Hanau-Lichtenberg 1609 teston
The first specimen was lot 1459 in Jean Elsen sale 113 (Brussels, June 2012) where it sold for €500 (about US$748 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, HANAU-LICHTENBERG, Johann Reinhard Ier (1599-1623), AR teston, 1609, Woerth-sur-Sauer. Droit : B. cuirassé à droite. Revers : Ecu sous la date. Belle patine. Superbe. (Germany, County of Hanau-Lichtenberg, John Richard I, 1599-1623, silver teston of 1609, Woerth-sur-Sauer mint. Obverse: armored bust to right; reverse: shield below the date. Nice patina, extremely fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 33859 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $660. The catalog description[2] noted, "German States: Hanau-Lichtenberg. Johann Reinhard I Teston 1609 MS61 NGC, Wurth-sur-Sauer mint. The single certified example of this elusive type in higher grades at NGC, demonstrating a nearly flawless strike with much luster." This type was struck 1601-21 and was equal to 24 kreuzer. It is not rare but rarely comes so nice. We have filed it under Hesse-Darmstadt as that state absorbed the county on the extinction of the ruling family in 1785.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the first specimen 7,83 g; the second specimen 8.19 g.
Catalog reference: B., 1402; Engel-Lehr, 59, KM 6.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 113, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2012.
- [2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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