Prussia 1780-A thaler Dav-2590
This specimen was lot 20275 in Stack's Bowers 2018 NYINC sale (New York, January 2018), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Prussia. Taler, 1780-A. Friedrich II the Great (1740-86). PCGS MS-63 Secure Holder. A reasonably available world crown in the circulated grades, at this exalted grade the population thins considerably. A design that requires this exquisite level of preservation to be fully appreciated, since the intricate detail in the reverse devices are the first areas prone to wear. Well struck and lightly toned with an attractive subdued glow and nice cartwheel effect. In terms of eye appeal probably superior to the 1784-A we sold in our August ANA 2016 auction where it realized $1,410." 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: 211,216, a low mintage date.
Specification: 22.27 g, 0.750 fine silver, .537 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Dav-2590, KM-332.1.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio, John Kraljevich and Cris Chatigny, The January 2018 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Eldorado Collection of Colombian and Ecuadorian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2017.
- 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.
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