Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel 1662-HS thaler Dav-6341
This specimen was lot 55471 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $504. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Brunswick-Luneburg: Brunswick. 'Houseboy' Taler, 1662-HS. Zellerfeld Mint. August 'the Younger'. PCGS EF-45. From the Robert C. Knepper Collection." This type was struck 1653-65 and is among the more common thalers of the period. This specimen seems to be a product of the Goslar mint; HS are the initials of mintmaster Henning Schlueter. The "houseboy" thaler acquired its nickname because the wild man appears to be dusting his forest with a broom. The "wild man" design was popular in Brunswick and Hannover at the time and appeared on many different thalers and minors. Duke August II ruled 1634-66.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: Dav-6341; KM-442.1; Welter-822.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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