Leuchtenberg 1524 batzen
This specimen was lot 589 in Künker Auction 424 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €220 (about US$312 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · LEUCHTENBERG, LANDGRAFSCHAFT Johann IV., 1487-1531. Batzen 1524, Pfreimd. Münzmeister Hans Schulmeister. Dreischenkliges Blumenkreuz, in den Winkeln die Wappenschilde von Hals / Pfreimd und Grünsfeld//Bindenschild von Leuchtenberg, darüber die Jahreszahl * I524 *. Fast vorzüglich. (Germany, landgraviate of Leuchtenberg, John IV, 1487-1531, batzen of 1524, Pfreimd mint. Obverse: Three-pronged floriate cross, in the angles the arms of Hals, Pfreimd and Grünsfeld; reverse: arms of Leuchtenberg, date above. About extremely fine.)"
The landgrave of Leuchtenberg was a considerable power in the Upper Palatinate in the Middle Ages but never succeeded in becoming a direct suffragan of the emperor. When the dynasty lapsed in 1646, the landgraviate was annexed to Bavaria, where it remains to this day. This type is listed for 1521-26 and 1532-33. The last batzen was struck in 1535. One thaler was fifteen batzen.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.34-3.65 g, silver or billon, 26-27 mm diameter; this specimen 3,38 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB17, Friedl 77 d.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 424: Münster, Osnabrück, and the Peace of Westphalia | The Fuggers, Leuchtenberg, and Passau | The Collection of a German Manufacturer and History Enthusiast, Part 3, e.g., Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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