Bavaria 1740 1/2 thaler
This specimen was lot 3503 in Künker sale 335 (Osnabrück, Germany, March 2020), where it sold for €320 (about US$419 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BAYERN, HERZOGTUM, SEIT 1623 KURFÜRSTENTUM, SEIT 1806 KÖNIGREICH: Karl Albert, 1726-1745. 1/2 Reichstaler 1740, Mannheim, auf das Vikariat. Gemeinschaftsprägung mit Karl Philipp, Kurfürst von der Pfalz. Sehr schön. (Germany, electorate of Bavaria, Charles Albert, 1726-45, half thaler of 1740, Munich mint, for the Vicariat. Joint issue with Charles Philip, elector of the Palatinate. Very fine.)"
This half thaler was issued for Karl Albrecht's term as vicar of the empire, during which he ill-advisedly attempted to seize the imperial throne for himself. On his death in 1745, the crown was awarded to Francis of Lorraine, husband of Maria Theresia of Austria. This is the only half thaler of the reign.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, 35 mm diameter, this specimen 14,50 g.
Catalog reference: KM 448, Haas 30; Hahn 271; Slg. Memmesh. 2426.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 335: Bracteates from Upper Swabia and the area of the Lake Constance | Coins and Medals from Medieval and Modern Times, a. o. the Dr. Karl Walter Bach Collection of coins of the Austrian nobility, Special collections of Bavaria, Lubeck, Wurttemberg as well as siege coins from the Eberhard Link Collection. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2020.
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