COIN

A post-medieval silver 3 Groschen of Albert, Duke of Prussia (1525-69), mint: Königsberg (Kaliningrad, Russia) dating to 1543.

The coin has been pierced on the top left (obverse) of the coin, removing part of the inscription and a small part of the portrait of Albert. This circular perforation is circular and set in from the edge of the flan by 1.4mm. It has a diameter of 2.5mm and is positioned over where the 'A' of ALBER (on the reverse) was initially present. The upper left fold across the flan skims the inner lower side of the perforation. The proximity of the fold and adherence of small amounts of dried mud within the perforation give the illusion that the perforation has a slightly oval shape.

The crack in the flan has resulted in the loss of c.1.1mm of the the circumference of the edge of the coin. The crack continues across the flan for c. 2.7mm after which it continues as an extremely fine crack, the edges of which remain together veering into a fold line. This area of damage runs from the 6 o'clock position (when viewing the reverse surface) across to the 2 o'clock position and the fold line brings the right side of the flan forwards. Another fold line runs between the 8 o'clock position, between the 'A' of ALBER and 'P' of PRVSSIE, across to the 12 or 1 o'clock position. This fold line bends the upper left side of the flan (when viewing the reverse surface) backwards. These two bends in the flan create an elongated 'S' shaped profile. The folds are positioned diagonally across the flan regardless of whether you view the obverse or reverse.

Obverse shows a cuirassed bust right of Albert of Brandenburg. Obverse legend reads: +ALBER.D.G.MAR.BRAN.DVX.PR[VSS]. Reverse legend reads: +III+/.GROSS:AR:/.TRIPLE X./.[A]LBER:DVC./.PRVSSIE./+15[...]+ (in six lines). The third and fourth digits of the date looks likely to be a 43. 

Die axis is 4 or 5 o'clock. weight is 2.24g, diameter is 20.8mm, thickness is 0.7mm.

Coin references

No coin references available.