aureus with a double portrait of Septimius Severus and Caracalla, whose provenance can be traced back to the year 1963. Almost as rare is a nearly extremely fine solidus of Procopius, who had himself proclaimed emperor on 28 September 365 and who was executed as early as on 7 May 366 by his rival, the emperor Valens.
The auction ends with coins of the Migration Period, Byzantine coins and Crusader coins. Among them is a small series of coins of the Order of Saint John of Rhodes.
No. 1196: C. Cassius Longinus. Aureus, 42, mint in Asia Minor. From the Phoibos Collection. From Hess-Leu auction 45 (1970), No. 451. Very rare. Very fine + / extremely fine. Estimate: 10,000 euros
No. 1477: Pertinax, 193. Aureus. From the Phoibos Collection. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 40,000 euros
No. 1501: Septimius Severus and Caracalla. Aureus, 202-210. From Hess-Leu auction (1963), No. 211. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 60,000 euros
No. 1659: Procopius, 365-366. Solidus. From the Phoibos Collection. From NFA auction XIV (1984), No. 580. Extremely rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: 20,000 euros
No. 1955: Crusader coin. Rhodes. Pierre Raymond Zacosta, 1461-1467. Zecchino, Venetian type. Extremely rare. Obverse double-struck. Very fine. Estimate: 12,500 euros
Auction 327: 300 rarities from the Friedrich Popken, Dr. Rolf Lön, Eberhard Link, and Skyler Liechty Collections
Auction 327 starts on Tuesday at 2 pm with a well-known name: Another part of the Friedrich Popken Collection that contains rarities from the area of Lower Saxony will be on offer.
Among them, for example, an extremely rare silver bar from Brunswick. It is one example of all the bars made of precious metals that were used during the High Middle Ages for the payment of large amounts of money. Today they are extremely rare because most of them were melted down.
A reichstaler from Einbeck minted in 1618 shortly before the following coinage debasement is also part of the Popken Collection. Einbeck was the only town in the area that still issued this denomination.
The most spectacular piece of the Popken Collection is a coin of the Lower Saxon Circle weighing four gold gulden and struck after 1601 from the reverse dies of two different half talers bearing the date 1561 and 1601, respectively. We do not know on which occasion this happened. It is known, however, that the Imperial Circles significantly gained in power between the turn of the 17th century and the Thirty Years’ War and that they pursued an active policy. Of course, heavy gold multiples were a means to that end.
Then, the Dr. Rolf Löns Collection of coins and medals of the Kingdom of Westphalia follows. An outstanding piece is the undated gold medal of 45 ducats whose minting was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III in 1860 on the occasion of the death of his uncle Jerome Napoleon. A die from 1811 was used for the obverse while the reverse die was newly manufactured.
Next are coins from the German States, the Habsburg Empire, and world coins. Three topics dominate in the first two parts: Medals, hunting, and multiple talers. In this preview we will only present one example for each area:
The topic of medals is represented by a piece from Brunswick and Lüneburg commissioned by George Louis – the later George I of Great Britain – on the occasion of the death of his mother, Sophia of the Palatinate, in 1714. The reverse features a splendid garden with four straight trees behind which a glowing sun sets.
The collecting area of multiple talers is represented by a broad quadruple reichstaler from Rostock with an estimate of 50,000 euros minted in 1605 and commemorating the hereditary homage to Charles, Duke of Mecklenburg.
An example for the hunting theme is a reichstaler of Ferdinand II minted in 1626 in Wrocław. This hunting-themed taler depicts the emperor on his return from the hunt in front of the city view of Wrocław.
