Lot 894
Geman New Guinea. 5 Mark, 1894-A (Berlin). KM-7; Dav-429. 27.76 grams. Bird of Paradise in display. Reverse Value and date within palm wreath, NEU-GUINEA COMPAGNIE above. Better than typical strike, although striations from the flan rolling process still visible on parts of the bird, and faintly so on reverse field. Coin edges remarkably clean; the virtually pristine obverse field with soft, satainy luster. The reverse fields more reflective, with minor light contact marks. The obverse one of the most exotic and sought after of European colonial coinage images. One of the finest examples of this coin seen in recent years. NGC graded MS-65.
German New Guinea was a German territorial acquisition in 1884, and remained in German hands until 1914. Its main part was known as KaiserWilhelmsland, and consisted of the northeastern part of New Guinea. At the outbreak of World War I, the area was attacked and captured by the Australians. Here the Australians suffered their first casualties of the war. The area was administered later by Australia and would eventually become the independent nation of Papua New Guinea.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $7,188 |
