Brandenburg 1634 thaler Dav-6141
This specimen was lot 902 in Jean Elsen sale 165 (Brussels, June 2026), where it sold for €1,000 (about US$1,377 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ALLEMAGNE, BRANDEBOURG-PRUSSE, Georg Wilhelm (1619-1640), AR Taler, 1634, Königsberg. D/ B. cuirassé à d., ten. un sceptre sur l'épaule et son heaume. R/ Grand écu sous sept heaumes. Légère faiblesse de frappe. Voir l'agrandissement en couverture. Très Beau à Superbe. (Germany, electorate of Brandenburg, George William, 1619-40, silver thaler of 1634, Königsberg mint. Obverse: armored bust right, holding a scepter and a helmet; reverse: seven helmeted arms. Slightly weakly struck, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
This type of 1627-35 is rare and expensive even by the standard of this state, whose thalers prior to Frederick the Great are generally rare. A half thaler (KM 124.1) also exists. George William spent most of his reign in Königsberg in Prussia, where this coin was made. His subjects, left to the mercies of the pillaging armies of the Thirty Years War, were likely not grateful.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28,48 g.
Catalog reference: KM 125, Olding 17a; Neumann 33; Dav-6141.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., German Secular Talers, 1600-1700, Frankfurt: Numismatischer Verlag, 1976.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 165, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.
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