Austria 1856-A thaler Dav-17
This specimen was lot 2057 in SINCONA Auction 97 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 550 CHF (about US$798 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RDR / ÖSTERREICH, Franz Joseph I. 1848-1916. Konventionstaler 1856 A, Wien. Fast FDC. Winzige Randfehler. (empire of Austria, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, convention thaler of 1856, Vienna mint. About Mint State, Tiny edge flaws.)"
This type was struck at Vienna (shown here) and Kremnitz (mintmark "B") in 1853-56. It is the last full weight thaler. Subsequent thalers were struck to the vereinsthaler standard (18.52 g, 0.900 fine). After 1867, Bismarck forced Austria out of German affairs and the Hapsburgs thereafter had little reason to conform to German monetary conventions. The thaler was dropped after 1868 and in 1892 the corona was adopted.
Recorded mintage: unknown but not rare.
Specification: 25.99 g, 0.900 fine silver, 38 mm diameter, this specimen 25.92 g.
Catalog reference: KM 2243, Herinek 428. Kahnt 350. Dav-17.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- 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.
- [1]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 97: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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