No. 2501: Popken Collection. Brunswick. Silver bar bearing a usualmark, 14 th century, 205.56 grams. Extremely rare. Very fine. Estimate: 6,000 euros
No. 2566: Popken Collection. Einbeck. Reichstaler 1618. From the Bonin Collection, Peus auction 312 (1984), No. 2917. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 10,000 euros
No. 2753: Popken Collection. Lower Saxon Circle. 4 gold gulden struck around 1601 from the reverse die of the half taler from 1561. Probably unique. From the Bonin Collection, Peus auction 312 (1984), No. 3087. Estimate: 25,000 euros
No. 2839: Dr. Rolf Löns Collection. Kingdom of Westphalia. Gold medal of 45 ducats, undated (around 1860), commissioned by Napoleon III on the occasion of the death of his uncle Jerome Bonaparte. Second known specimen. Extremely fine. Estimate: 25,000 euros
No. 3221: Brunswick and Lüneburg. George I Louis, 1698-1714. Medal from 1714 by E. Hannibal commemorating the death of his mother Sophia of the Palatinate. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 4,000 euros
No. 3647: Rostock. Broad quadruple reichstaler from 1605 commemorating the hereditary homage to Charles, Duke of Mecklenburg on 27 August. Very rare. Very fine. Estimate: 50,000 euros
No. 3949: HRE. Ferdinand II, 1592-1618-1637. Hunting-themed reichstaler, 1626, Wrocław. Very rare. Very fine. Estimate: 10,000 euros
World Coins and Medals
Let us turn to world coins and medals. The undeniable highlight is a family rouble of Tsar Nicholas I minted in 1836/37 in Saint Petersburg with an estimate of 50,000 euros. Only 150 specimens of this type were minted. For lovers of Russian coins, this piece is not only a highlight for its extraordinary rarity but also because it is the only contemporaneous coin featuring the tsar’s portrait.
Not everyone can afford such a coin. But that is no reason not to collect coins. Shortly after this piece, Künker offers a small series of medieval silver coins from Hungary. The estimates of these extremely interesting pieces – for which historically well-known persons such as Saint Stephen are responsible – already start at 30 euros.
Almost symbolically, the Skyler Liechty Collection of medals on the history of the New World is inserted between European coins and coins from overseas.
Let us conclude the preview of the catalogue 327 with a glance to the other end of the world, to Australia. The dump of a holey dollar of 15 pence is offered with an estimate of 20,000 euros.
No. 4464: Russia. Nicholas I, 1825-1855. 1 1/2 roubles (17 zlotychs) 1836 (minted in 1836/7), Saint Petersburg (family rouble). Only 150 specimens minted. Almost FDC. Estimate: 50,000 euros
No. 4594: Hungary. Emeric, 1196-1204. Denarius. From the Curti Collection. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 1,500 euros
No. 4632: Skyler Liechty Collection. Spain. Charles V, 1519-1558. Cast silver medal, 1537, after H. Reinhart. Contemporary cast. Fields chased. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 2,000 euros
No. 4693: Australia. New South Wales. 15 pence (dump) 1813. Extremely rare. Very fine +. PCGS VF35. Estimate: 20,000 euros
Auction 328: Gold coins – German Coins after 1871
Auction catalogue 328 only comprises 1,000 lots but they contain magnificent pieces. Gold multiples from Germany and the entire world as well as German coins minted after 1871 are on offer.
The two pieces with the highest estimates stem from the same period of time: A carlino da 5 doppie of Victor Amadeus III from Sardinia has an estimate of 60,000 euros. The very rare piece was minted in 1786 in Turin and is extremely fine.
The estimate of a gold medal of 20 ducats from Salzburg minted in 1772 is even higher: 80,000 euros. It was issued during a sede vacante period and only 26 specimens were minted. A gold multiple of the Spanish king Charles III minted in 1785 in Guatemala is also worth mentioning. According to NGC, this is the best-graded specimen of this extremely rare piece that stems from the last year the coin type was minted – only very few specimens of this year are known.
No. 5141: Sardinia. Victor Amadeus III, 1773-1796. Carlino da 5 doppie 1786, Turin. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 60,000 euros
No. 5322: Guatemala. Charles III, 1759-1788. 8 escudos 1785. NGC AU50. Very rare. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 20,000 euros
No. 5416: Salzburg. Sede vacante, 1771-1772. Gold medal of 20 ducats 1772 by F. Matzenkopf. Only 26 specimens minted. Extremely fine to FDC. Italy. Estimate: 80,000 euros
German States
Of course, there is also something for collectors of gold coins from the German States. From Bavaria, there is a piece of five ducats commissioned by the Bavarian “Landstände” (regional states) in 1747 in Munich on the occasion of the marriage of Maximilian III Joseph and Maria Anna, the Princess of Saxony.
In 1816, the Prussian Ministry of Finance commissioned that a gold homage medal of 16 ducats in honor of Frederick William III be created by D. F. Loos. The medal was no success: Only a few of the 20 pieces that were minted could be sold and the other medals were melted in – therefore, the medal offered at Künker is a great rarity.
While pieces made of Bavarian river gold can be found from time to time on the market, this rhine-gold ducat minted in 1772 in Mainz with the portrait of the Archbishop of Mainz Emerich Joseph von Breitbach-Bürrenheim is only offered on very rare occasions.
No. 5442: Bavaria. Maximilian III Joseph, 1745-1777. 5 ducats 1747, Munich. Gift of the Bavarian “Landesstände” (regional states) on the occasion of the marriage with Maria Anna, daughter of Frederick Augustus, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 10,000 euros
No. 5482: Brandenburg-Prussia. Frederick William III, 1797-1840. Gold medal of 16 ducats 1816 by D. F. Loos. Homage medal commissioned by the Ministry of Finance. Only 20 specimens minted, most of them were melted down. Attempted piercing mark on the reverse, extremely fine. Estimate: 10,000 euros
No. 5557: Mainz. Emerich Joseph von Breitbach-Bürresheim, 1763-1774. Ducat 1772, Mainz. Rhine-gold. Very rare. Extremely fine +. Estimate: 6,000 euros
Germany After 1871
The numismatic part of the week ends with German coins minted after 1871. Among the pieces of the German Empire is one of the great rarities of this area: a 5 pfennig 1896 G, graded AU 50 by PCGS. With regard to the gold coins of the German Empire, the expert will find some extremely rare and extremely fine graded pieces, for example: Reuss, older line, 20 marks 1875 graded almost FDC (estimate: 30,000 euros), Saxe-Meiningen, 20 marks 1872 graded extremely fine (estimate: 20,000 euros) and 20 marks 1882 graded extremely fine (estimate: 20,000 euros).
Additionally, several gold multiples of the German colonies will be on offer, for example, 10 and 20 marks 1895 A pieces minted for German New Guinea (25,000 euros each).
No. 5646: German Empire. 5 pfennig 1896 G. Extremely rare. PCGS AU50. About extremely fine. Estimate: 6,000 euros
No. 5883: Reuss, older line. 20 marks 1875. Very rare. Almost FDC. Estimate: 30,000 euros
No. 5913: German New Guinea. 20 New Guinean marks 1895 A. Only 1,500 specimens minted. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 25,000 euros
Auction 329: Orders and Decorations
In collaboration with Michael Autengruber, an auction with more than 1,000 lots of orders and decorations will be held on the last day of Künker’s auction sales week.
By far the largest part of this auction is dedicated to the third part of the Peter Groch Collection. This time, the orders and decorations of the military conflicts of the 20th century until 1918/21 are on offer. The material was so extensive that the decorations of the Allies will be sold separately in a future auction as part 4 of the collection.
In addition, the estate of the legendary Prussian field marshal August von Mackensen comes to auction. And these are just a few highlights from the high-profile phaleristic offer.
No. 6791: Kingdom of Prussia. “Pour le Mérite” order. Cross of the order in the version issued from 1917 to 1918. II-. Estimate: 7,500 euros
No. 7450: Kingdom of Prussia. Iron Cross, issued in 1914. From the estate of field marshal August von Mackensen. II. Estimate: 50,000 euros
No. 7540: Russia. Imperial Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called. II. Estimate: 150,000 euros
Auction 330: eLive Dr. Rainer Opitz Collection, Part 4
On 16 and 17 October 2019, part 4 of the Dr. Rainer Opitz Collection of coins and medals of Reformation and Protestantism will be offered in an eLive Premium Auction. The offer comprises more than 1,200 lots and contains numerous coins and medals with estimates starting at 5 euros. Whether you are a special collector or a beginner, a close look at this catalogue is definitely worth it.
The catalogues can be ordered at Künker, Nobbenburger Straße 4a, 49076 Osnabrück; phone: +49 541 / 96 20 20; fax: +49 541 / 96 20 222; or via e-mail: [email protected]. You can also access the auction catalogues online at www.kuenker.de.
