Saxe-Altenburg 1668 1/4 thaler
This specimen was lot 71188 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $600. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Saxe-Altenburg. 1/4 Taler, 1668. Saalfeld Mint. Friedrich Wilhelm II. PCGS AU-55 Gold Shield. A fairly SCARCE fractional issue, this type commemorates the death of Magdalena Sibylla, the second wife of Friedrich Wilhelm II. The obverse presents a draped sarcophagus bearing the initials of the deceased (MS), with two hands from the clouds holding a crown, while the reverse depicts a pyramid containing a ten line inscription. Lightly toned and handled, and far better quality than is generally encountered for the type." The duke must have missed his wife as he also issued KM 441 (3 kreuzer), KM 443 (half thaler), KM 444/Dav-7406 (thaler), KM 446 (1½ thaler), KM 447/Dav-7405 (double thaler), KM 449 (ducat), KM 450 (5 ducat) and KM 451 (10 ducat) on this occasion. The duke himself died the next year.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, 32 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Merseburger-4259; Kernbach-60.1; KM-442.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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