KUENKER AUCTION SALES 438-441, PART THREE

Rarities from Poland

Are you interested in Polish coins? If so, you will be thrilled by what Künker has to offer in auction 439. There are several multiple gold coins by Sigismund III as well as the 1630 ducat from Bydgoszcz, which Polish collectors refer to as the "white raven".

Coins of Sigismund III enjoy iconic status among Polish collectors because the coinage system was expanded to an unprecedented extent during this period. A wealth of new mints were established. Today, it is said that there were nine royal and six municipal mints. Connoisseurs of Polish coinage are particularly enthusiastic about the fabulous engraving, which was primarily used for gold coins.

The highlight of the Künker offering is an extremely rare portugalöser of 10 ducats minted under Sigismund III (No. 2173), presumably from Cracow. But the other pieces are impressive, too. Two other extremely rare 10-fold ducats are on offer, one minted in Olkusz, and the other one in Vilnius. There are also two ducats, one minted under Sigismund I in Cracow in 1532, and the other is the famous "white raven", the 1630 ducat of Sigismund III from Bydgoszcz. It is considered extremely rare. In fact, only two specimens appear to be in circulation on the open collectors' market. This might be because it is difficult to clearly identify the images in old auction catalogs with modern coins. The piece that is on offer now was also auctioned by Künker 2021 and is probably from the Chelminski Collection – Otto Helbing (25 April 1904) – and the Frankiewicz Collection – Felix Schlessinger (15 September 1930). However, it was customary for old auction catalogs to create plaster casts of the coins and glue them to a plate before taking a photo of the entire plate. This is why it is impossible to determine the form of the blank in old auction catalogs, which makes it difficult to clearly identify a coin on the market today with a photo in an old catalog.

Incidentally, impressive issues from the cities of Gdansk and Torun can also be found in auction 439.

No. 2173: Poland. Sigismund III, 1587-1632. Portugalöser of 10 ducats n. d., probably Cracow. Extremely rare. Very fine +. Estimate: 125,000 euros

No. 2176: Poland. Sigismund III, 1587-1632. 1630 ducat, Bydgoszcz. Extremely rare. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 75,000 euros

No. 2183: Poland. Gdansk. 3 1/2 ducats, 1650. Extremely rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: 50,000 euros

Special Series: The Order of Saint John on Rhodes and Malta

The Order of Saint John and its coinage is also a very popular topic. Künker's auction 439 features 27 lots, including numerous great rarities such as a zecchino marking the transition between Rhodes and Malta (No. 2131). It was created under Philippe Villiers de l'Isle-Adam, who became Grandmaster in 1521. He anticipated the invasion of the Ottoman army, which actually began in June 1522. Despite months of fighting, the Order of Saint John was unable to resist. They surrendered on 22 December 1522 in exchange for free passage with their weapons and personal belongings. Thus, after 213 years, the Order lost its headquarters on Rhodes. Emperor Charles V immediately began searching for an alternative location. However, it was not until 1530 that such a location was found when Malta was handed over to the Order as a hereditary fief. The only tribute agreed upon was one falcon per year. This was the Maltese Falcon, which is well known in popular culture and was immortalized by Dashiell Hammett. It is not exactly known where the zecchino was minted that Künker is offering with an estimate of 7,500 euros. It may have still been produced on Rhodes during the siege of 1522.

No. 2131: The Order of Saint John on Rhodes and Malta. Philippe Villiers de l'Isle Adam, 1530-1534. Zecchino n.d. Probably Rhodes. Extremely rare. Very fine +. Estimate: 7,500 euros

World Issues

Of course, you will find many more world rarities in auctions 439 and 441. For example a series of 26 Danish gold and silver coins each, most of which originate from the collection of coins and medals of noble private possession.

Here are some particularly noteworthy pieces:

No. 2023. Denmark. Christian V. 1692 ducat, Copenhagen. Rider Ducat. Very rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: 2,500 euros

No. 2113: Sardinia. Charles Emanuel III, 1730-1773. 5 doppie, 1755, Turin. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 40,000 euros

No. 2185: Portugal. Sancho I, 1185-1211. Morabitino (18 dinheiros), Coimbra. Very rare. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 2191: Russia. Nicholas I, 1825-1855. 3 roubles, platinum, 1828, St. Petersburg. PCGS PR65. Very rare. Showpiece. Proof. Estimate: 12,500 euros

No. 2236: Peru. 8 escudos, 1712, Lima. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 12,500 euros

Orders and Decorations from the Estate of Duke Wilhelm in Bavaria (1752-1837)

Last but not least, Künker is once again offering a selection of orders and decorations from old estates of German nobles. The phaleristic and numismatic estates of Duke Wilhelm in Bavaria is up for auction.

Born in Gelnhausen in 1752, Wilhelm was the son of Johann von Pfalz-Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen. This meant that he belonged to the House of Wittelsbach, albeit a collateral branch. In 1704, this branch received the pledged imperial city of Gelnhausen as well as a life annuity. But since Gelnhausen was sold to Hesse-Kassel in 1746, Wilhelm's father only possessed the title – not the territory or army. Therefore, it was a lucky twist that Wilhelm became the brother-in-law of the future Bavarian king, Maximilian I Joseph, through his marriage to Maria Anna of Pfalz-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler-Rappoltstein. In 1797, Wilhelm and Maximilian I Joseph concluded the House Treaty of Ansbach, which established the unity and indivisibility of all Wittelsbach territories. In return, Wilhelm was granted the title Duke in Bavaria when his brother-in-law took office – a title that should not be confused with that of the ruling House of Bavaria.

Among the items on offer from the personal estate of Wilhelm in Bavaria is the jewel of the Electoral Palatinate House Order of Saint Hubertus (Kurfürstlich Pfälzischer Hausritterorden vom hl. Hubertus), the motto of the Order is set with ca. 56 round and elongated old-European-cut diamonds, diamond roses and fragments.

Wilhelm was admitted to the order by Elector Carl Theodor as early as on 2 February 1768. The order was elevated to the highest order of the Kingdom of Bavaria by King Max I Joseph. However, as it remains a house order de jure, it can still be conferred today by the respective head of the House of Wittelsbach in his capacity as Grandmaster of the order.

No. 4025: Electoral Palatinate House Order of Saint Hubertus. Large, heavy jewel for sash ribbon, created around 1767. Extremely rare. From the personal estate of Duke Wilhelm in Bavaria. II. Estimate: 15,000 euros

All pictures Benjamin Seifert / Lübke & Wiedemann. ©Künker

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