Saxony 1539 3 thaler Dav-A9724
This specimen was lot 30268 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $36,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Extremely Rare "Magdeburg" Commemorative 3 Taler - Only the Fourth Known Specimen. German States: Saxony. Johann Friedrich II 3 Taler 1539 AU58 NGC, Buchholz mint. Struck upon Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous' acquisition of the Burggraviate of Magdeburg. Likely amongst the rarest issues of Johann Friedrich's reign, this commemorative "Schautaler" almost certainly represents the finest surviving specimen of the type. Its execution is unmistakably medallic in nature, with a mottled patina over icy surfaces that intensify to a fantastic degree on the reverse. Purportedly, this selection is one of only four known for the denomination, together with a piece auctioned by Künker in January 2013 (Auction 223, Lot 507), the Köhler example (Henry Seligmann December 1929, Lot 335), and a single piece in the Hermitage, distinguished from the "regular" 3 Taler of 1539 by its addition of the Magdeburg title on the obverse and more intricately garnished arms on the reverse. As such, it appears that this is only the second representative to become available in nearly 100 years, with the last specimen having sold for the equivalent of nearly $33,000 in 2013. From the Paramount Collection."
Johann Friedrich II was the fifth in the Ernestine line of Electors of Saxony. His father, Johann Friedrich I, in 1547, while a prisoner of the emperor, was forced to cede the electoral title and much land to his cousin Moritz of the Albertine line. On the death of Johann Friedrich I in 1552, Johann Friedrich II partitioned ducal Saxony with his brothers, initiating the fragmentation of that state. This rare triple thaler was issued in the name of Johann Friedrich I while he was still elector. A double thaler (Dav-9724), 1½ thaler (Dav-9725) and single thaler (Dav-9728) also exist.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 88.70 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB232, Dav-A9724 var. (additional clover to upper right of arms, MAGD title on obverse), Merseburger-Unl., Köhler Collection-335, Schnee-85.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1500-1600, Frankfurt am Main, Numismatischer Verlag P. N. Schulten, 1979.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Gernot Schnee, Sächsiche Taler, 1500-1800, Frankfurt Am Main, P. N. Schulten, 1982.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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