German States (Brunswick-Lüneberg-Calenberg-Hannover): 1702 silver 24-mariengroschen, "Wildman" type

NGC AU55, cert. #6342274-008.

Numista-39913, KM-15.

Atlas Numismatics' description:

"GERMAN STATES. Brunswick-Luneburg-Calenberg-Hannover. George Ludwig. (Elector of Hannover, 1698-1714). 1702 *** AR 24 Mariengroschen, Gulden. NGC AU55. GEORG: LUD: D: G: D: BR: & L: S: R: I: ELECT:. Value, date in legend / IN RECTO DECUS. Wildman with tree in right hand, 24 at right. KM 15; Dav.-423; Welter 2158.

Wolff-Metternich zur Gracht is the name of a Rhenish and Westphalian noble family descended from the North Hessian Lords of Wolff von Gudenberg. Founders of the family name first appear in records from the early 13th Century. Notable members of the family were accomplished diplomats whose services for the Electors of Köln and Bavaria, were well-rewarded with land grants and rights to income derived from the collection of taxes and duties. Other descendants held the title of Prince-Bishop of Paderborn and were succeeded by other generations throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries. Coins and medals of the Wolff-Metternich Prince-Bishops, and related issues, formed much of the family's numismatic holdings. Sometime around 1800 an unidentified family member added significantly to the collection. For some four centuries, the family’s headquarters, situated in the moated palace of Schloss Gracht in Erftstadt-Liblar near Cologne (Köln), Germany, is also where the coin and medals collection was kept, until 1957 when the property was sold. It is believed that the collection remained unresearched and was unknown to numismatists until the present time."

Sammlung : World Coins (1601-present)