Current auction sales
Auctions 444-445
April 21-24, 2026
Pre-sale report for the Spring Auctions 444 and 445
This year’s spring auction places a clear emphasis on ancient numismatics. The opening highlight is the König Collection, an exceptional ensemble comprising 961 lots of Celtic coins, the majority struck in gold or electrum. The collection reflects the richness of Celtic numismatics from the Atlantic coast to the Black Sea, such that the accompanying special catalogue takes on the character of a handbook. It includes numerous rarities, mostly in decent quality. Particular mention should be made of the double stater of the Helvetii, an extremely rare stater of the Vindelici, and two equally rare staters of the Boii. The collection also features a series of no fewer than 17 staters and fractional pieces of the Parisii—rare and costly coin types that are typically represented in ordinary Celtic coin collections by only one or two specimens.
On the following day, the sequence of ancient coins continues with catalogue 445. At its core is the universal collection of Dr Fritz Reiff, a solid holding spanning from the beginnings of coinage through to the Roman period, with particularly interesting pieces from the Roman Republic, including Aes Grave (cast bronze coinage). Two collections of Greek coins in appealing quality complete the auction day, enriching it with fine series of Hellenistic issues, notably from the Macedonian Empire and the Seleucid dynasty.
The medieval and modern coins comprise several old universal collections that complement each other to form a wide range of bracteates, talers, and gold coins from Germany and all over the world. There are interesting series of Russian coins and medals and Habsburg coins, including Salzburg. Spread across all sections is also a small but fine collection of siege clips and medals related to war and peace.
When it comes to feudal German coins, both collectors of Brandenburg-Prussia and fans of medieval numismatics should definitely not miss the auction of an important part of the medieval Hoard Kusey. This hoard, hidden around 1200 AD and recovered in 1912 in the Altmark region, about 40 km northwest of Magdeburg and 20 km northeast of Wolfsburg, was largely published in 1915 by Emil Bahrfeldt, a leading expert on Brandenburg numismatics, in the “Berliner Münzblätter” journal. However, he did not have all coin types at his disposal, so that the series of over 50 bracteates and pennies now being auctioned includes numerous great rarities that either appear to be completely unpublished or are only known from this find. To our knowledge, many, if any, have not been offered for sale for decades.
In addition, the varied selection of feudal German coins includes many bracteates, too. Among them are 10 very rare ones from the Karrin find in Western Pomerania, but also several from Central Germany and the Lake Constance region.
Within the early modern coins in all price ranges, there are outstanding rarities to be found everywhere. The top piece is probably a Frankfurt 10-ducat coin from 1606 bearing the title of Rudolph II (F. 944, J. u. F. 269 note). This gold coin is an off-metal strike from the dies of a taler which is already very rare (Dav. 5281). Furthermore, a thick Saxon 4-taler coin from 1557 commemorating the capture of Gotha (Dav. A 9799) is, according to our records, the second specimen ever to have come onto the market.
As usual, German coins from after 1871 and high-quality but modestly taxed multiple lots close the auction.