Brandenburg-Bayreuth 1550 thaler Dav-8969
This specimen was lot 901 in Jean Elsen sale 165 (Brussels, June 2026), where it sold for €400 (about US$551 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ALLEMAGNE, BRANDEBOURG-FRANCONIE, Albrecht der Jüngere (1527-1554), Ar Taler, 1550. D/ B. cuir. à g., ten. une masse d'armes tournée vers le bas et le pommeau de son épée. R/ Croix ornée avec l'écusson de Brandebourg en coeur, cantonnée des écus de Silésie, Poméranie, Zollern et Nuremberg. Très Beau. (Germany, margraviate of Brandenburg-Franconia, Albert the Younger, 1527-54, silver thaler of 1550. Obverse: armored bust left, holding a tournament mace and the pommel of a sword; reverse: ornate cross with the arms of Brandenburg at the center, cantonned with the arms of Silesia, Pomerania, Zollern and Nuremberg. Very Fine.)"
This type of 1548-50 and 1553 joins Dav-8967 in being the only available thalers from this locale in the sixteenth century. Albrecht der Jüngere is better known as Albert Alcibiades, margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach from the age of five. He was a mercenary soldier who switched sides more often than usual and died in France at the age of 34.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28,35 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB37, von Schrötter 754; Schulten 222; Dav-8969.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1500-1600, Frankfurt am Main, Numismatischer Verlag P. N. Schulten, 1979.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 165, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.
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