ABOUT THE CATALOGUE

179 die varieties of coins issued for the Grand Duchy of Posen in 1816–1817, including varieties not previously described in numismatic literature.

“Katalog monet Wielkiego Księstwa Poznańskiego” (Coin Catalogue of the Grand Duchy of Posen), by Michał Otręba, is the result of many years of research into the 1- and 3-groschen coins issued for the Grand Duchy of Posen in 1816–1817.

The publication presents a detailed classification of 179 die varieties, identified through the examination of coins held in museum collections and the analysis of auction records from Poland and abroad.

The study includes both varieties known from earlier numismatic literature and additional varieties identified through the author’s own research, some of which had not previously been recorded in numismatic catalogues.

179 DIE VARIETIES – DETAILED BREAKDOWN

The catalogue documents the following denominations, dates, mintmarks and die varieties:

This breakdown illustrates the remarkable diversity of dies used during just two years of coin production for the Grand Duchy of Posen.

Particularly noteworthy is the number of varieties identified among the 1816 one-groschen coins. The Berlin mint issue, bearing mintmark A, alone accounts for 83 documented die varieties.

MUSEUM RESEARCH AND SOURCE MATERIAL

The catalogue is based on many years of research involving numismatic collections, archival materials and auction documentation.

The research drew upon materials from the following institutions:

• National Museum in Kraków, Poland
• National Museum in Poznań, Poland
• National Museum in Warsaw, Poland
• National Museum in Wrocław, Poland
• Münzkabinett, Berlin, Germany
• Museum August Kestner, Hanover, Germany
• Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig, Germany

Historical auction records from Poland and abroad were another important source of information, including material available through Coinstrall and OneBid.

Comparing specimens documented in different collections and sources made it possible to distinguish individual die characteristics and identify varieties not included in earlier numismatic studies.

WHAT MAKES THIS CATALOGUE DISTINCTIVE?

Previously undocumented die varieties

The research resulted in the identification of die varieties that had not previously been documented in numismatic catalogues.

Differences between individual varieties are not limited to major design features. They also include subtle distinctions in letter shapes and positioning, the arrangement of legends, punctuation marks, dots and additional small design elements.

Detailed photographs and comparisons

The catalogue contains coin photographs, enlarged images of distinctive die details and comparative tables.

These materials help collectors distinguish between varieties, including specimens whose differences may be difficult to recognise without close examination.

Research into coin issues and mintages

Beyond the classification of die varieties, the publication presents findings concerning the coin issues of the Grand Duchy of Posen and an attempt to reconstruct their original mintages using available archival and numismatic sources.

Museum specimens and auction records

The study also incorporates information about specimens held in museum collections and documented in auction records. This allows the described varieties to be related to identifiable, recorded examples.

WHO IS THIS CATALOGUE FOR?

The publication is intended for collectors of coins of the Grand Duchy of Posen, specialists in Prussian coinage, researchers of die varieties, numismatists interested in monetary history, and anyone seeking a more detailed identification of individual coin varieties.

It can serve both as a specialist numismatic reference work and as a practical tool for comparing coins in private collections with documented die varieties.