Brandenburg-Franconia 1603 1/8 thaler
This specimen was lot 4973 in Künker sale 386 (Osnabrück, March 2023), where it sold for €1,800 (about US$2,326 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRANDENBURG IN FRANKEN, MARKGRAFSCHAFT, Georg Friedrich, 1557-1603. 1/8 Reichstaler 1603, Nürnberg, auf seinen Tod am 5. Mai. Münzmeister Paul Dietherr von Anwanden. v. Schr. 1321; Slg. Grüber (Auktion Künker 267) 3439. Sehr selten, besonders in dieser Erhaltung. Hübsche Patina, vorzüglich. (margraviate of Brandenburg in Franconia, George Frederick, 1557-1603, one eighth thaler of 1603, Nuremberg mint, on his death on May 5. Very scarce especially in this condition, handsome patina, extremely fine.)"
Brandenburg in Franconia was divided into Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Bayreuth in 1603 on Georg's death. The two margraviates remained separate until 1769. Another branch of the Hohenzollerns ruled in Brandenburg proper and later became kings of Prussia. This rare commemorative accompanied a quarter, half, single (Dav-6224) and double thalers (Dav-6223).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 3,60 g.
Catalog reference: KM 5.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 386: Brakteaten | Mainz | Bibliothek Prof. Dr. Niklot Klüßendorf | Mittelalter und Neuzeit | Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2023.
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