Magdeburg (15)90-BM 1/2 thaler
This specimen was lot 998 in Künker sale 293 (Osnabrück, Germany, July 2017), where it sold for €1,350 (about US$1,820 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"MAGDEBURG, ERZBISTUM, Joachim Friedrich von Brandenburg, 1566-1598. 1/2 Reichstaler 1590, Halle. Von großer Seltenheit. Min. Belagreste, winz. Randfehler, attraktives, fast vorzügliches Exemplar. Exemplar der Auktion Kurpfälzische Münzhandlung 43, Mannheim 1992, Nr. 585. (Germany, archbishopric of Magdeburg, Joachim Frederick of Brandenburg, 1566-98, half thaler of 1590, Halle mint. Very rare, some stains and edge defects, about extremely fine.)"
By the second half of the sixteenth century, the archbishopric of Magdeburg was completely converted to Lutheranism yet the ecclesiastical state was not abolished. Instead, it became a puppet state of the elector of Brandenburg, who either appointed himself or one of his close relatives archbishop. Brandenburg annexed it outright in 1680. This scarce type was struck 1582-85, 1588-92, all with two digit dates.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM MB111, v. Schr. 294.
- 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 Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Katalog 293: Münzen aus Mittelalter und Neuzeit u. a. die westfälischen Privatsammlungen Werner Bröker und Bernd Terletzki, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2017.
Link to:
- 1573 half thaler
- 1580-DS thaler
- 1591 thaler
- Coins and currency dated 1590
- return to coins of Magdeburg