Austria 1852-A 1/2 thaler
The first specimen was lot 2737 in Sincona sale 43 (Zürich, October 2017), where it sold for 550 CHF (about US$656 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916 Gulden 1852 A. Wien Die Blätter des Lorbeerkranzes zeigen auf AV. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (empire of Austria, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, gulden 1852, Vienna mint. of Very fine-extremely fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 2738 in Sincona sale 43 (Zürich, October 2017), where it sold for 800 CHF (about US$955 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916 Gulden 1852 A. Wien Die Blätter des Lorbeerkranzes zeigen auf VS. Vorzüglich. Kleiner Randfehler. (empire of Austria, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, gulden of 1852, Vienna mint. Extremely fine, Minor edge nick.)"
The half thaler, which had accompanied the thaler since the fifteenth century, was dropped in favor of the florin in 1857. Thalers were struck until 1868, to be superseded by the double florin. The kreuzer, formerly 120 to the thaler, was made 100 to the florin. This type was struck at Vienna and Kremnitz 1852-56 and all dates are rare. The varieties shown here are not mentioned in the SCWC.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 12.99 g, 0.900 fine silver, .375 troy oz ASW, 30 mm diameter, the first specimen 12.90 g, the second specimen 12.96 g.
Catalog reference: Jaeckel 295, Herinek 39, Veselý 6, KM 2227.
- Herinek, Gerhard, Austria Münzkatalog: Munzen ab 1745 und Banknoten ab 1759, 49. Auflage, Vienna: Christine Steyrer Verlag, 2022.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Veselý, Roman, Mince a medaile, 19. století, František II ab Karel I, Prague: Aurea Numismatika, 2020.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 43, Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2017.
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