Bohemia 1629 2 thaler Dav-LS289

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Heritage sale 3096, lot 30134
H3096-30134r.jpg

This specimen was lot 30134 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $40,800. The catalog description[1] noted,

"Bohemia. Ferdinand III Medallic 2 Taler 1629 AU Details (Obverse Scratched) NGC, Prague mint, By Donatus Starckh. One of the indisputable masterpieces of Baroque engraving, the so-called multiple talers and multiple ducats of 1629 are among the most gratifying emissions of the Habsburg series. Though often referred to under the misnomer that these were presentation pieces minted for Ferdinand's coronation as King of Bohemia in 1627 (first articulated by Edward Fiala in his catalog of the Donebauer Collection), Macho & Chalpovic have recently pointed out that this issue, more likely a medal, instead celebrates the Archduke's recovery from smallpox. While not much seems to be written on the subject, it is well known that repeated intermarriage within the royal family led to numerous members of the House of Habsburg contracting the disease, which in many cases led to their deaths. Accordingly, that such a broad and imposing piece would have been produced to commemorate the recovery of the leading Catholic Monarch in Europe in the middle of the Thirty Years' War is hardly surprising. From a visual perspective, while the noted obverse scratches are indeed unfortunate, these are in fact a relatively minor fault to find for the type, as most examples have been mounted, tooled, or encountered (often poorly) gilt. As such, this nearly uncirculated survivor is a true outlier. From the Paramount Collection."

This rare issue accompanied a triple thaler (Dav-LS288).

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver, this specimen 57.93 g.

Catalog reference: KM-Unl., Dav-LS289, cf. Horsky-1966 (4 Taler), Julius-Unl., Herinek-91, Donebauer-2353, Dietiker-Unl.

Source:

  • Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
  • Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
  • Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
  • [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.

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