Prussia 1771-A thaler Dav-2586
This specimen was lot 21237 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Las Vegas, August 2020), where it sold for $2,280. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Prussia. Taler, 1771-A. Berlin Mint. Friedrich II. NGC MS-64. Tied for second finest certified of the date with one other example on the NGC population report, only one finer (MS 66). A lovely and fully original looking survivor with a nice strong obverse strike and typical shallow reverse. The lustrous satiny surfaces display a complementary combination of gray hues offering good eye appeal certain to garner much attention from collectors." This type was struck at Berlin and Breslau 1764-74 with the Breslau product being slightly scarcer. Being lighter and lower alloy than thalers issued by the neighboring states, it circulated and wore more rapidly than other thalers. While it is common, it is very scarce in choice condition.
Recorded mintage: 1,085,165.
Specification: 22.27 g, 0.750 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Dav-2586; KM-306.1.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1965.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2020 ANA Auction: World Coins, featuring the Duke of Lansing Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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