Every coin enthusiast knows that we hold our Spring Auction Sales in mid-March. The coins can be viewed not only at the headquarters in Osnabrück, but also in Munich – before and during the Numismata. More information can be found on the Künker website and in the catalog. There will be plenty to see, as four heavy-weight auctions will take place over the five days. A separate preview is dedicated to ancient coins, which will kick off the auction week on Monday, 17 March. This preview exclusively presents the three auctions with coins and medals from medieval and modern times. On Tuesday, 18 March 2025, auction 420 will offer the third part of the Lodewijk S. Beuth Collection with Dutch issues. Auction 421 follows on 19 March 2025 with the second part of the Heinz-Falk Gaiser Collection with Württemberg coins. The week will be rounded off by auction 422 with world coins and medals. It includes the Dr. Kurt Sonnenberg Collection of coins from the various lines of the House of Anhalt.

In collaboration with Laurens Schulman B. V., we are offering one of the most important collections of Dutch coins that has ever come to auction: the Lodewijk S. Beuth Collection, the third part of which will be offered in auction 420. The catalog is likely to become a standard reference work. Therefore, on 18 March 2025, all eyes in Osnabrück will be on the Netherlands, when the 659 lots of the Beuth Collection will change hands. The material covers three different fields that are of interest to collectors of Dutch issues. The auction begins with the coins of the Southern Netherlands, corresponding to the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant and modern-day Belgium. Next are Dutch emergency and siege coins with a focus on the period of the 80 Years’ War. The day ends with issues for the Dutch overseas territories minted between 1601 and 1795, including mainly issues of the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, but also spectacular gold coins from Dutch Brazil. So if you are interested in Dutch coins, you should consider traveling to Osnabrück in person. For the auction is sure to be a social event, bringing together important collectors, dealers and scholars who are interested in Dutch coinage.

On 10 January 1693, the Emperor proclaimed the only 15-year-old Eberhard Louis of Württemberg of age so that the latter could rule the duchy himself after his guardian had been captured. Eberhard Louis was one of the most innovative rulers to ascend the throne of Württemberg. He shaped the destiny of his duchy for more than 40 years. The second part of the Gaiser Collection begins with Eberhard Louis’ accession to power, and presents rarities of Württemberg coinage. As a dedicated specialist collector, Heinz-Falk Gaiser focused not only on the great rarities of this field such as double ducats or multiple talers. Connoisseurs will also find a rich selection of fractional pieces in the best possible condition in his collection. Therefore, our auction sale 421 has something in store for every budget: from double ducats in the five-figure range to inconspicuous fractional coins with estimates starting at 25 euros. In this catalog, Heinz-Falk Gaiser’s minted history of Württemberg covers seven dukes up to 1796, when Duke Friedrich Eugen suffered a stroke during the peace negotiations following the military disaster against revolutionary France.

Actually the House of Anhalt is a branch of the old Saxon noble family of the Ascanians, of which only one branch has survived since the end of the 17th century. They are a wonderful example of the fact that primogeniture, i.e. the right of succession to the territory as a whole belonging to the firstborn son, was the exception rather than the rule in Germany. 

As a result, once powerful territories were divided into smaller and smaller entities that were unable to compete with the likes of Prussia, Bavaria or the Electorate of Saxony. This is an advantage for collectors: all these small territories produced a diverse and varied coinage, as the example of the House of Anhalt perfectly illustrates. In addition to the Principality of Anhalt, the collection contains coins from

• Anhalt-Zerbst

• Anhalt-Köthen

• Anhalt-Köthen-Plötzkau

• Anhalt-Bernburg

• Anhalt-Harzgerode

• Anhalt-Schaumburg

• Anhalt-Dessau

A total of 133 lots – including seven carefully arranged multiple lots with more coins from Anhalt – are waiting to be added to a new collection.

As every year, our Spring Auction Sales 2025 will present an extensive series of fascinating coins from the German Empire, including the absolute highlights of imperial coinage: Frederick the Wise, the Bavarian Wedding as well as gold and silver coins from many smaller territories.

Last but not least, our catalog 422 contains a spectacular mix of world coins and medals from medieval times to the present day. As always, the focal point is on Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, but collectors with other interests should also make sure to take a look and see what rarities from their field are on offer. We will mention four pieces to illustrate the offer:

• From Lithuania there is a ten-fold ducat by Vasa Sigismund III, who also ruled Lithuania as King of Poland. The multiple was minted in 1621 in Vilnius and is the only specimen from this year on the market.

• A magnificent gold medal with an impressive sailing vessel was created by the engraver Christoph Adolphzoon to commemorate the Treaty of Breda, concluded between the Netherlands and Great Britain on 31 July 1667.

• Mozaffar ad-Din Shah was the fifth Qajar to rule Persia. Politically rather unsuccessful, the ruler became an early media star when he fell in love with the new technology of cinematography at the Paris World’s Fair. His court photographer was commissioned to purchase the necessary equipment to familiarize himself with the art. Mozaffar’s interest provides us with a wealth of highly interesting insights into Persia at the turn of the century.

• Finally, there is a 10-fold ducat by Emperor Leopold I from 1675, minted in Kremnica, with the face value of 10 engraved in the field on the obverse.