Cologne 1631 thaler Dav-5167
This specimen was lot 31457 in Heritage sale 3067 (Long Beach, September 2018), where it sold for $1,140. The catalog description[1] noted, "German States: Cologne. Free City Taler 1631 AU Details (Rim Damage) NGC. A lovely argent offering with variegated char[c]oal, steel, and silver toning weaving together within and around the devices, which appear generally bold with only localized areas of weakness. The noted rim damage refers to a couple of test cuts, likely made aeons ago, which fortunately render the allure of this somewhat unique piece essentially unaffected." The archbishopric of Cologne, like Mainz and Trier, was an ecclesiastical state along the river Rhine whose ruler was one of the Electors of the Empire. However, he was expelled from the town of Cologne in the Middle Ages and resided elsewhere. This thaler was issued by the city and cites the emperor, not the archbishop. Close variations on this design were struck 1620-27 and 1636.
Recorded mintage: 11,000.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM 325.3, Dav-5167.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., German Church and City Talers, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1967.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2018 September 6-11 Long Beach Expo World Coins & Ancient Coins Signature Auction #3067, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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