The coins that have been part of the collection of the Berlin savings bank for many decadesand now re-enter the market are downright spectacular. The sale serves a good purpose, asKai Uwe Peter, Managing Director of the Berlin savings banks association, explains: In fact, many collectors will bepleased that the important pieces of the bank's collection will re-enter the market.

The collection of the Berlin savings bank of Brandenburg-Prussian issues consists of twoparts. The major part contains - of course - coins from Brandenburg-Prussia, the majority of which are characterized by great rarity and outstanding quality. The focal point is on iconictalers of Prussian history, for example a series of trading coins by Frederick the Great.

Auction house Künker is particularly proud of the fact that this collection contains a coin withwhich the auction house went down in auction history in 1999, selling the piece in its auction47 for DM 375,000. Now they are pleased to be able to offer the Portugalöser again, whichwas issued by John George in 1584 in Berlin and had been the most expensive German coinever sold at auction at the time.

The second part of the collection is dedicated to German coins minted between 1871 and theintroduction to the Euro. Here, too, collectors will find numerous rarities, which were selectedwith a lot of knowledge and refined taste by the curators of the collection. It becomes obviousthat only top quality was considered for the coin collection of the Berlin savings bank.

All these magnificent coins are likely to realize outstanding results given the current marketsituation and benefit those who are in need of urgent help right now. Ulrich Künkercomments:

No. 504: Joachim II. Portugalöser of 10 ducats 1570, Berlin. From Hess auction 253 (1983), No. 351 (formerly from the ducal coin cabinet of Gotha). Extremely rare. Traces of mounting,very fine. Estimate: 200,000 euros

No. 505: John George. Portugalöser of 10 ducats 1584, Berlin. From Hess auction 253 (1983), No. 353 (formerly from the ducal coin cabinet of Gotha), and Künker 47 (1999), No. 4001.Unique. Extremely fine. Estimate: 250,000 euros

No. 511: Frederick William, the Great Elector. Reichstaler 1686, Berlin. Very rare. Extremelyfine +. Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 515: Frederick I. Reichstaler 1703, Berlin. Extremely rare. Extremely fine to FDC.Estimate: 20,000 euros

No. 526: Frederick William I, the Soldier King. Reichstaler 1719, Berlin. Extremely rare.Extremely fine. Estimate: 20,000 euros

No. 532: Frederick II the Great. Prussian reichstaler 1752, Berlin. From the Jungfer Coll.,Weyl auction 102 (1889), No. 589 (sold for 253 reichsmarks). Only two specimens on themarket. Extremely fine. Estimate: 50,000 euros

No. 547: Frederick II the Great. Speciestaler 1755, Berlin, trading coin. Original issue withfoliage ornaments. From Schulman auction (Sept. 1920). Extremely rare. Very fine toextremely fine. Estimate: 40,000 euros

No. 646: German Empire. Württemberg. Charles. 5 marks 1888. Extremely rare. Proof.Estimate: 5,000 euros

No. 708: German Empire. Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Frederick Franz IV. 5 marks 1915 A, withinscription embossed on the edge: (ornament) GOTT (ornament) MIT (ornament) UNS (=God with us). Silver. Very rare. Proof. Estimate: 10,000 euros