Furstenberg 1767-ARW 3 thaler Dav-LS277
The first specimen was lot 30243 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $24,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Ex. Brand Furstenberg Mining 3 Taler. German States: Fürstenberg-Stuhlingen. Josef Wenzel "Mining" 3 Taler 1767-ARW MS61+ NGC, Stuttgart mint. By Adam Rudolph Werner. Struck to celebrate the yield of the St. Wenceslaus mine near Wolfach. A series which always inspires interest among German collectors, the talers and taler multiples with mining themes belong to a class all their own. In many cases, however, their popularity has left many examples carelessly handled or with obvious wear. Certainly one of the lesser-encountered entries of this genre, this imposing 3 Taler of Für[st]enberg almost certainly ranks alongside the finest known survivors of the issue. Bathed in a playful iridescence that can only be the consequence of long-time and careful cabinet storage, this coin instantly captivates. Its surfaces show only trace amounts of cabinet friction, while a few hairline adjustments are noted to the right of St. Wenceslaus. The only certified piece, examples of the issue are known to rapidly escalate in rarity as they approach uncirculated condition, with the Hohenkubin piece, the next finest we have been able to locate, bringing 40,000 Euros in February 2014. Ex. UBS Gold & Numismatics Auction 55 (September 2002, Lot 2595); Virgil Brand Collection (Hans Schulman New York Auction, March 1964, Lot 1832). From the Paramount Collection."
The second specimen was lot 128 in Künker sale 400 (Berlin, February 2024), where it sold for €12,000 (about US$15,568 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"FÜRSTENBERG, FÜRSTENTUM, Joseph Wenzel, 1762-1783. Dreifacher Konv.-Taler 1767, Stuttgart. Ausbeute der Grube St. Wenzeslaus bei Wolfach. IOSEPHVS WENCESLAVS · S · R · I · PRINCEPS · DE FURSTENBERG . Geharnischtes Brustbild r. mit umgelegtem Mantel, am Armabschnitt die Signatur A · R · W · (Adam Rudolph Werner, Stempelschneider in Stuttgart 1742-1784)//SYDERA FAVENT INDVSTRIA · Bergwerkslandschaft mit Stollenmundloch, Haspel und verschiedenen Häusern, im Vordergrund r. steht der gekrönte und geharnischte St. Wenzel mit umgelegtem Mantel, die Rechte auf das Fürstenberger Wappen gelegt, im Abschnitt in vier Zeilen DIE GRUB S . WENCESLAUS :· / BEY WOLFFACH KAME IN AUS / BEUT IM QUARTAL REMI- / NISCERE, darunter Jahreszahl in Verzierung. RR Hübsche Patina, fast vorzüglich. (Germany, principality of Furstenberg, Joseph Wenzel, 1762-83, triple convention thaler of 1767, Stuttgart mint, for the St. Wenceslas mines near Wolfach. Obverse: armored and mantled bust right, initials below; reverse: mining landscape with tunnel portal and houses; to the right, the armored, crowned and mantled St. Wenceslas stands with his hand on the Furstenberg arms, the date below. Very rare, handsome patina, about extremely fine.)"
The prince also issued a thaler (KM 16/17) and quadruple thaler (KM 19) on this occasion. The principality was mediatized by Napoleon in 1804. The SCWC attributes this issue to the Stuhlingen branch of the family.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 87.67 g.
Catalog reference: KM 18, Dav-LS277, Dollinger-32, Müseler-19/10, Preussag Collection-340.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1965.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
- [2]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 400: Selected löser of the Dukes of Guelph from the Friedrich Popken Collection | Numismatic treasures from the Medieval and Modern Times, a. o. "multiple portraits" from a Westphalian private collection, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2024.
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