German East Africa: German Colony. Wilhelm II gold 15 Rupien 1916-T MS64 NGC,...
Description
German Colony. Wilhelm II gold 15 Rupien 1916-T MS64 NGC, Tabora mint, KM16.2, J-728, Fr-1. Right Arabesque ends below "A" of "OSTAFRIKA". The second of the two main die types used to produce this memorable East African gold issue colloquially referred to as "Elephants", minted from the gold of the Kironda mine, situated near Sekenke, about 200 kilometers northeast of Tabora. The iconic elephant design was chosen for display instead of Kaiser Wilhelm's effigy due to the importance of the ivory trade in the East African economy. A type created from suboptimal dies and minting equipment, so acquiring a specimen in at least Choice Mint State is often preferred by collectors that can afford it in hopes of obtaining an example that is aesthetically pleasing as well as ruggedly charming. This near-Gem boasts a radiant lustrous glow with a beautiful apricot patina, and the strike quality is more than sufficient to facilitate an enjoyable viewing experience. Representatives of such prime quality appear for sale infrequently, so the bidder response for this selection will likely be considerable.Metal: Gold
Diameter: 22mm
Weight: 7.168g
AGW: 0.1728oz
Mintage: 6,395
Estimate: $8,000 - $10,000.
View all of [The Eternal Collection ]
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Floor Session - The Eternal Collection (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 30001-30124) - 9:00 AM Central Time, Monday, January 12, 2026 (10:00 AM Eastern Time).
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
Exhibition Viewing Times, Title Page, Floor Session and License Information
Additional Location Info:
InterContinental New York Barclay
111 East 48th Street
New York, NY 10017
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | Ancient Coins Grading Tutorial
World and Ancient Coin Bibliography