Mansfeld-Friedeburg (15)81-CG thaler Dav-9504B
This specimen was lot 793 in Steve Album Auction 53 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $420. The catalog description[1] noted, "MANSFELD-FRIEDEBURG: Peter Ernst I, Johann-Albrecht, Johann-Hoyer III, and Bruno II, 1579-1585, AR thaler (15)81, helmeted arms with half date between helmets with PE ERN IO AL IO HO BRV HO CHR FRA E PATR around and C-G initials above // St. George slaying small dragon with COMI E DOMI IN MAN NOBI DOMI IN HELD around, some light tooling, small obverse scratch, plain edge, VF-XF." The SCWC lists KM MB14, MB16, MB17 and MB18 for 1581, which vary in the location of the date. This example has the two digit date above the shield, between the helmets, and seems to be the most common variety. It was struck 1580-85 and undated. Mansfeld-Friedeberg was a county of utmost insignificance except for its silver mines which provided the material for an abundance of thalers. Count Peter Ernst ruled 1532-1604; the line went extinct on his death.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 29.10 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB14, Dav-9504B, Tornau-550.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1500-1600, Frankfurt am Main, Numismatischer Verlag P. N. Schulten, 1979.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 53, featuring Selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld, Almer H. Orr III, Dr. Dirk Loer and Joe Sedillot Collections, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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