Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
August 2021 ANA Auction 16-21 Aug 2021
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GERMANY. Frankfurt. Napoleon III of France Medallic Platinum "Double Taler," ND (ca. 1860 or slightly later). Free City. PCGS SPECIMEN-62 Gold Shield.
cf. J&F-1844a (silver and silvered bronze); cf. Peus 389, lot 2694 (for another example in platinum, possibly the same piece). Diameter: 41mm; Weight: 47.47 gms. By F. Korn. Brilliant and largely untoned, this EXTREMELY RARE striking in platinum bears a good deal of scattered hairlines while also displaying die cracks consistent with a later striking. These interesting "double talers" were produced by an enterprising minter wishing to gain a contract from the French emperor, though they quickly caused the local officials to prohibit further production, ultimately leaving few survivors. Examples are observed in silver, silvered bronze, bronze, tin, and gold, but this platinum issue appears to supplant all of them in terms of RARITY. Given the die cracks seen here and on the gold issues, these more precious metals would seem to be later strikings from Korn's dies.
Estimate: $5000 - $10000
cf. J&F-1844a (silver and silvered bronze); cf. Peus 389, lot 2694 (for another example in platinum, possibly the same piece). Diameter: 41mm; Weight: 47.47 gms. By F. Korn. Brilliant and largely untoned, this EXTREMELY RARE striking in platinum bears a good deal of scattered hairlines while also displaying die cracks consistent with a later striking. These interesting "double talers" were produced by an enterprising minter wishing to gain a contract from the French emperor, though they quickly caused the local officials to prohibit further production, ultimately leaving few survivors. Examples are observed in silver, silvered bronze, bronze, tin, and gold, but this platinum issue appears to supplant all of them in terms of RARITY. Given the die cracks seen here and on the gold issues, these more precious metals would seem to be later strikings from Korn's dies.
Estimate: $5000 - $10000