Friedberg (1622-23)-R 1/2 thaler
This specimen was lot 256 in Sincona Auction 103 (Zürich, May 2026), where it sold for 2,750 CHF (about US$4,191 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHLAND Friedberg, Reichsburg. Conrad Löw zu Steinfurt 1617-1632. 1/2 Taler o. J. (1622/1623), Friedberg. Mit Titel Ferdinands II. Münzmeister Sebastian Reese. Äusserst selten. Sehr schön. Leicht justiert. (Germany, imperial city of Friedberg, undated half thaler, circa 1622-23, Friedberg mint, struck in the name of Ferdinand II. Extremely rare, Very Fine, Minor adjustment marks.)"
The free city of Friedberg evolved into a burgraviate and thence passed to Hesse-Darmstadt in 1802. All of its issues are rare. The mintmaster's initial "R" is directly to the left of the crown on the reverse.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 13.83 g.
Catalog reference: KM 30, Eichelmann 56, Lejeune 42.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Michael Hardmeier, Michael Otto, Arne Kirsch, Ruedi Kunzmann and Timur Demirai, SINCONA Auction 103: World and Swiss coins and medals, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2026.
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