Osnabruck (1637) thaler Dav-5672
This specimen was lot 564 in Künker Auction 424 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €4,600 (about US$6,514 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · OSNABRÜCK, BISTUM Franz Wilhelm von Wartenberg, 1625-1661. Reichstaler o. J. (um 1637), Münster. Brustbild r. in geistlichem Gewand//Verziertes, vierfeldiges rundes Wappen (Minden, Verden / Verden, Minden) mit vierfeldigem Mittelschild (Osnabrück/Wartenberg), dahinter Krummstab und Schwert gekreuzt. Von großer Seltenheit. Schöne Patina, winz. Schrötlingsrisse am Rand, sehr schönes Exemplar mit herstellungsbedingt abgeschrägtem Rand. Erworben von Ernst Lejeune, Februar 1935. Exemplar der Slg. Kennepohl, Auktion Fritz Rudolf Künker 93, Osnabrück 2004, Nr. 3115. (Germany, bishopric of Osnabrück, Francis William of Wartenburg, 1625-61, undated double thaler, circa 1637, Münster mint. Obverse: bust right in bishop's robe; reverse: quartered arms of Minden and Verden with the escutcheon of Osnabrück/Wartenberg impaled, crossed crozier and sword behind. Extremely rare, nice toning, edge cracks, beveled edge from striking, very fine.)"
The bishops of Osnabrück vacillated in the sixteenth century on their resistance to the Reformation and by the beginning of the Thirty Years War the diocese was largely Lutheran. Francis William imposed the Counterreformation in 1625, called in the Jesuits and started a university. All, including Francis William, were ousted by the Swedes upon their occupation in 1633. Francis William did not return until the coming of peace in 1648. The SCWC states some examples are known dated 1637 with mintmasters initials "EK". This design appears on a klippe 1½ thaler (Dav-A5671), a double thaler (Dav-B5671), a klippe double thaler (Dav-C5671) and a triple thaler (Dav-5671).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.45-29 g, silver, 41-42 mm diameter; this specimen 27,45 g.
Catalog reference: KM 46, Dav-5672; Kennepohl 225 (this example).
- 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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