Munster 1713-WR thaler Dav-2467
This specimen was lot 4306 in Künker sale 441 (Osnabrück, March 2026), where it sold for €3,600 (about US$4,953 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"MÜNSTER, BISTUM Franz Arnold von Wolff-Metternich, 1707-1718. Reichstaler 1713, Münster. RR Kl. Schrötlingsfehler, winz. Justierspuren, vorzüglich. Exemplar der Slg. Günther Jansen, Auktion Fritz Rudolf Künker 339, Osnabrück 2020, Nr. 206. (bishopric of Münster, Francis Arnold of Wolff-Metternich, 1707-18, thaler of 1713, Münster mint. Very rare, minor planchet defects, extremely fine.)
Franz Arnold, *1658, seit 1703 Koadjutor und seit 1704 Bischof von Paderborn, trat sein neues Amt am 2. Juni 1707 an. Er widmete sich besonders der Seelsorge in seinem Fürstbistum. Obwohl er ständig kränkelte, kümmerte er sich persönlich um den Zustand der Pfarreien. Gegenüber den Armen des Landes zeichnete sich Franz Arnold durch großzügige Freigiebigkeit aus. Daneben ließ er es sich nicht nehmen, eine äußerst prunkvolle Hofhaltung zu führen. Da die bischöflichen Finanzen ohnehin seit seinem Regierungsantritt mit Wahlschulden in Höhe von 300.000 Talern belastet waren, führte dies dazu, daß seine Schulden sich häuften. Um diesen Mißstand zu beheben, ließ Franz Arnold in der Nähe des Buddenturms in Münster ein neues Münzgebäude errichten, in dem er minderwertige Münzen (meist 1/48 Taler) prägen ließ. Die Ausgabe dieser Münzen führte allerdings zum Streit mit dem Domkapitel und den Landständen, so daß er sich gezwungen sah, einen Großteil wieder einzuschmelzen. Als Franz Arnold am 25.12.1718 plötzlich auf dem Schloß von Ahaus starb, überstiegen seine Schulden bei weitem den Wert seines Nachlasses. Aus diesem Grund wurde er vier Tage später ohne die sonst üblichen kostspieligen Feierlichkeiten in der Jesuitenkirche in Coesfeld beigesetzt. (Franz Arnold, born in 1658—Coadjutor since 1703 and Bishop of Paderborn since 1704—assumed his new office on June 2, 1707. He dedicated himself particularly to pastoral care within his prince-bishopric. Although he suffered from constant ill health, he personally attended to the condition of the parishes. Toward the poor of the land, Franz Arnold distinguished himself through his generous liberality. At the same time, however, he did not deny himself the luxury of maintaining an extremely lavish court. Since the episcopal finances had already been burdened by election debts amounting to 300,000 thalers from the very beginning of his reign, this lifestyle led to an accumulation of further debts. To remedy this financial predicament, Franz Arnold had a new mint constructed near the Buddenturm in Münster, where he commissioned the minting of debased coinage (mostly 1/48-thaler pieces). The issue of these coins, however, sparked a dispute with the Cathedral Chapter and the Estates of the Realm, compelling him to melt down a large portion of them. When Franz Arnold died suddenly on December 25, 1718, at Ahaus Castle, his debts far exceeded the value of his estate. For this reason, he was laid to rest four days later in the Jesuit Church in Coesfeld, without the customary costly funeral ceremonies.)"
This type was issued 1712-15 and is very expensive. Francis Arnold was also bishop of Paderborn. Münster was mediatized in 1806, Prussia, Hannover and Oldenburg receiving the biggest slices.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 29.5 g, silver, 44 mm diameter, this specimen 29,19 g.
Catalog reference: KM 150, Dav-2467; Schulze 188 a.
- 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.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1965.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Frühjahrs-Auktion 441: Orders and Decorations from the Estate of Wilhelm, Duke of Bavaria (1752–1837), among others | Coins and Medals from the Middle Ages and Modern times, particularly Denmark, Habsburg, Norway, and Saxony, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2026.
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