Leuchtenberg 1547 thaler KM-MB37
This specimen was lot 606 in Künker Auction 424 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €12,000 (about US$16,992 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · LEUCHTENBERG, LANDGRAFSCHAFT Georg III., 1531-1555. Dicktaler 1547, Pfreimd, mit Titel Karls V. Geprägt mit den Stempeln des Halbtalers. Münzmeister Anthonius Koburger. Ohne Münzzeichen. St. Georg mit Schild und Fahne steht v. v., unten der lebende Drache//Gekrönter Doppeladler mit Kopfscheinen, auf der Brust zweifeldiges Wappen (Österreich/Burgund). Von größter Seltenheit. Herrliche Patina, winz. Sammlerpunze im Rand, vorzüglich. Exemplar der Auktion Lanz XI, Graz 1978, Nr. 605 ("aus Raritäten-Cabinet II, Nr. 412"). (Germany, landgraviate of Leuchtenberg, George III, 1531-55, thick thaler of 1547, Pfreimd mint, struck in the name of Charles V using half thaler dies. Obverse: St. George stands, holding a shield and flag from the front, below, the living dragon; reverse: crowned and nimbate double-headed eagle supports the impaled arms of Austria and Burgundy. Extremely rare, superb patina, punch mark on the edge, 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. Georg III issued a series of thalers (Dav-9367 thru Dav-9372) during 1541-53. All are scarce and this type very rare. We don't know why the minters resorted to using half thaler dies when regular single thalers were struck in 1547.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 28.09-28.61 g, silver, 35 mm diameter; this specimen 28,97 g.
Catalog reference: KM-MB37, Friedl 115.
- 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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