Kuenker auction brings $8.4 million

The rare 10 ducat of Ferdinand III struck in Vienna in 1656 that topped Kuenker’s summer sale with a price of $120,750 in EF-FDC. (Images courtesy Kuenker)

Kuenker’s massive summer sale has been and gone. Over 4,000 lots were on offer. When the dust settled, the firm had hammered for $8,432,023 [7.3 million euro] on estimates of $6,325,000 [5.5 million euro].

Grade and rarity were to the fore, with demand high for coins from the Holy Roman Empire. Many of these had few problems in selling for well above estimate.

Leading the charge was a 10 ducat of Ferdinand III struck in Vienna in 1656. A magnificent rarity graded EF-FDC, the estimate had been set at a realistic 100,000 euro. On the day, bids edged past this amount for the coin to hammer at $120,750 [105,000 euro].

An extremely rare thick ‘taler’ of 1484 struck from dies of a 1/2 guldengroschen by Archduke Sigismund went for $46,000 [40,000 euro] in VF-EF on an estimate of 10,000 euro. This coin is regarded as the precursor of the first taler of 1486.

Other top prices include:

Saxony, Friedrich III, guldengroschen (undated), EF: $36,800 [32,000 euro];

Bavaria, Ludwig III, 3 marks, 1918, FDC: $46,000 [40,000 euro];

Maximilian I, guldengroschen (undated), VF-EF/EF: $26,700 [24,000 euro];

Francis II, konventionstaler, 1792, aFDC: $26,700 [24,000 euro];

Salzburg, Max Gandolph von Küenburg, 10 ducats, 1668, VF+: $26,700 [24,000 euro];

Augsburg, triple reichstaler, 1626, VF-EF: $19,550 [17,000 euro];

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery: double rose noble of 1600 struck in the Netherlands in imitation of an Elizabeth I sovereign. In EF it hammered for $92,000 at Kuenker. (Images courtesy Kuenker)

Two other notable sales included a double rose noble of 1600 struck at Campen in the Netherlands in imitation of an Elizabeth I sovereign. In a highly collectible EF condition and on a 60,000 euro estimate, this very rare piece raced away to hammer at $92,000 [80,000 euro].

The second was a Russian proof platinum 6 rubles of 1834 struck for Nicholas I at St. Petersburg. Just 11 specimens were produced, which helps explain the price tag of $48,300 [42,000 euro] on its 25,000 euro estimate.

Full catalog details and hammer prices can be viewed online at www.kuenker.de. For additional information, please contact service@kuenker.de.