Wurzb.-6238 variety, struck in Prussia ca. 1774 to honor Moses Mendelssohn, founder of the Haskala movement and author of PHÆDON published in that year.  Dies by I. Abraham.  Silver, 43mm.  Late Die State with the cud above the P.

In the category of “And now for something completely different“, we are pleased to present this striking piece with an image of a Butterfly perched on a cracked human Skull symbolizing the immortality of the soul on one side, and a portrait of Mendelssohn on the other.

And this is about the most original example we’ve ever seen, with rich old greenish gray color and some absolutely eerie golden red toning peering from the eye sockets as spookily as even your neighbor’s most elaborate Halloween decorations.

Historic, artfully engraved and about as cool as any issue we’ve handled.

This coin is from the CRO archives and is not currently available for sale.