Pfalz 1793-AS 1/2 thaler
The first specimen was lot 4939 in Künker sale 386 (Osnabrück, March 2023), where it sold for €220 (about US$284 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BAYERN, HERZOGTUM, SEIT 1623 KURFÜRSTENTUM, Karl Theodor, 1777-1799. 1/2 Konv.-Taler 1793, Mannheim, für die Rheinpfalz. Feine Patina, winz. Schrötlingsfehler, sehr schön +. Exemplar der Auktion Heidelberger Münzhandlung, Herbert Grün 35, Heidelberg 2001, Nr. 2671. (electorate of Bavaria, Charles Theodore, 1777-99, half convention thaler of 1793, Mannheim mint, for the Palatinate. Fine patina, minor planchet defects, choice very fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 2297 in Künker Auction 425 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €220 (about US$312 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · PFALZ, KURFÜRSTENTUM Karl Theodor, 1743-1799. 1/2 Konv.-Taler 1793, Mannheim. Hübsche Patina, winz. Schrötlingsfehler, vorzüglich. (Germany, electorate of the Palatinate, Charles Theodore, 1743-99, half convention thaler of 1793, Mannheim mint. Handsome patina, small planchet defect, extremely fine.)"
Karl Theodor was Count Palatine from 1742 and elector of Bavaria from 1777, uniting the Wittelsbachs lines. This type was struck in 1783-88 and 1791-93. The Pfalz, or Palatinate, was occupied and annexed to France in 1799 and was not returned to Bavaria until the Congress of Vienna. The Electorate was abolished and Pfalz was merely another province of Bavaria, whose ruler was promoted to king.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14.03 g, 0.833 fine silver, the first specimen 13,97 g, the second specimen 14,02 g.
Catalog reference: The first specimen is KM 468, Haas 301; Hahn 392. The second specimen is KM 468, Slg. Memmesh. 2596 var; Haas 307; Hahn 392; Slg. Kömmerling (Auktion UBS 65) 616.
- 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.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 386: Brakteaten | Mainz | Bibliothek Prof. Dr. Niklot Klüßendorf | Mittelalter und Neuzeit | Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2023.
- [2]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 425: Gold coins from the Medieval and Modern Times, from the Mohr family collection, e.g. | Silver coins, e.g. highlights of medallic art | German coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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