Brunswick-Luneburg-Celle 1636-HS thaler Dav-5738
The first specimen was lot 5589 in Künker sale 354 (Osnabrück, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €5,500 (about US$7,654 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRAUNSCHWEIG UND LÜNEBURG, BRAUNSCHWEIG-LÜNEBURG, FÜRSTENTUM, August der Ältere, 1633-1636, seit 1610 Bischof von Ratzeburg. Reichstaler 1636, Clausthal, auf seinen Tod am 1. Oktober. Von größter Seltenheit. Sehr schön. Aus der Sammlung eines Ingenieurs. Exemplar der Auktion UBS 79, Zürich 2008, Nr. 2756. (Germany, duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg-Celle, Augustus the Elder, 1633-36, bishop of Ratzeburg since 1610, thaler of 1636, Clausthal mint, on his death on October 1. Extremely rare, very fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 5590 in Künker sale 354 (Osnabrück, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €2,400 (about US$3,340 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRAUNSCHWEIG UND LÜNEBURG, BRAUNSCHWEIG-LÜNEBURG, FÜRSTENTUM, August der Ältere, 1633-1636, seit 1610 Bischof von Ratzeburg. Reichstaler 1636, Clausthal, auf seinen Tod am 1. Oktober. Sehr selten in dieser Erhaltung. Herrliche Patina, vorzüglich. Aus der Sammlung eines Ingenieurs. Exemplar der Slg. Dr. Werner Koch, Teil 1, Auktion Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 273, Frankfurt/Main 1970, Nr. 570 und der Slg. Friedrich Popken, Auktion Fritz Rudolf Künker 57, Osnabrück 2000, Nr. 295. (Germany, duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg-Celle, Augustus the Elder, 1633-36, bishop of Ratzeburg since 1610, thaler of 1636, Clausthal mint, on his death on October 1. Very scarce in this quality, superb patina, extremely fine.)"
August spent most of his career as Lutheran bishop of Ratzeburg and only became duke in 1633, three years before his death, which is commemorated here. This type, one of a series, is rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the first specimen 28,84 g, the second specimen 28,91 g.
Catalog reference: KM 135, Dav-B 5738 (listed under Ratzeburg); the first specimen Welter 887, the second specimen Welter 888 (this example).
- 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]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 354: Munzen und Medaillen aus Mittelalter und Neuzeit u. a. Braunschweig-Luneburg. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
Link to:
- 1628-HS quarter thaler, death of the duke's brother
- 1628-HS thaler, death of the duke's brother
- 1629-HP goldgulden
- 1632-HS ⅛ thaler, death of the duke's brother Magnus
- 1632-HS thaler, death of the duke's brother Magnus
- 1636-HS ⅛ thaler, death of August
- 1636-HS quarter thaler, death of August
- 1636-HS half thaler, death of August
- 1636-HS thaler, right facing wild man
- 1636-HS thaler, left facing wild man
- 1636-HS thaler, wildman reverse
- 1636-HS thaler, three dukes
- 1637-HS thaler, bust obverse
- Coins and currency dated 1636