Prussia 1779-A thaler Dav-2590
This specimen was lot 2086 in Goldberg sale 112 (Los Angeles, September 2019), where it sold for $1,464. The catalog description[1] noted, "German States: Prussia. Taler, 1779-A. Berlin mint. Friedrich II, The Great, 1740-1786. Laureate aged bust right. reverse: Crowned eagle resting on armaments, including a cannon, date below. Breast of eagle a little soft, otherwise a choice strike. Fields and devices with muted satiny luster under very light toning. PCGS graded MS-63." This type was struck at Berlin (shown here), Breslau and Königsberg 1775-86. These coins saw hard use and are frequently found heavily worn. As they were only 0.750 fine, they were spent and the issues of other principalities hoarded.
Recorded mintage: 398,661.
Specification: 22.27 g, 0.750 fine silver, .537 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Dav-2590; KM-332.1.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1965.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 112: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2019.
Link to: