Expert: Dmitry Livshits - 8/13/2009

Question
Hi    I have two coins i believe are from prussia one is a 1818 D silver coin with ein thaler on back with eagle on front friedr.wilhelm III koenig von preussen it also has some lettering on the rim    also have 1888 on back with deutsches reich funf mark  with eagle coat of arms  on front friedrich deutscher kaiser koenig V. preussen  thanks   david

Answer
Hi David,
Your coins are indeed from the German State of Prussia. Both are the German/Prussian equivalents of a silver dollar or crown.
The first is actually the better of two variations for that year, the other has an A mint mark and worth about 25% less than your 1818 with a D mint mark. Value depends on condition and runs from $25 for a decent example to $300 or more for an uncirculated one. Especially nice and bold unc. specimens command a premium over that.
The funf (five) mark is a 1-year type, but there are two variations. One has a portrait with a large beard and ranges from $40 to about $200 at the high end. The more rare variety does not have a beard, and ranges from $200+ up to well over $1,000.
There are also fakes known to exist, the reference weight for the thaler is 22.27 grams and the five mark is 27.77 grams. If there is wear on the coins, they may be a couple tenths of a gram lighter. A counterfeit will be several whole grams lighter or, on some occasions, slightly heavier.

I know that I'm not the expert you had originally posed this questions to, but it's been sent to the "question pool" and I had picked it up.

Thanks for the question and best of luck with your coins! =)