I have an (expensive) new obsession: Coins from the Italian and German states from the 1800s. I'm not interesting in everything from these periods, but there are certain designs that I just have to have. This all started when I was on eBay and I saw a suggested listing for an 1848 Venice 5 lire. I loved the coin so I looked it up in Krause and pretty soon I was looking at the other Italian states as well. Particularly the period around 1848 when there were revolutions going on, there are some really great designs. As I was looking at these, I also chanced upon some German states coins from the 1800s as well. While there are hundreds upon hundreds of German states coins, some of them are beautiful. Here are some that I have acquired in the past few weeks, with a few more in the mail. I have others on my wish list, but it's more a matter of spending the money than anything. The 1848 Venice 5 lire cost twice what I've ever spent on a coin before, but fortunately I was able to find it at an area coin shop for half of what I was considering paying online. What do you have from this area and time period that stands out? Go ahead and share!
German States stuff is absolutely addicting. If you are buying thalers and gulden, then there are lots of cool commemoratives for wars and coronations and deaths and weddings. Bremen and Frankfurt made some really nice stuff during this era, as did Bavaria if you have the pockets for it. If you collect minors, the little Baden kreuzer commems are a lot of fun.
I've always liked German and Italian States too. For some reason, I find a lot of Italian coppers ~1600-1800 at my local coin shop. The condition is usually very worn, but the price is low if I'm willing to ID them (or fail to) myself. Here's one of my favorite finds: Papal States, Gubbio, 1750 Quattrino, Jubilee Year
The German States minor denominations are my collecting focus, though most of my collection is from the 18th century and before. I still have a nice assortment of 19th century coins though. Here's a few of my favorites. Lippe-Detmold. The floral arms are always nice! Hamburg. The castle motif is always a favorite! Frankfurt. A nice city view minor. You can get coins from Frankfurt in high grades at very reasonable prices. Rostock because who doesn't love griffins? One of my personal favorites in my collection. Bremen. The key design is always nice! I bought this for the incredible clashing! Schaumburg-Lippe, an ultra reflective coin in hand. Had the reverse been more mirrored, I could see this coin getting PL designation.
One of the best areas to focus, IMO. I never understood why someone would collect 20 of the same type of each US coin when world coins are so much more interesting. German States in particular are awesome as they each minted their own coins, and there are probably thousands of types, many with much more intricate and beautiful designs than on US coins.
I once said/ Elon Musk could not afford a complete German States collection! I also love them/ being German I have 350+. Also love Italian States. But Swiss Kantons/ Transylvania are up there too. Holy Roman Empire maybe numero uno. Here are a few of my German coins
German states coins of the 1800s were plentiful about 20 years or so ago, but they have come into demand, especially examples in high grade. Italian states coins in nice grade have always been elusive. Cisalphine Republic, 1800, year 8, scudo. Davenport 199 23.12 grams
And it's a beauty! I have to go into the "used to own" archives to find any German States from the 1800s that I've owned. (Of Italian States, I've had very little indeed, and there are no archived pictures of those.) This the only 1800s German States piece I have a picture of, and not very good pictures, at that. It was a lovely little prooflike supergem, however. MS67! German States (Hesse-Darmstadt): 1866 silver kreuzer Now, there is some other German States stuff, from other centuries... German States (Mecklenburg-Wismar): silver witten, struck after the Wendish Coinage Union of 1379 German States (Frankfurt): 1495 goldgulden of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor German States (Saxony, Albertine): 1548 silver thaler of Maurice, Elector of Saxony German States (Saxony): 1596-HB silver thaler, "3 Brothers" type, Dresden mint PCGS VF details ("tooled") German States (Teutonic Order): ca. 1615 silver 1/4-thaler of Grand Master Maximilian of Austria German States (Nurnberg): silver 1/8 thaler klippe of Ferdinand III; Peace of Westphalia, 1650 PCGS MS62 German States (Brunswick-Lüneberg-Calenberg-Hannover): 1702 silver 24-mariengroschen, "Wildman" type Germany (Nürnberg): 1730 silver Augsburg Confession medal by Daniel Dockler the Younger German States (Saxony) 1913-E proof silver 3 marks, Battle of Leipzig centennial commemorative, 1913-E PCGS PR62 DCAM
Lord, what is that on the obverse of your Mecklenburg-Wismar AR Witten? To me it looks like a "Teufelhund"
My Germany Prussia 1888 10 Mark Coin which I bought after reading about the 1946 Hesse Jewel Robbery. Germany Prussia 10 Marks 1888-A (Berlin) - Frederick III FRIEDRICH DEUTSCHER KAISER KONIG V. PREUSSEN (Frederick, Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia) DEUTSCHES REICH 1888 / 10 MARK (German Empire / 10 Marks) Gold (0.900), 19 mm, 3.98 gm NGC graded MS-61 One of the items stolen during the robbery was a similar Prussia 10 mark gold coin.
I've never looked too closely at these series but I do have a pre-Italian unification coin somewhere. Some really beautiful designs.