Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1678-AH 2/3 thaler
This specimen was lot 74546 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2024), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Mecklenburg-Schwerin. 2/3 Taler, 1678-AH. Ratzeburg Mint. Christian Ludwig I. NGC EF Details--Cleaned. A charming piece with somewhat mottled argent and olive-gray toning. Well struck with light, even wear, though with some slight reverse weakness at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock legends." This windswept and sandy state on the Baltic state never struck much coinage and this type, struck 1675-78 and 1688, is typically scarce. It was struck at the peak of the fad for gulden or two-thirds thalers. While visiting Paris, Christian Ludwig converted to Catholicism in 1663, to the horror of his subjects, and never returned to his domain.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM-A106; Dav-669.
- 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., Silver Gulden, 1559-1763, Frankfurt am Main, Numismatischer Verlag P. N. Schulten, 1982.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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