Munster (1647)-EK 2 thaler Dav-5596
This specimen was lot 520 in Künker Auction 424 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €6,250 (about US$8,850 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · MÜNSTER, BISTUM Ferdinand von Bayern, 1612-1650. Doppelter Schautaler o. J. (1647). Die Geburt Jesu, oben Engel in strahlenden Wolken//Die Beschneidung Jesu in einer Säulenhalle: Ein Priester hält den Jesusknaben, vor ihm vollzieht ein auf einem reichverzierten Stuhl sitzender Mann mit einem Messer die Beschneidung; dahinter an den Seiten beobachten Maria und Josef die Zeremonie, unten die Signatur EK (Engelbert Ketteler, Münzmeister in Münster 1636-1661). Von größter Seltenheit. Prachtvolle Patina, vorzüglich. Exemplar der Auktion Fritz Rudolf Künker 159, Osnabrück 2009, Nr. 3221. (Germany, bishopric of Münster, Ferdinand of Bavaria, 1612-50, undated double show thaler, circa 1647. Obverse: the birth of Jesus; reverse: The Circumcision of Jesus in a colonnade: A priest holds the infant Jesus, in front of him, a man seated on a richly decorated chair performs the circumcision with a knife. Behind him, on the sides, Mary and Joseph observe the ceremony. Below, the signature EK (Engelbert Ketteler, mint master in Münster 1636-1661). Extremely rare, magnificent patina, extremely fine.)"
Davenport says, "This is possibly only a medal." In 1647, the bishop also issued a single thaler (Dav-5596), a double thaler (Dav-5594), a ducat (Fr-1767), a klippe double ducat (Fr-1766a) and a five ducats (Fr-1764). The town and the region were thoroughly devastated by the Thirty Years War and never recovered. The bishop succeeded in establishing the Counter-Reformation there and holding the region for the Catholic Church. Ferdinand was also bishop of Hildesheim, Liege and Paderborn and archbishop of Cologne.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 58 g, silver; this specimen 57,19 g.
Catalog reference: KM unlisted, Dav-5596 (single thaler); Schulze 69 (single thaler).
- 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 424: Münster, Osnabrück, and the Peace of Westphalia | The Fuggers, Leuchtenberg, and Passau | The Collection of a German Manufacturer and History Enthusiast, Part 3, e.g., Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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