Mainz 1642 thaler Dav-5998
This specimen was lot 4870 in Künker sale 386 (Osnabrück, March 2023), where it sold for €13,000 (about US$16,799 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"MAINZ, ERZBISTUM, Anselm Casimir Wamboldt von Umstadt, 1629-1647. Reichstaler 1642, Mainz. "Augustinustaler", auf den Friedenswunsch. · ANSELM9 - CASIMIRVS · D : G : ARCHIEPI · MOG · S · ROM · IMP . PER · G - ER · ARC · CA . PE Dreifach behelmtes, vierfeldiges Wappen (Mainz/Wamboldt-Umstadt), dahinter Schwert und Krummstab gekreuzt//* S : Augustinus / Bellum Pacis Pater / Nulla Salus Bello / Pacem te poscimus / Omnes / . 164Z . (Hl. Augustinus: Der Krieg, Vater des Friedens, Heil liegt nicht im Krieg, wir bitten dich alle um Frieden = Virgil, Aeneas XI, 362), umher Blätter- und Blütenkranz. RR Prachtexemplar. Hübsche Patina, vorzüglich +. Aus der Sammlung Heinz Beaury. Erworben von privat im März 1988. (archbishopric of Mainz, Anselm Casimir Wamboldt von Umstadt, 1629-47, "Augustine" thaler of 1642, Mainz mint, on the hope for peace. Obverse: three helmeted, quartered arms of Mainz and Wamboldt-Umstadt, sword and crozier crossed behind; reverse: five line inscription, 'St. Augustine: War, father of peace, salvation does not lie in war, we all ask you for peace' quoted from Virgil's Aenead. Very rare, outstanding example, handsome patina, choice extremely fine.)"
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 issue is more of a medal than a coin and falls under the class of "pseudo-thalers". One need not doubt the sincerity of the issuers, fondly hoping for an end to the Thirty Years War and the devastation of Swedish occupation.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28.85 g.
Catalog reference: KM unlisted, Dav-5998, Slg. Walther 275; Slg. Pick 391; Pax in Nummis -.
- 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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