Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel 1597 thaler Dav-9091
The first specimen was lot 958 in Jean Elsen sale 114 (Brussels, September 2012) where it sold for €180 (about US$278 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ALLEMAGNE, BRUNSWICK-WOLFENBÜTTEL, Heinrich Julius (1589-1613), AR Taler (Wahreitstaler), 1597, Goslar. Droit: Inscription en cinq lignes dans le champ. Revers: La Crucifixion. Sur le tour, onze écussons couronnés. Dans le champ: VERITAS/ VIN-CIT/ OM-NIA/ CALVM/NIA- MEN/DACIVM. Très Beau. (Germany, Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, Henry Julius (1589-1613), silver "truth" thaler of 1597, Goslar mint. Obverse: inscription in five lines in the field; reverse: the Crucifixion, eleven crowned shields around, In the field, 'VERITAS/ VIN-CIT/ OM-NIA/ CALVM/NIA- MEN/DACIVM', Truth defeats the slanderous lies. Very fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 1186 in Jean Elsen sale 116 (Brussels, March 2013), where it sold for €125 (about US$190 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"ALLEMAGNE, BRUNSWICK-WOLFENBÜTTEL, Heinrich Julius (1589-1613), AR Taler (Wahreitstaler), 1597, Goslar. Droit: Inscription en cinq lignes dans le champ. Revers: La Crucifixion. Sur le tour, onze écussons couronnés. Dans le champ: VERITAS/ VIN-CIT/ OM-NIA/ CALVM/NIA- MEN/DACIVM. Trace de monture. Beau à Très Beau (Germany, duchy of Brunswick-WolfenButtel, Henry Julius (1589-1613), silver thaler of 1597, Goslar mint. Obverse: five line inscription; reverse: the Crucifixion, eleven crowned shields around, 'VERITAS VIN-CIT OMNIA CALVMNIA MENDACIVM' (truth conquers all lies) inscribed in the field. Trace of mounting, fine to very fine.)"
This type was issued 1597-98 and is nicknamed the "Truth" thaler. The obverse motto, RECTE FACIENDO NEMINEM TIMEAS = "Do right and fear none". The plethora of thalers issued by the duke in the 1590's can be confusing to sort out. The issues of 1597 we list as follows:
- KM MB270/Dav-9090: "Lying", 1596-97
- KM MB271/Dav-9073: bust obverse, 1596-97
- KM MB272/Dav-9074: bust obverse, 1596-97
- KM MB274/Dav-9080: St. Andrew mine, 1596-98
- KM MB290/Dav-9091: "Truth", 1597-98 (shown here)
- KM MB291/Dav-9084: St. Andrew mine, 1597 only
- KM MB292/Dav-9085: St. Andrew mine, 1597-99
The "Lying" and "Truth" thalers were directed at his opponents in the Brunswick nobility who were giving him trouble.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the first specimen is 29,13 g, the second specimen is 28,78 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB290, Welter-629; Dav-9091.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- 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 114, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2012.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 116, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2013.
Link to:
- 1574 5 thaler
- 1596 "lying" thaler, date below angel
- 1596 "lying" thaler, date above angel
- 1597 "spectacles" quarter thaler
- 1597 half thaler, wild man reverse
- 1597 bust thaler
- (15)97 thaler, for the St. Andrew mine
- 1598 "truth" thaler
- (15)98 thaler, St. Andrew reverse
- 1598 "truth" thaler, "VERITAS VINCIT OMNIA/CALVMNIA MENDACTVM"
- Coins and currency dated 1597
- return to coinage of German States, Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel