Basel 1741 1/2 thaler KM-146
This specimen was lot 1793 in Künker Auction 425 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €850 (about US$1,204 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"EUROPÄISCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · SCHWEIZ, BASEL Stadt. 1/2 Taler 1741. Vorzüglich. (Switzerland, canton of Basel, half thaler of 1741. Extremely fine.)"
The SCWC lists four different half thalers for 1741: KM 145 (shown here), KM 146 (basilisk facing left), KM 147 (basilisk facing right, wings up), KM 148 (basilisk facing right, wings down). They vary in the pose of the basilisk. Next issue of half thalers was in 1757. The basilisk is the badge of the city of Basel. The bishopric of Basel, which surrounded the town, also struck coins, mostly conventional portrait types. The city, however, struck a series of spectacular "city view" thalers, including Dav-1750. This type is accompanied by a very rare double thaler (Dav-1749).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.4-13.5 g, silver, 34-35 mm diameter, this specimen 13,62 g.
Catalog reference: KM 146, D./T. 755.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Richter, Jürg, and Ruedi Kunzmann, Neuer HMZ-Katalog, Band 2: Die Münzen der Schweiz und Liechtensteins 15//16. Jahrhundert bis Gegenwart, Regenstauf, Germany: H. Gietl Verlag GmbH, 2006.
- Winterstein, Christian, Die Taler Von Basel, Basel: Schweizerischer Bankverein Basel, 1983.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 425: Gold coins from the Medieval and Modern Times, from the Mohr family collection, e.g. | Silver coins, e.g. highlights of medallic art | German coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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