KUENKER AUCTION SALE 445-446

Once again, collectors can look forward to an interesting and diverse auction week. From 22 to 25 September 2026, Künker will auction a colorful selection of coins and medals from medieval to modern times in auctions 445 to 446, featuring many special collections. Catalogs 445 and 446 comprise a total of nearly 2,600 lots with a total estimate of around 5 million euros.

Of particular note are:

• "Argentum Poloniae" – The collection of Polish talers,

• another part of the impressive collection of Kommerzialrat Dr. Herbert Wenzel with Habsburg coins and medals,

• the Erich Götz Collection with a focus on his homeland of the Upper Palatinate,

• the collection of a Rhineland collector and art enthusiast featuring gold coins from around the world,

• and, last but not least, the collection of a physicist with coins of the German Empire in fabulous condition and partly with spectacular patinas.

Argentum Poloniae

Under the title "Argentum Poloniae", 113 talers reflecting the fate of Poland are being offered: depicting the kings who once ruled the First Polish Republic, these coins – some in outstanding condition – range from Stephen Báthory to the Duchy of Warsaw. As the Sejm reserved the right to elect the Polish king, the coins feature the portraits of rulers from various dynasties. The period during which the House of Wettin held the Polish throne is particularly well represented.

The collector assembled this collection with meticulous care and scholarly rigor, and it impresses with its remarkable completeness. Learn more about the eventful history of this country in the heart of Europe through these Polish talers!

Lot 2. Sigismund III, 1587-1632. 1623 reichstaler, II-VE, Bromberg. Extremely rare. Very fine.

Lot 32. Stanislaw August, 1764-1795. 1793 taler. Very rare. Beautiful patina, about extremely fine.

Lot 79. Electorate of Saxony. Frederick Augustus I, 1694-1733 (Augustus the Strong). 1721 reichstaler, Dresden. Attractive specimen with beautiful patina, extremely fine.

Lot 92. Electorate of Saxony. Frederick Augustus II, 1733-1763. 1740 reichstaler, Dresden. Rare, especially in this quality. Very attractive specimen with splendid patina, extremely fine.

Habsburg Rarities from the Dr. Herbert Wenzel Collection

By now, Kommerzialrat Dr. Herbert Wenzel is a well-known figure among collectors. In the world of numismatics, his name is synonymous with Habsburg rarities in the finest condition. Coins from his collection are featured once again in catalogs 445 and 446.

This time, it is not only the great rarities that command special attention, but also Habsburg small coins. Selected with great care and expert knowledge, they are offered in thoughtfully curated multiple lots, with estimates predominantly in the two- and three-digit ranges.

Collectors of Habsburg coinage cannot afford to miss out on a thorough reading of this catalog!

The undisputed highlight of this section is a 20-ducat piece by Ferdinand II from the Klagenfurt mint. Dr. Herbert Wenzel acquired it in 1949 from the heirs of the High Court Judge Dollinger (lot No. 2292). This coin has not been on the market since. It is remarkable because multiple gold coins from Klagenfurt are extremely rare. After all, the mint of Carinthia was actually located in St. Veit. However, the right to mint coins was disputed – the Carinthian estates claimed to have the right to mint coins themselves as they were keen to preserve their independence. Therefore, Archduke Ferdinand established a princely mint in Klagenfurt in 1522. This mint ceased operations as early as 1622.

Lot 2292. Holy Roman Empire. Ferdinand II, 1592-1618-1637. 20 ducats, 1622, Klagenfurt. Extremely rare and of great numismatic importance. Probably the 2nd known specimen in addition to the specimen in the Horsky Coll. Beautiful gold toning, very fine-extremely fine.

Lot 2357. Holy Roman Empire. Joseph II, 1765-1790. 4 ducats, 1786 A, Vienna. Very rare. Beautiful gold toning, extremely fine.

Lot 293. Holy Roman Empire. Maximilian I, 1490-1519. 1509 double representative guldiner, Hall. Very rare, especially in this condition. Exceptionally well-struck specimen. Beautiful patina, minuscule collector punch at the edge, extremely fine.

Lot 322. Holy Roman Empire. Maximilian II, 1564-1576. 1566 silver medal. Magnificent Renaissance portrait. Showpiece of the most beautiful quality. Beautiful patina, about FDC.

Lot 328. Holy Roman Empire. Archduke Ferdinand, 1564-1595. 1567 gulden taler (60 kreuzers), Mühlau. Very rare. Showpiece. Splendid patina, extremely fine-FDC.

Lot 352. Holy Roman Empire. Matthias, 1608-1612-1619. Broad double reichstaler n.d., Prague. Very rare, especially in this condition. Very attractive specimen with beautiful patina, about extremely fine.

