Bavaria 1866 thaler Dav-609
This specimen was lot 3714 in Sincona sale 9 (Zürich, October 2012), where it sold for 80 CHF (about US$101 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHLAND Bayern, Königreich Ludwig II. 1864-1886. Vereinstaler 1866. Vorzüglich. (Kingdom of Bavaria, Louis II, 1864-86, union thaler of 1866, extremely fine.)"
This thaler was issued 1864-66 in substantial quantities but is scarce compared to the Madonna thalers issued at the same time (Dav-611). Another variety of this thaler exists with no part in the king's hair (Dav-612). Bavaria continued to issue coins using the united empire standard in the denominations of 2, 5, 10 and 20 mark until 1918 when the empire collapsed at the end of World War One. The old thalers continued to circulate as three mark pieces. 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: 1,075,000.
Specification: 18.52 g, 0.900 fine silver, this specimen 18.52 g.
Catalog reference: Kahnt 127, Thun 102, Dav-609, KM 869 (formerly KM 481).
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- 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]Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 9, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2012.
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