Austria 1853-A 1/2 thaler
This specimen was lot 2739 in Sincona sale 43 (Zürich, October 2017), where it sold for 1,200 CHF (about US$1,432 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916 Gulden 1853 A. Wien. Gutes vorzüglich. (empire of Austria, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, gulden of 1853, Vienna mint. Good extremely fine.)"
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 Thalers were struck until 1868, to be superseded by the double florin.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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 12.99 g, 0.900 fine silver, .375 troy oz ASW, 30 mm diameter, this specimen 12.98 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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