Lot 354. Holy Roman Empire. Matthias, 1608-1612-1619. 1614 quadruple reichstaler, Vienna. Extremely rare. Attractive specimen with beautiful patina, very fine-extremely fine.

Lot 406. Holy Roman Empire. Frederick of the Palatinate (the Winter King), 1619-1621. 1621 reichstaler, Heidelberg. Extremely rare. Attractive specimen with beautiful patina, extremely fine.

Lot 546. Austrian Empire. Franz Joseph I, 1848-1916. 1877 taler, Vienna. Only 100 specimens minted. Showpiece with magnificent patina. Minuscule scratches, Proof.

Lot 565. The clergy in the Habsburg hereditary lands. Bishopric of Gurk. Johann VI von Schönburg, 1552-1554. 1553 taler. Extremely rare. Very attractive specimen with beautiful patina, extremely fine.

The Erich Götz Collection

Coins offer a fascinating insight into past eras and distant cultures, providing a wonderful opportunity to take a break from the daily grind.

This was the view of Erich Götz, a collector who traded minerals from over 60 countries in his busy daily life. Born in the Upper Palatinate, Erich Götz knew the whole world. Nevertheless, he was most passionate about the history and numismatics of his homeland. Coins minted in Regensburg, Amberg, Neumarkt, Cham or Nabburg are at the center of his collection – although he was certainly enthusiastic about other fields as well. His 1992 book, "Die Münzprägung der Oberpfalz - Geschichte und Katalog" (Coinage of the Upper Palatinate: History and Catalog), bears witness to his love of the region's numismatics. The book also demonstrates the depth of knowledge and patience with which Erich Götz assembled his Upper Palatinate coin collection.

Lot 640. Bavaria. Ferdinand Maria, 1651-1679. 1657 reichstaler, Munich. Very rare. Beautiful patina, about extremely fine.

Lot 807. Teutonic Order in Mergentheim. Johann Eustach von Westernach, 1625-1627. 1625 reichstaler, Nuremberg. Beautiful patina, about extremely fine.

Lot 887. Landgraviate of Leuchtenberg. George III, 1531-1555. ½ taler, 1547, Pfreimd. Very rare. Attractive, very fine specimen.

Lot 1189. County of Wolfstein. Christian Albrecht, 1693-1740. 1719 silver klippe of 1/2 reichstalers. Very rare. Very attractive specimen with beautiful patina, extremely fine/about extremely fine.

Lot 2444. Bavaria. Maximilian I, 1598-1651. 2 ducats, 1618, Munich. Attractive specimen with fine gold toning, extremely fine.

Lot 2653. Electorate of the Palatinate. Rupert II, 1390-1398. Gold gulden n.d. (1395-1397), Amberg. Extremely rare. 2nd known specimen. Very fine-extremely fine/very fine.

Gold Coins of a Rhineland Collector and Art Enthusiast

The Rhineland collector and art enthusiast whose exquisite collection of gold coins is being offered at auction 446 did not seek to amass a complete collection. The only factors that mattered to him were the quality and the aesthetic appeal of a piece, regardless of its era of origin. This approach resulted in a remarkably diverse collection characterized by excellent condition and refined taste. The collection combines classic numismatic treasures with rare, exotic 20th-century gold coins, offering something for a wide range of collecting interests.

Lot 2116. Luxembourg. Charlotte, 1919-1964. 20 francs, 1946, Brussels. Extremely rare. Only 25 specimens minted. Proof. Gold pattern. NGC PF 63 Ultra Cameo (Top Pop).

Lot 2565. City of Hamburg. Private portugalöser of 10 ducats, n.d. (1679). Very rare. Showpiece struck with polished dies. Extremely fine-FDC. NGC MS 61 PL.

Lot 2666. Pomerania, Duchy under Swedish rule. Charles X Gustav, 1654-1660. 2 ducats, 1658, Stettin. Very rare. Very attractive specimen with fine gold patina, about extremely fine.

Lot 2667. City of Regensburg. Ducat n.d. (1742). Very rare. Extremely fine-FDC. NGC MS 62.

Lot 2733. Wallenstein. Albrecht, 1623-1634, Duke of Friedland. Ducat, 1630, Jitschin. Of great rarity. About extremely fine.

To order a catalog contact Künker, Nobbenburger Straße 4a, 49076 Osnabrück; phone: +49 541 / 962020; fax: +49 541 / 9620222; or via e-mail: service@kuenker.de. You can access the auction catalogs online at www.kuenker.de. If you want to submit your bid from your computer at home, please remember to register for this service in good time.

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web