Mainz 1764-M 10 kreuzer
This specimen was lot 2504 in Künker sale 404 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €700 (about US$919 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DAS ERZBISTUM MAINZ. ERZBISCHOF EMMERICH JOSEPH VON BREIDBACH-BÜRRESHEIM, 1763-1774. Die Münzstätte Koblenz. 10 Kreuzer (1/12 Konventionstaler) 1764, Koblenz. Münzmeister Gotthard Martinengo. Stempelschneider Johann Conrad Körner. Mit veränderter Vorder- und Rückseitendarstellung sowie FEINE in der Umschrift. Brustbild r. in geistlichem Ornat, umher Palm- und Lorbeerzweig//Mit Kurhut bedecktes, mit Lorbeer- und Palmzweig verziertes, vierfeldiges Wappen (Mainz/Breidbach) auf Postament mit Wertzahl 10, dahinter Schwert und Krummstab gekreuzt, unten die Signatur M. Mit Kerbrand. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. Attraktives Exemplar, vorzüglich-Stempelglanz. Exemplar der Auktion Westfälische Auktionsgesellschaft 77, Dortmund 2016, Nr. 1590. (Germany, archbishopric of Mainz, Emmerich Joseph of Breidbach-Bürresheim, 1763-74, ten kreuzer or 1/12 convention thaler of 1764, Coblenz mint. With modified obverse and reverse dies as well as FEINE in the inscription. Obverse: Bust right in episcopal robe, with palm and laurel branches all around; reverse: quartered arms (Mainz/Breidbach), electoral hat above, and decorated with laurel and palm branches on a pedestal with the value 10, behind it a crossed sword and crook, signature M at the bottom. With reeded edge. Scarce in this quality, attractive example, extremely fine to uncirculated.)"
Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim (1707-74) was also bishop of Worms after 1768. He is noted for implementing educational reform in his diocese. A considerable variety of low denomination coins exists for his reign. The thaler, which had been ninety kreuzer in the seventeenth century, was raised to 120 kreuzer in the eighteenth century and renamed from reichsthaler to convention thaler.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver or billon, this specimen 3,89 g.
Catalog reference: KM 346, Schön 44 var.; Slg. Pick I (Auktion Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 405) 701/702 var.; Slg. Walther 595 var.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 404: Coins and Medals of the City of Mainz - The Prof. Dr. Eckhart Pick Collection, Part II, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2024.
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