Franconian Circle 1693-GFN 2/3 thaler
This specimen was lot 33851 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $396. The catalog description[1] noted, "German States: Franconian Circle. Anonymous 2/3 Taler (Gulden) 1693-GFN AU58 NGC, Nürnberg mint. Superb quality for this elusive one-year type from an already fleeting imperial-mandated district (Kreis) in central Germany. Lightly olive in color with a typically soft strike, and the first example we have seen approaching anything like Mint State." This one year type was accompanied by a one-third thaler (KM 20). The Franconian Circle was an informal currency union of several states directly north of Bavaria. We believe it included Bamberg, Schwarzenberg, Brandenburg-Bayreuth and Nurnberg, where this was minted.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, 37.4 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 21, Dav-518.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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