Bavaria 1802 thaler Dav-541
This specimen was lot 5321 in Künker sale 354 (Osnabrück, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €1,300 (about US$1,809 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BAYERN, HERZOGTUM, SEIT 1623 KURFÜRSTENTUM, Maximilian I. (IV.) Joseph, 1799-1806-1825. Konv.-Taler 1802. RR Feine Patina, min. justiert, sehr schön-vorzüglich. (Germany, electorate of Bavaria, Maximilian IV Joseph, 1799-1806, convention thaler of 1802. Very rare, fine patina, minor adjustments, very fine to extremely fine.)"
Maximilian IV Joseph succeeded to the electorate of Bavaria in 1799. Grovelling syncophancy towards Napoleon was rewarded with substantial territorial gain and the title of king in 1806. This thaler of 1802-03 is just about the last issued before Max's promotion. The very similar Dav-542 varies slightly in the obverse legend.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 28.06 g, 0.833 fine silver, this specimen 27.90 g.
Catalog reference: KM 657.2, AKS 5; Dav-541; Kahnt 52; Thun 34.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 354: Munzen und Medaillen aus Mittelalter und Neuzeit u. a. Braunschweig-Luneburg. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
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