Halberstadt 1622 thaler Dav-6320
The bishopric of Halberstadt was founded in the early ninth century. In 1479, a Saxon prince, greedy for the see's revenues, pushed out the reigning bishop and appointed his teenage son as administrator. No bishop was anointed to succeed him and the diocese was ruled by administrators thru the Reformation, which arrived in 1540. Various princes of the Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel family ruled 1566-1623, of which Christian was the last. The next administrator was a prince of the Hohenzollern family and the bishopric was annexed to Brandenburg by the terms of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. It remained a part of Prussia until the end of the Wilhelmine empire. This specimen was lot 23862 in Heritage sale 3020 (Long Beach, September 2012), where it sold for $1,057.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Christian of Halberstadt Taler 1622, XF details, reverse scratched NGC, actually just minimal, unobtrusive marks. Known in Germany as a "Pfaffenfeind Taler". Christian was a Protestant leader in the Thirty Years War and a staunch supporter of his cause. This coin bears tribute to his devoutness. This Taler is well struck and with a fascinating, unique design. Wrongly listed as 'Halberstadt' by NGC on the holder. A great opportunity for the Taler collector. From The J.G. Collection." We dispute Heritage's listing under Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel; this is a Halberstadt issue. The bishop, Christian, was from Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel but never ruled as duke there. Numerous other thalers are recorded for 1622, including Dav-6230A, Dav-6322 and Dav-6323. We also note a double ducat with this design (Fr-635).
The second specimen was lot 476 in Künker sale 293 (Osnabrück, Germany, July 2017), where it sold for €2,000 (about US$2,696 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"BRAUNSCHWEIG-WOLFENBÜTTEL, HERZOGTUM Christian, Bischof von Halberstadt, 1617-1626. Reichstaler 1622, Lippstadt. Pfaffenfeindtaler. Attraktives, sehr schönes Exemplar mit feiner Patina. Exemplar der Slg. Bernhard Terletzki. Exemplar der Auktion Winter 29, Düsseldorf 1975, Nr. 271. Die Pfaffenfeindtaler, die auf ihrer Rückseite das Motto "Tout avec dieu" (= "Alles mit Gott") tragen, werden auch "Gottesfreundtaler" genannt. Sie wurden im Jahre 1622 auf Veranlassung des Herzogs Christian von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (1599-1626), der unter der Bezeichnung "der tolle Christian" bekannt geworden ist, in Lippstadt aus dem Kirchensilber geprägt, das Christian in Paderborn bei Plünderung des Domschatzes erbeutet hatte. (Germany, duchy of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel, Christian, bishop of Halberstadt, 1617-26, thaler of 1622. Lippstadt mint. Very fine example with fine patina. This thaler, also known as the "God's friend thaler," was struck in Lippstadt in 1622 by order of the duke-bishop from silver plundered from the cathedral of Paderborn.)"
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: Dav-6320, Dethlefs 2/I; Welter 1381, KM 26 (listed under Halberstadt).
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., German Secular Talers, 1600-1700, Frankfurt: Numismatischer Verlag, 1976.
- [1]Tucker, Warren, and Cris Bierrenbach, Heritage Signature Auction 3020: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
- [2]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Katalog 293: Münzen aus Mittelalter und Neuzeit u. a. die westfälischen Privatsammlungen Werner Bröker und Bernd Terletzki, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2017.
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