Bamberg 1696-GFN thaler Dav-5066
This specimen was lot 30842 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $960. The catalog description[1] noted, "Bamberg. Lothar Franz von Schönborn Taler 1696-GFN XF40 NGC, Nürnberg mint. A rather deeply toned crown, exhibiting some light, even wear from minor circulation, but lacks any real distracting marks. A thoroughly pleasing and original piece, and the first of this type which we have offered." The second specimen was lot 4773 in Künker sale 386 (Osnabrück, March 2023), where it sold for €1,000 (about US$1,292 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"MAINZ, ERZBISTUM, Lothar Franz von Schönborn, 1695-1729. Reichstaler 1696, Nürnberg, für Bamberg. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (archbishopric of Mainz, Lothar Francis of Schönborn, 1695-1729, thaler of 1696, Nuremberg mint, for Bamberg. Very fine to extremely fine.)"
Lothar Francis was also archbishop of Mainz 1695-1729 and issued coins there as well. Two other bishops of Bamberg were also bishops of Würzburg, examples of the problem of plurality of benefices which beset the German Church at the time.
Recorded mintage: 53,000 (including 1696-GFN, shown here, 1696-CB and Dav-5067 of 1697).
Specification: silver, the second specimen 29,06 g.
Catalog reference: KM 89, Slg. Walther 485; Krug 368 a; Dav-5066; Slg. Pick 622.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Davenport, John S., German Church and City Talers, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1967.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
- [2]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 386: Brakteaten | Mainz | Bibliothek Prof. Dr. Niklot Klüßendorf | Mittelalter und Neuzeit | Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2023.
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