Saxe-Saalfeld 1712 thaler Dav-2736A
This specimen was lot 1324 in Künker sale 263 (Osnabrück, June 2015), where it sold for €4,000 (about US$5,167 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SACHSEN-SAALFELD, HERZOGTUM, AB 1735 SACHSEN-COBURG-SAALFELD Johann Ernst VIII. 1680-1729. Reichstaler 1712, Saalfeld. Ausbeute der Saalfelder Gruben. RR Winz. Randfehler, sehr schön-vorzüglich. (Germany, duchy of Saxe-Saalfeld, John Ernest VIII, 1680-1729, thaler of 1712, Saalfeld mint, for the Saalfeld mines. Rim bumps, very fine to extremely fine.)"
Johann Ernst was originally one of the dukes of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg but became duke of Saxe-Saalfeld after the partition of 1680. None of the brothers (except the oldest) thought the division was fair and the squabble lasted until 1735, six years after Johann Ernest died. His duchy was merged with Saxe-Coburg on his death.
Recorded mintage: unknown but rare.
Specification: 25.98 g, 0.888 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Dav-2736 A; Müseler 56.5/3 a; Schnee 570; Kozinowski/Otto/Ruß 623.1, KM unlisted.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 263, The Friedrich Popken collection of gold and silver coinages | Coins and Medals from Medieval and Modern Times, a. o. the collection of Ernst Otto Horn, part III, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2015.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1965.
- Gernot Schnee, Sächsiche Taler, 1500-1800. Frankfurt Am Main, P. N. Schulten, 1982.
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