Friedland 1629-IZ 1/2 thaler
This specimen was lot 1764 in Sincona sale 76 (Zürich, May 2022), where it sold for 85,000 CHF (about US$103,173 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"CZECHYA | Wallenstein. Albrecht von Wallenstein, 1623-1634. 1/2 Taler 1629, Sagan. Prägung als Herzog von Friedland und Sagan mit erweiterter Titulatur SACRI ROMANI IMPERII PRINCEPS. Mit der Signatur IZ (Johann Ziesler, Münzpächter in Sagan 1628, gemeinsam mit Hans Heinrich Jacob, Münzmeister in Sagan 1629-1631). Von grösster Seltenheit. Vorzüglich-FDC. UNC Details. Minimal gereinigt. (Bohemia, duchy of Friedland, Albrecht von Wallenstein, 1623-1634, half thaler of 1629, Sagan mint, struck with his title of duke of Friedland and Sagan and prince of the Empire. Of the highest rarity, Extremely fine-uncirculated, Lightly cleaned.)"
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. After Wallenstein's death, the duchy subsided into insignificance and no more coins were issued. This coin is listed in the SCWC as a gulden but, based on the weight, is actually a half thaler. Other half thalers exist for 1629 (KM 33, KM 40).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14.36 g, silver, this specimen 14.33 g.
Catalog reference: KM 38, Poley 154. Meyer 208. Nohejlová-Prátová S. 50.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 76, The Annemarie and Gerd Köhlmoos Collection, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
Link to: