Mainz 1627-AE thaler Dav-5540
This specimen was lot 4868 in Künker sale 386 (Osnabrück, March 2023), where it sold for €9,000 (about US$11,630 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"MAINZ, ERZBISTUM, Georg Friedrich von Greiffenklau zu Vollraths, 1626-1629. Reichstaler 1627, Mainz. 28.96 g. Zwitterprägung mit der Jahreszahl auf beiden Seiten. + GEORGI : FRIDER : D : G : ARCHIEP : MOG : PR : EL : EP : WOR : Brustbild r. in geistlichem Ornat, am Armabschnitt . LS . (Stempelschneider Lorenz Schilling) 16Z7//MONETA - · NOVA . ARGENTEA : MOGVN - T - INA . 1627 · (Signatur Münzmeister Caspar Ayrer) Vierfach behelmtes, vierfeldiges Wappen (Mainz/Worms) mit Mittelschild von Greiffenklau-Vollraths, dahinter Schwert, Kreuz- und Krummstab gekreuzt. Prachtexemplar. Herrliche Patina, winz. Zainende, vorzüglich-Stempelglanz. Aus der Sammlung Heinz Beaury. Exemplar der Auktion Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 294, Frankfurt/Main 1978, Nr. 1646. (archbishopric of Mainz, George Frederick of Greiffenklau zu Vollraths, 1626-29, thaler of 1627, Mainz mint, mule strike with the date on both sides. Obverse: bust right in bishop's robe; reverse: four helmeted quartered arms of Mainz and Worms with escutcheon of Greiffenklau-Vollraths, sword and crozier crossed behind. Outstanding example, superb patina, slight edge clip, extremely fine to uncirculated.)"
The archbishops of Mainz were prolific issuers of gold coins in the late middle ages but output dropped in the late fifteenth century, never to recover. This type of 1627 comes with a small bust (shown here) and a large bust (Dav-5541).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 27.05 g.
Catalog reference: KM 34, Dav-5540, Slg. Walther 236; Slg. Pick 341.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- 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]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 386: Brakteaten | Mainz | Bibliothek Prof. Dr. Niklot Klüßendorf | Mittelalter und Neuzeit | Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2023.
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