Kempten 1694 thaler Dav-5424
This specimen was lot 291 in Sincona Auction 103 (Zürich, May 2026), where it sold for 3,000 CHF (about US$4,572 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHLAND Kempten, Abtei, Rupert II. von Bodman, 1678-1728. Taler 1694, Augsburg. Münzmeister J.C. Holeisen. Stempelschneider P.H. Müller. Sehr selten. Gutes vorzüglich. Herrliche Patina. (Germany, abbey of Kempten, Rupert II, 1678-1728, thaler of 1694, Augsburg mint. Very rare, About Uncirculated, Most attractively toned.)"
The abbey of Kempten surrounded but did not include the free city of Kempten, which was Protestant. Künker[2] commented, "During the Thirty Years' War the Abbey of Kempten was completely destroyed. Only at the end of the 17th century, under the reign of Abbot Rupert II. Von Bodman, did the abbey gradually recover. The abbot had in 1692, 1693 and 1695 in Augsburg ducats coined on which is depicted the patroness of the abbey of Kempten, St. Hildegard. She was the second wife of Charlemagne, to whom she bore nine children, including Louis the Pious. Hildegard is considered the founder of the Abbey of Kempten and patroness of the monasteries of Reichenau and Ottobeuren."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 29.13 g.
Catalog reference: KM 32, Haertle 215, Forster 431, Dav-5424.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., German Church and City Talers, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1967.
- [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.
- [2]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 264, Gold coins | Russian Coins and Medals | German Coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2015
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