Bavaria 1865 2 thaler Dav-610
This specimen was lot 219 in Künker sale 293 (Osnabrück, Germany, July 2017), where it sold for €15,000 (about US$20,218 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Ludwig II. 1864-1886. Doppelter Vereinstaler 1865. RR Prachtexemplar von polierten Stempeln. Nur 2.490 Exemplare geprägt. Vorzüglich-Stempelglanz. (kingdom of Bavaria, Louis II, 1864-86, double union thaler of 1865. Rare, proof example on polished planchet. Only 2,490 examples struck. Extremely fine to uncirculated.)"
This, the sole double thaler of Ludwig II, was issued 1865, 1867 and 1869 in small numbers and is today rare. King Ludwig II ruled until 1886, when he was deposed in favor of his brother. Disliked for his extravagance and his homosexuality, he died soon after under very mysterious circumstances.
Recorded mintage: 2,490.
Specification: 37.12 g, 0.900 fine silver, 1.074 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: AKS 172; Kahnt 133; Thun 101, Dav-610, KM 888.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Katalog 293: Münzen aus Mittelalter und Neuzeit u. a. die westfälischen Privatsammlungen Werner Bröker und Bernd Terletzki, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2017.
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