Erfurt 1633 2 thaler Dav-LS274
This specimen was lot 1154 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $6,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Pomerania-Wolgast. Swedish Occupation. 2 Talers, 1633. Gustav II Adolf. NGC AU-50. This large size issue was struck at the death of Gustav II (The Great), as commemorative pieces were given as gifts to dignitaries along the route of the funeral procession. The German state of Wolgast was occupied by Sweden during the Thirty Years' War and remained a dominion of Sweden until 1815. This generous sized issue is well struck and bears an exceptionally stunning design featuring the deceased ruler on the battlefield being carried off to heaven. Deep cabinet toning covers the surfaces that bear only light evidence of rub on the higher elements of the design. Likely to have been treasured since its issuance, this piece rises far beyond the normal issue in design and beauty." The dramatic death of the Swedish king and savior of the Protestant cause in the Thirty Years War spawned many medallic tributes, including a single thaler (Dav-5270 = KM 70), double thaler (shown here), triple thaler (Dav-5271B = LS273 = KM 79) and quadruple thaler (Dav-5271C = LS272 = KM 80). Altho traditionally ascribed to the city of Erfurt, Swedish headquarters during the war, numismatic researchers now favor Wolgast in Pomerania, as the king's body was prepared for transportation back to Sweden.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, 59.7 g; this specimen 57.38 g.
Catalog reference: KM 78 (listed under Erfurt); Ahlström-12, Dav-5271A, Dav-LS274 (listed under Erfurt); KM-211.
- Bjorne Ahlstrom, Yngve Almer and Bengt Hemmingson, Sveriges Mynt, 1521-1977, the Coinage of Sweden. Stockholm: Numismatika Bokforlaget AB, 1976.
- 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, The 2022 NYINC Sale: World and Ancient Coins, featuring the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection and the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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