Riga 1646-HW thaler Dav-4595
This specimen was lot 1592 in Künker Auction 425 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €5,500 (about US$7,788 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"EUROPÄISCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · BALTIKUM, RIGA, STADT Unter Schweden. Christina, 1632-1654. Reichstaler 1646. Münzmeister Henrik Wulff (Wulffensköld). Gekröntes Brustbild r. in Kleid//Zwei Löwen halten das Stadtwappen von Riga, darüber die Stadtschlüssel, unten zu den Seiten die geteilte Münzmeistersignatur H - W und Kartusche mit der Jahreszahl 1646. Von großer Seltenheit. Winz. Schrötlingsfehler, sehr schön. (Baltic states, city of Riga, Swedish occupation, Christina, 1632-54, thaler of 1646. Obverse: crowned bust right in a dress; reverse: two lions support the city arms, city keys above, below, initials "HW" and the date in a cartouche. Extremely rare, minor planchet defects, very fine.)"
This type was also struck in 1648. One thaler was 48 solidi or schillings. The city later returned to Polish rule but was contested between Poland, Sweden and Russia for the next century, Russia emerging the eventual victor. Riga is today the capital of Latvia.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 28.5 g, silver, 43 mm diameter, this specimen 28,47 g.
Catalog reference: KM 41, Ahlström 49 (R); Dav-4595; Hagander -; Neumann 48; Haljak 1504 (4R).
- Bjorne Ahlström, Yngve Almer and Bengt Hemmingson, Sveriges Mynt, 1521-1977, the Coinage of Sweden. Stockholm: Numismatika Bokforlaget AB, 1976.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Delzanno, Roberto, Myntårsboken 2022, Sveriges Mynt 995-2021, 1:a upplagen, Stockholm, 2021.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 425: Gold coins from the Medieval and Modern Times, from the Mohr family collection, e.g. | Silver coins, e.g. highlights of medallic art | German coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
- 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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