Passau 1537 1/2 thaler
This specimen was lot 627 in Künker Auction 424 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €14,000 (about US$19,824 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · PASSAU, BISTUM Ernst von Bayern, Administrator, 1517-1540. 1/2 Taler 1537. Die Wappenschilde von Pfalz und Bayern nebeneinander, darüber die Jahreszahl I537, darunter der Buchstabe E//Der heilige Stephan steht v. v. mit Buch, drei Steinen und Palmzweig, davor Stiftswappen. Von allergrößter Seltenheit. Attraktives Exemplar mit hübscher Patina, fast vorzüglich. (Germany, bishopric of Passau, Ernest of Bavaria as administrator, 1517-40, half thaler of 1537. Obverse:the adjacent arms of Pfalz and Bavaria, date above, initial "E" below; reverse: St. Stephen stands facing, with book, three stones and a palm branch, supporting the arms of the bishopric. Extremely rare, attractive example with handsome patina, about extremely fine.)"
This type was struck in 1537 only. The bishopric of Passau was annexed to Bavaria in 1803 and 1805.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: silver, this specimen 14,37 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB47, Kellner 72 (shown as a half guldiner); Witt. 284.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [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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