Regensburg 1523 batzen
This specimen was lot 3026 in Künker sale 405 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €100 (about US$131 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DIE REICHSSTADT REGENSBURG. DIE ZEIT DES KAISERS KARL V., 1520-1556. Prägungen aus der ersten Regensburger Münzperiode bis 1534 nach der bayerischen Münzordnung von 1506/1507. Batzen 1523. Münzmeister Hans Lutz. Mit schmalem und etwas nach r. gewandtem Hüftbild St. Wolfgangs. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (city of Regensburg, batzen of 1523, struck in the name of Charles V. With a narrow, half-length portrait of St. Wolfgang, very fine to extremely fine.)"
This type was struck 1523-25. The batzen, or four kreuzer, was a denomination best known from Switzerland. At this time, fifteen batzen made a thaler or gulden. The reverse depicts St. Wolfgang, with a legend imploring, "SANCT: WOLFGAИG:ORA PRO:", that is, "Saint Wolfgang, pray for us."
Wikipedia comments, "Wolfgang of Regensburg (c. 934-994 AD) was bishop of Regensburg in Bavaria from Christmas 972 until his death. He is regarded as one of the three great German saints of the 10th century, the other two being Ulrich of Augsburg and Conrad of Constance. Soon after Wolfgang's death many churches chose him as their patron saint, and various towns were named after him."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.92 g, 0.437 fine silver, 26-28 mm diameter, this specimen 3,39 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB21, Beckenbauer 1208; Slg. Bach (Auktion Künker 238) 4523.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 405: Coins of the Bishopric and City of Regensburg - A significant special collection, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2024.
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