Berg 1803-PR thaler Dav-622
This specimen was lot 961 in Jean Elsen sale 121 (Brussels, June 2014), where it sold for €170 (about US$272 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ALLEMAGNE, BERG, Maximilien Joseph de Bavière (1799-1806), AR Taler, 1803 PR. Beau à Très Beau. (Germany, duchy of Berg, Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria (1766-1806), silver thaler of 1803. Fine to very fine.)"
The provinces of Jülich, Berg, Cleve and Mark, surrounding the archbishopric of Cologne, were united by the La Marck family until their extinction in 1609. Cleve and Mark went to Prussia while Pfalz-Neuberg obtained Jülich and Berg. In 1794, the duchy of Jülich was occupied and annexed by revolutionary France and in 1806 Napoleon nabbed Berg for his brother-in-law Joachim Murat. In the years 1802-06, before that happened, Maximilian Joseph, elector of Bavaria, authorized his cousin William of Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen to strike coinage for the province. This type was struck by Maximilian 1802-05 and was accompanied by a half thaler, 3 stuber and half stuber.
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: 19.49 g, 0.750 fine silver, .469 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: J., 163; A.K.S., 1; KM-3, Dav-622.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 121, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2014.
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