Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel 1601 1/2 thaler KM-6
This specimen was lot 73642 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2023), where it sold for $80. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Brunswick-Luneburg: Wolfenbuttel. 1/2 Taler, 1601. Zellerfeld or Goslar Mint; mm: crowned heart. Heinrich Julius. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, VF Details. Argent surfaces with ample sable toning. A solid example of the type; the noted cleaning is not distracting and the wear is moderate and even. An early example of the Wild Man type. From the Robert C. Knepper Collection." This specimen seems to be a product of the Zellerfeld mint which was operated by mintmaster Heinrich Oeckeler who also worked at the Goslar mint. This type is recorded for both mints. It was issued 1600-04 and is fairly common. It was accompanied by KM 10 (a klippe) and KM 9 (St. Andrew reverse). The "wild man" design was popular in Brunswick and Hannover at the time and appeared on many different thalers and minors.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM-6; Welter-655; Fiala-641.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, November 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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