Hesse-Cassel 1653 thaler Dav-6781
This specimen was lot 281 in Sincona Auction 103 (Zürich, May 2026), where it sold for 5,000 CHF (about US$7,620 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHLAND Hessen-Kassel, Landgrafschaft, Wilhelm VI. 1637-1663, bis 1650 unter Vormundschaft seiner Mutter Amalie Elisabeth von Hanau-Münzenberg. Taler 1653, Kassel. Schiffstaler. Münzmeister Arnold Galle. Sehr selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (Germany, landgraviate of Hesse-Cassel, William VI, 1637-63, until 1650 under the regency of his mother Amalia Elisabeth, "ship" thaler of 1653, Cassel mint. Very rare, Very Fine-Extremely Fine.)"
This and several closely related "ship" thalers (KM 232.3/Dav-6781A and KM 232.4/Dav-6783) were struck 1652-55. The legend, "VELA VENTIS HIS LEVANTUR" translates as, "These sails are raised by the winds", i.e., all is going well. We don't know the exact cause of this issue but any prince surviving the Thirty Years War could feel cause for optimism. Unfortunately, Wilhelm's period of sole rule was cut short by his death in 1663, aged 34 years.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28.40 g.
Catalog reference: KM 232.2, Müller 2214b, Dav-6781.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, Michael Hardmeier, Michael Otto, Arne Kirsch, Ruedi Kunzmann and Timur Demirai, SINCONA Auction 103: World and Swiss coins and medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2026.
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