Prussia 1846-A 2 thaler Dav-771
This specimen was lot 3432 in Künker Auction 426 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €160 (about US$227 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"PREUSSEN, KÖNIGREICH Friedrich Wilhelm IV., 1840-1861. Vereinsdoppeltaler 1846 A. Hübsche Patina, winz. Randfehler, sehr schön-vorzüglich. (kingdom of Prussia, Frederick WIlliam IV, 1840-61, double union thaler of 1846. Handsome patina, minor edge defect, very fine to extremely fine.)"
This specimen is one of a type struck at the Berlin mint 1843-51. Despite the large mintage it is not frequently seen in the United States though it is not rare for a double thaler. In 1871, with the successful conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War, king Wilhelm assumed the title of Emperor of Germany. The currency was reformed to use pfennigs and marks and the taler was dropped, tho it remained legal tender at three mark.
Recorded mintage: 1,472,233.
Specifications: 37.12 g, 0.900 fine silver, this specimen 37,04 g.
Catalog reference: KM 440.2, AKS 69; Dav-771; Kahnt 382; Thun 258; Olding 302.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, eLive Premium Auction 426: European and German Coins and Medals from the 16th to the 20th century, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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