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Auction: 23004 - Ancient and British Coins - Featuring the 'White Rose' Collection
Lot: 209

(g) Germany, Bayern, Maximilian II (1848-1864), 'München Zwitterdukat' or so-called 'Hermaphrodite Ducat', 1850, Munich, by Carl Friedrich Voigt, MAXIMILIAN. II BAVARIAE REX, bare head right, C.F. below, rev. EIN DUCATEN, crowned shield flanked by supporters, 1850 in exergue, edge milled, .937 Fine 'Rheingold', 3.49g [53.8grns], 12h (AKS 142; Divo-Schramm 34, Divo pp. 35/pp. 33 - [mule]; Fb. 277; Jaeger 127; Schlum. 104; Stutzmann 1718a; Wittelsbach 2865), handling marks in otherwise brilliant proof-like fields, the central devices pleasingly cameo, good extremely fine and a highly prized rarity, with a reported mintage of just 100 pieces, struck in the year of the 'Punctation of Olmütz'

Maximilian II reigned as King of Bavaria between 1848 and 1864, following the unexpected abdication of his unpopular father King Ludwig I in February 1848. Ascending the throne during the German Revolution of 1848, King Maximilian restored stability in his kingdom. The rest of his reign was characterized by attempts to maintain Bavarian independence during the wars of German Unification and to transform his capital city of Munich into a cultural and educational city.



After studying at Göttingen and Berlin and travelling in Germany, Italy and Greece, he was introduced by his father into the council of state in 1836. From the outset, he demonstrated a studious disposition, even declaring that had he not been born in a royal cradle, his choice would have been to become a professor. As Crown Prince, he had the Chateau of Hohenschwangau near Füssen rebuilt, wherein he gathered an intimate society of artists and men of learning and devoted his time to scientific and historical study. The Wittelsbacher Palais was built for Maximilian as a Crown Prince Palace in Munich but only completed when he ascended the throne.



In 1849 an uprising in the Bavarian Palatinate was broken down with the support of the Prussian Army. Though from 1850 onwards, his government tended in the direction of absolute monarchy, King Maximilian steered a moderate course between the extremes of Classical Liberalism, Prussian-inspired Pan-Germanism, and the so-called "Ultramontanes".



In his attempts to transform Bavaria into a centre of culture, education, and the arts, he enraged conservative Catholics and Protestants by inviting a number of celebrated men of learning (such as Geibel, Liebig, Heyse and Sybel) to Munich, regardless of their religious persuasions,



Devoted to his family and his people, the King also financed studies of the art, costumes, dialects, and customs of the Bavarian peasantry. This was done in order to promote a separate national identity against Prussian-inspired Pan-Germanism.



In this, the King was assisted by his Personal Private Secretary, Franz Xaver von Schönwerth. A native of the Oberpfalz region of the Bavarian Kingdom, Ritter von Schonwerth's work collecting the folklore and traditions of his native district won him the admiration of the Brothers Grimm and made him a model for future folklore collectors.



Maximilian II also responded to public demands for a united German state by attending the Frankfurt Assembly. The progress of the 1848 Revolution, however, gave him pause. The king strenuously opposed the unionist plans of the Frankfurt Parliament; refusing to recognize the imperial constitution devised by it, and instead assisted Austria in restoring the federal diet and in carrying out the federal execution in Hesse-Kassel and Holstein. In the aftermath of the failure of the Frankfurt Assembly, Prussia and Austria continued to debate of which monarchy had the inherent right to rule Germany. The dispute between Austria and the Electoral Prince of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel) was used by Austria and its allies (including Bavaria) to promote the isolation of Prussia in German political affairs. This diplomatic insult almost led to war when Austria, Bavaria and other allies moved troops through Bavaria towards Hesse-Kassel in 1850. However, the Prussian army backed down and accepted the principle of dual leadership. This event was known as the Punctation of Olmütz but also known as the "Humiliation of Olmütz" by Prussia. This event solidified the Bavarian kingdom's alliance with Austria against Prussia.



This remarkable muling of an obverse intended for the 'EX AURO RHENI' (Rheingold) issue and the reverse of the EIN DUCATEN coinage has a known striking on 100 specimens and a tiny full mintage of only 1,519 pieces

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Sold for
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Starting price
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