Ratzeburg 1617 thaler Dav-5729
This specimen was lot 5126 in Künker sale 386 (Osnabrück, March 2023), where it sold for €950 (about US$1,228 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRAUNSCHWEIG-LÜNEBURG-CELLE, FÜRSTENTUM, August der Ältere, 1633-1636, seit 1610 Bischof von Ratzeburg. Reichstaler 1617, Schönberg. R Hübsche Patina, kl. Schrötlingsfehler am Rand, sehr schön-vorzüglich. August der Ältere wurde bereits 1596 zum Koadjutor von Ratzeburg gewählt, ab 1610 nimmt er das Bistum in Besitz. Erst am 29. Mai 1611 wird er als rechtmäßiger Bischof von Ratzeburg anerkannt. Im Jahre 1633 wird er Herzog von Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Celle. (duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Celle, August the Elder, 1633-36, bishop of Ratzeburg since 1610, thaler of 1617, Schönberg mint. Rare, nice patina, small planchet flaws on the edge, very fine-extremely fine. August the Elder was elected Coadjutor of Ratzeburg as early as 1596, and from 1610 he took possession of the diocese. It was not until May 29, 1611 that he was recognized as the legitimate bishop of Ratzeburg. In 1633 he became duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Celle.)"
Christopher von der Schulenburg, bishop of Ratzeburg, converted to Lutheranism in 1550. Mecklenburg dukes held the see 1554-1610 and then August the Elder of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Celle was administrator 1610-36, when this thaler was issued. In 1648, the diocese was secularized by the terms of the Treaty of Westphalia and handed over to the dukes of Mecklenburg. A variety of this thaler exists (Dav-5730) with the reverse legned spelled "PATRI - IS - VIRTVTIBVS. - ANNO".
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28.81 g.
Catalog reference: KM 13, Welter 869; Dav-5729 (listed under Ratzeburg).
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., German Church and City Talers, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1967.
- [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.
Link to: