Nurnberg (1688)-PHM thaler Dav-5663
This specimen was lot 1070 in Künker sale 263 (Osnabrück, June 2015), where it sold for €3,400 (about US$4,392 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"NÜRNBERG, STADT Taler o. J. (1688). Rathaustaler. Mit offenen Türen. RR Attraktives Exemplar mit herrlicher Patina, vorzüglich. G. A. Will berichtet in den Nürnbergischen Münzbelustigungen 3, 1766, S. 244, daß diese Rathaustaler trotz ihres medaillenartigen Aussehens als Taler zu werten sind, da P. H. Müller vom Magistrat beauftragt worden sei, die Stempel für einen Taler zu schneiden. Mit diesen Stempeln waren erst wenige Stücke geprägt worden, als sie durch einen Stempelriß unbrauchbar wurden. Daraufhin wurden von Daniel S. Dockler neue Stempel angefertigt, die das Rathaus nun mit geschlossenen Türen zeigten (siehe Kellner 261). (Germany, city of Nuremberg, undated city hall thaler, with open doors. Attractive example with toning, extremely fine. GA Will reported in the nürnbergischen Münzbelustigungen 3, 1766, S. 244, that this Town Hall Taler, despite its medal-like appearance, is a Taler because PH Müller was commissioned by the magistrate to cut dies for a thaler. With these punches a few pieces were stamped when they were made unusable by a die break. Thereupon new dies were made by Daniel S. Dockler, which now showed the town hall with closed doors (Dav-5664).)"
While the Nuremberg thalers of the Thirty Years War (especially Dav-5647) are common, this one is rare. These dies were also used to strike a ten ducat coin (Fr-1863).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: Dav-5663; Kellner 260, KM 203.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 263, The Friedrich Popken collection of gold and silver coinages | Coins and Medals from Medieval and Modern Times, a. o. the collection of Ernst Otto Horn, part III, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2015.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
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