Friedland 1626 thaler Dav-3438A
This specimen was lot 1951 in Sincona sale 90 (Zürich, May 2024), where it sold for 15,000 CHF (about US$19,821 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"TSCHECHIEN, Böhmen, Albrecht von Wallenstein, 1623-1634. Taler 1626, Jitschin. Prägung als Herzog von Friedland mit dem Wahlspruch "DOMINVS PROTECTOR MEVS". Münzmeister Georg Reick (Sonne). Stempelschneider war ein namentlich unbekannter aus Mähren. Sehr selten. NGC XF Details. Etwas bearbeitet. Exemplar der Auktion Münzen und Medaillen AG 50, Basel, Februar/März 1975, Los 409. (Bohemia, duchy of Friedland, Albrecht von Wallenstein, 1623-1634, thaler of 1626, Jitschin mint, struck with the title of duke of Friedland. Very rare, Slightly tooled.)"
Wallenstein was born into the minor Protestant nobility of Bohemia but converted to Catholicism while attending university in Italy. Seeking glory, he pursued a military career and eventually became the commander of the imperial troops during the Thirty Years War. His successes against the Protestants aroused the suspicion of the emperor and he was dismissed in 1630. He retired to his duchy of Friedland in northern Bohemia. Imperial defeats at the hands of Gustavus Adolphus forced the emperor to recall him but distrust of his loyalty remained. He was assassinated by his officers with the emperor's connivance in 1634. He issued thalers 1626-33, all rare. This "small crown" thaler was struck 1626 only. After Wallenstein's death, the duchy subsided into insignificance and no more coins were issued.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28.89 g.
Catalog reference: KM 9, Poley 5 (this example), Meyer 3, Dav-3438A.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 90, Münzen und Medaillen der Welt, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
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